The assembly of components in the aerospace industry is currently supported through procedures based on the generation of work instructions. This documentation describes both the sequence of operations to be performed by operators, and fundamental and critical parameters of operation (drawings of components, torques to be applied, sealing system characteristics or paste, etc.). Currently, workers use this information to ensure that the tasks are performed correctly. However, sometimes the documentation is difficult to manage, either by the difficulty of interpreting the drawings or because the process is too complex, for example in the installation of electrical harnesses. This document shows the results of the Project MOON (asseMbly Oriented authOring augmeNted reality) developed by AIRBUS Military in 2010. MOON uses 3D information from the iDMU (industrial Digital Mock-Up) to generate assembly instructions by applying Augmented Reality technology. A demonstrator was developed for the electrical harness routing in the frame 36 of the AIRBUS A400M. The techniques and methods here described are 'patent pending'.

This paper shows a general review, from the authors’ point of view, on how Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) impacted in Europe and United States Aerospace Industry development. The review focuses on the most relevant companies that have shaped the aerospace Industry at both sides of the Atlantic. The review is performed following a set of representative key topics, not intending to be exhaustive. PLM is a business solution that aims to streamline the flow of information about the product and related processes throughout the product's lifecycle. PLM facilitates the availability of the right information in the right context at the right time can be made available. The initial concept of PLM appeared at the end of the 90's, in a context where Automatically Programmed Tool (APT) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software solutions were already in use since the 60's and 80's decades respectively. PLM started to integrate information generated with such CAX (Computer Aided Technologies) solutions. Critical requirements in the aerospace industry, market changes and arising technical solutions have forced leader companies to adapt their way of working to secure their leadership. PLM evolution has taken a fundamental role in these transformations

‘Product Avatar’ and ‘Product Digital Twin’ are the terms used currently to refer to the product digital counterpart of a physical product. Both terms derived from different perspectives and from different initial objectives. With a specific focus on the aerospace sector, this communication is a starting point and reviews the different topics involved in the creation of an aircraft digital counterpart, i.e. product identification, product lifecycle, product information, product configuration, product models, and software applications involved. Then, a specific section presents both approaches, ‘product avatar’ and ‘product digital twin’, together with the currently published related works. The paper ends with a discussion of the implications of creating an aircraft avatar with an industrialization-oriented perspective.

The assembly of components in the aerospace industry is currently supported by procedures based on work instructions. This documentation describes both the sequence of operations to be performed by operators and fundamental parameters of operation. However, sometimes difficulties arise, either by the difficulty of interpreting the information or because the process is too complex. This communication shows the results of the Project MOON (asseMbly Oriented authOring augmeNted reality) developed by AIRBUS Military. MOON uses 3D information from the industrial Digital Mock-Up to generate assembly instructions and their deployment by applying Augmented Reality technology. A prototype was developed for the electrical harness routing in the frame 36 of the AIRBUS A400M.