Cybernet Systems Corporation, a leading innovator in technology, received the 20th A4A/SAE Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Innovation Award, formerly known as the Better Way Award, from Airlines for America (A4A) and SAE International, Sept. 18.

This award recognizes a government-industry team that has developed and applied a technology, technique, process or policy that advances inspections or tests of civil/commercial aircraft structure, aircraft components or aircraft systems. Cybernet won this award for its new NDT Tracker tool, a new, unique capability it developed with the U.S. Air Force that has revolutionized ultrasonic testing (UT) grid inspections for the Air Force.

“We are honored to be recognized by A4A/SAE International for the quality and impact of our work,” said Kevin Tang, Cybernet’s principal investigator on the program who recently presented updates to the Tracker tool during the 65th A4A NDT Forum in Nashville, Tennessee. “We are proud to support the warfighter and enhance the safety of commercial aviation through the Tracker tool.”

The Cybernet/Air Force team developed the NDT Tracker tool that integrates augmented reality. The tool eliminates the need for hand-drawn ultrasonic (UT) grid inspections, which airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) stations commonly use to map corrosion and verify remaining thickness of blended areas. During these inspections, evaluators draw half-inch or quarter-inch UT grids on the analyzed surfaces, which require two people in close coordination to take readings. Such tests consume a significant amount of time.

The Tracker Cybernet developed reduces inspection labor by half by recording and displaying scan coverage in real time and generating C-scan deliverable reports. A “C-scan” (the “C” meaning “composition”) involves the elements that make up a particular material.

Additionally, the mobile, camera-based Tracker increases inspection speed for large grids by 20%-30% percent. This innovation shortens the grid-inspection phase and has led to improved turnaround time and better maintenance through-put.

“Working with the Air Force has been a great opportunity for Cybernet,” said Dr. Charles Cohen, Cybernet’s chief technology officer. “It’s direct collaborations like these that get breakthroughs to benefit military personnel and taxpayers in saving time, money and lives.”

Military and civilian aerospace professionals at Tinker and Robins Air Force Bases, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Antelope Valley College, and ST Engineering currently use this new tool, and it is preparing for extended prove-out with Delta TechOps, Delta Airlines’ MRO division. The invention is now poised to impact all UT gridding done by commercial NDT professionals and organizations.

Learn more about Cybernet’s Tracker tool at: https://tracker.cybernet.com

A4A is a trade association that represents major North American airlines. It advocates on behalf of its members to shape policies and measures that promote safety, security and a healthy U.S. airline industry. A4A works with airlines, labor, government entities, and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial vehicle industries. SAE leads in connecting and educating mobility professionals to enable safe, clean and accessible mobility solutions.