Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Jasen Hansen, Boeing scientific photographer and drone pilot, employs a Boeing-operated Skydio X-10D to capture imagery of a C-130J Super Hercules at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. Boeing demonstrated how their partnership with small businesses change how aircraft damage can be detected. With Boeing’s Automated Damage Detecting Software, Dyess can increase aircraft availability and assess data for it’s life-cycle. The versatility of these systems allow Airmen to implement larger systems on base for consistent inspections, or use smaller systems elsewhere for quick and efficient detection. These Dyess partnerships combine innovation from small businesses with Boeing data, engineering and models all in a secure government cloud environment for Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Near Earth Autonomy’s Customized Action Drone AD-8+ captures imagery of a C-130J Super Hercules at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. Dyess worked with Boeing and NEA to demonstrate how Autonomous Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems enable consistently efficient inspections of large aircraft to enhance mission readiness. Boeing and NAE proved their drones and algorithm can save time identifying anomalies in aircraft for Airmen on base or at deployed operations. The partnership allowed Dyess to see the capabilities of maintainers and how they can improve with this system, potentially operating in more hazardous settings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Sophie LeGore, Near Earth Autonomy flight test pilot, sets up NEA’s Customized Action Drone AD-8+ at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. Boeing and innovative small business partners operated Autonomous Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems to capture imagery and utilize Boeing’s Automated Damage Detection Software. The ADDS algorithm analyzes exterior aircraft images and detects anomalies such as missing rivets, delamination, corrosion and surface layer damage that may not be easily seen by Airmen. Boeing’s Dyess visit showcased how their partnerships can improve base operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Jasen Hansen, Boeing scientific photographer and drone pilot, controls a Boeing-operated Skydio X-10D at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. Dyess worked with Boeing, who partnered with small businesses to develop a system that detects aircraft anomalies, to innovate how Airmen detect problems. Boeing data from the Automated Damage Detection Software can be stored on a secure government cloud and accessed by Airmen around the world. This partnership could allow Airmen to conduct operations safely in hazardous weather or contested environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Peter Rhodes, Boeing artificial intelligence engineer, explains Boeing’s Automated Damage Detection Software to Dyess personnel at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. Partnering with Boeing allowed Autonomous Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems to photograph aircraft for consistently efficient inspections. Boeing’s ADDS algorithm cuts general visual inspection time by over 50% and increases anomaly detection rate from 50 to 94%. This partnered innovation reduces risk to Airmen, establishes a centralized digital damage record and increases aircraft availability by decreasing downtime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Adam Goodwell, Near Earth Autonomy flight test engineer, analyzes data from NAE’s Customized Action Drone AD-8+ at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. By partnering with small businesses, Boeing innovated processes for Airmen such as detecting anomalies in aircraft. The demonstration of Boeing and NAE’s capabilities allowed Dyess members to see real-time collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination of aircraft data. The data can be processed and stored in a secure government cloud environment allowing Airmen across the world to access and consult experts who have addressed similar anomalies on an airframe. This partnership could enable Airmen to track aircraft data over time, showing consistent anomalies that can help the Air Force innovate preventative maintenance and how they develop future aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Jasen Hansen, Boeing scientific photographer and drone pilot, sets up a Boeing-operated Skydio X-10D at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024. The demonstration showed how Dyess can work with Boeing and small businesses to innovate processes for Airmen, such as detecting aircraft anomalies using drone imagery. While small business partners operated larger systems with flight patterns using installed aircraft schematics, Boeing operated a smaller drone that can fit into a backpack to show how Airmen can use the Automated Damage Detection Software in more flexible situations. Dyess and Boeing share a mission to innovate and increase aircraft availability by targeting maintenance problems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell)

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Boeing displays drone aircraft imagery capability at Dyess

Published Aug. 20, 2024
By Airman 1st Class Jade M. Caldwell
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --