True Position Robotics Awarded Programme Funding to Accelerate Aerospace Automation
True Position Robotics Ltd (TPR) has been awarded £670,860 ($885,500) in funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme to lead a groundbreaking £1.15 million ($1.52 million) project aimed at transforming the way aircraft sub-assemblies are built.
The 18-month initiative, titled SIMPL, standing for Space, Information, Mobility, Power, and Machine Learning, combines advanced robotics, digital simulation, machine learning, and energy-efficient design to accelerate the adoption of automation across the aerospace sector.
Currently, as much as 80% of aircraft sub-assembly processes remain manual, demanding significant skilled labour and long production times. SIMPL targets a step-change in productivity, aiming to reduce build times, enhance efficiency, and enable sustainable growth within the UK aerospace industry while cutting environmental impact.
A New Generation of Intelligent Aerospace Automation
The SIMPL project integrates five key innovation streams:
Space: Development of new planning software for large-volume metrology zones. Conducted off-line, the TPR-patented process verifies volumetric accuracy and enables non-specialists to plan and validate robotic cells with confidence.
Information: Creation of accessible digital thread solutions to seamlessly connect aerospace supply chains using emerging interoperability standards.
Mobility: Deployment of autonomous mobile robots equipped with LIDAR navigation, offering flexible, driverless movement of robotic systems across factory floors.
Power: Reduction of energy consumption through lightweight robotic drills, rapid tool-change mechanisms, and portable service packs.
Machine Learning: Enhancement of process control by leveraging data from manufacturing and inspection systems to drive adaptive, quality-improving feedback loops.
The project aims to deliver TRL6-level technology demonstrators with collaboration and support from Airbus, underscoring the industrial relevance and scalability of the SIMPL platform.
Economic, Environmental, and Industrial Impact
SIMPL is expected to deliver measurable benefits across economic and environmental fronts:
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Market growth – Doubling True Position Robotics’ addressable market within five years.
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Job creation – Establishing new high-value engineering and sales roles by 2030.
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Sustainability – Achieving an estimated 50% reduction in energy consumption versus traditional aerospace robotics.
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Supply chain resilience – Strengthening UK competitiveness in global aerospace automation.
“This ATI Programme funding is a huge vote of confidence in our vision to make aerospace automation more intelligent, more mobile, and more sustainable. SIMPL builds on the success of our earlier ADI project and takes a bold step towards transforming how aircraft are built. With support from leading industry partners, we’re excited to demonstrate how UK innovation can deliver tangible productivity, environmental, and economic benefits” commented Roger Holden, Managing Director of True Position Robotics.
True Position Robotics (TPR) is a UK SME specialising in high-accuracy robotic systems for aerospace manufacturing. Its patented drilling and inspection technologies are in use with major global manufacturers, enabling precision automation in large-volume assembly environments.
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme is a joint government-industry initiative delivered by the Aerospace Technology Institute, the Department for Business and Trade, and Innovate UK (UKRI). It supports civil aerospace innovation aimed at enhancing UK market share while reducing aviation emissions.
For more information: www.tpr.solutions
