WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is opening an Advanced Technology and Training Center (ATTC) in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 29, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour.
The purpose of the new facility is to qualify state-of-the-art technologies for the Air Force sustainment enterprise and provide training for engineers and operators.
Employees will focus on making breakthroughs in condition based maintenance plus, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation and applying them to Air Force requirements.
The facility’s state of the art robotics, will be used for sanding, and de-painting.
“One of the goals of the ATTC is to help increase mission readiness,” said Debbie Naguy, AFLCMC Product Support Engineering Division chief. “The facility’s robotic laser de-paint technology will drastically reduce the time it takes to de-paint aircraft and improve aircraft availability to the warfighter. In addition the technology will decrease maintenance costs and help extend the life span of aircraft.”
The ATTC will also use artificial intelligence to quickly develop predictive maintenance algorithms that will identify potential maintenance issues on aircraft faster.
Pittsburgh is considered a hub in the industry of robotics, AI and machine learning.
Major companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon, Disney, Ford, Uber, General Electric and Facebook all have a presence in the city.
In addition, there are 33 regional colleges and universities including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, and Robert Morris University.
“Part of the reason we chose Pittsburgh is because the area is known as an innovation hub, and there are numerous opportunities to collaborate with local universities and industry,” said Naguy. “We also want to be able to leverage the talent pool out there including young engineers coming out of the universities that have focus areas in artificial intelligence and predictive prognostics and get them to start working for the Air Force.”
“Historically, 70 percent of weapon system lifecycle costs are in the operation and sustainment phase,” said Nathan Parker, Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office. “The ATTCs are one tool to help reduce future costs so resources can be allocated to other Air Force priorities. Without a doubt, this facility will be on the cutting edge of innovation and technology and we are excited about the positive and ground breaking change it will promote.”