The Boeing Company
Proximity detection in assembly environments having machinery

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for proximity detection in a fabrication environment. One embodiment is a method for reporting proximity in an assembly environment. The method includes inserting an arm of a bracket into an interior of a part that is held by a cradle, and that is worked upon by a robot, placing indexing features at the bracket into contact with indexing features of the cradle, operating sensors at the bracket to directly detect a location of a first proximity detector worn by a technician and a location of the second proximity detector at the robot, and directing the first proximity detector to provide a warning to the technician if a distance between the first proximity detector and the second proximity detector is less than a threshold.