CSIRO has announced a new robotic repair system it says could help address skills shortages while improving manufacturing and industrial maintenance processes across Australia.
In a news release, the national science agency said its Continuous3D technology was developed to streamline repairs of critical metal components as industries face tightening labour supply.
CSIRO senior research scientist Dr Peter King said the system responds directly to a growing gap in trade skills.
“Australia needs 70,000 welders by the year 2030,” he said. “Whereas in the past, we had these people, now the younger generation is more interested in other professions. That leaves us with the problem of keeping critical infrastructure running and manufacturing things.”
CSIRO said Continuous3D equips industrial robots with advanced sensors and software so they can scan, analyse and generate repair paths without extensive manual programming.
“We gave the robot brains, as in the software, and we gave it eyes, which is the sensor,” Dr King said. He added that the system reduces the need to measure components or create CAD files, allowing repairs to be planned in minutes.
According to CSIRO, the technology can handle complex geometries beyond the capabilities of traditional flat-surface systems.
“You actually have six degrees of freedom, allowing the robot arm to move in different orientations and to grow material in different directions,” Dr King said.
CSIRO said the system is being trialled with partners in mining and aerospace, including metal spray repairs on aircraft engine castings and coated components undergoing evaluation in mining operations.
Dr King added that future applications could include mobile robots performing repairs on site, reducing the need to remove equipment from service.
The agency also noted that Continuous3D runs locally rather than through the cloud, which it says supports reliability and data security in industrial environments.
“The data never leaves the user’s site,” Dr King said.
CSIRO said it will continue working with industry to refine the technology and expand its use in advanced manufacturing and repair applications.
