Date: Jan 15, 2013 Source: MDA (
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inVision Technology, LLC (Seattle, WA), has invented a manufacturing technique to build metalreplacement structures that the company claims are lighter, stronger, and less expensive than competing products on the market.
The company uses a proprietary thermo-plastic molding process to create single-piece, composite assemblies. This technique uses less material by eliminating or embedding redundant components within a particular structure, such as in a joint assembly of an aircraft wing.
Based on inVision-conducted field tests on company-manufactured replacement aircraft wing assemblies, the composite technology showed significant reductions in weight and costs over commonly used metals. The integrated structural nature of the replacement product further offered enhanced strength.
After receiving funding over the years from other government agencies, MDA awarded inVision an SBIR Phase I contract in 2011, to further develop its manufacturing process to enable building single-piece-assembly structures for missile defense systems. inVision officials hope to find contracting partners for using its manufacturing technique in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as in making commercial aerospace and automotive racing
