***
Honolulu, HI, December 10, 2024— What if an AI-powered robot could scan every surface, of any dirty object (like a rusty hammer, or a mud-covered jeep), enabling precise, automated decision-making to uniformly waterblast that object to a clean shine?
In early 2024, the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E), the Pentagon’s top testing office, released its annual report, revealing that the multirole F-35 Lightning II, used across multiple military branches, has a fleet-wide full mission capable rate of only 30 percent. Additionally, only 48 percent of the U.S. F-35 fleet is mission-ready for immediate combat, excluding scheduled maintenance cycles.
In the U.S. Air Force maintenance crews face significant challenges in improving this mission ready rate, partially due to aging procedures. Many heavy maintenance processes, whether on the F-35, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, a jeep or other platforms, begin with waterjet cleaning to “surface prep” equipment by removing dirt, debris, corrosion, and paint.
However, current USAF waterjet systems are unsophisticated, running preset choreographed movement patterns based on equipment type. This generic approach can leave particularly dirty or corroded equipment inadequately cleaned. For example, not every landing gear is corroded in the same way, yet the waterjetting movement pattern is the same. Maintenance crews often resort to an “eyeball test,” sacrificing durability for faster turnaround times. Given the concerning mission-readiness rates and needs of the warfighter, an effective solution is urgently needed.
To address this critical shortcoming, Oceanit is developing an advanced surface intelligence AI, built on Oceanit’s RIVEAL platform technology, to help the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the largest F-35 operator in the U.S. military, improve mission readiness.
Oceanit’s new AI-driven surface intelligence tool is designed to augment existing waterjet systems, enabling them to make decisions, improve speeds, and be more efficient. The system is effectively a dedicated technician to ensure warfighters have the quality of system maintenance they need to excel on missions.
Leveraging RIVEAL, the system uses machine vision AI to assess surface data and determine whether the equipment’s surface is clean. It then guides robotic cleaning arms with precision, adapting to different surfaces, coatings, and shapes to ensure optimal cleaning and surface preparation.
This innovative cyber-physical system eliminates the need for the “eyeball test” in surface preparation. It scans every surface, groove, and corner, enabling precise, data-driven decision-making for each piece of equipment. Once deployed, the system will expedite maintenance prep, reducing downtime and enhancing mission readiness for fleets like the F-35 and other critical platforms and support equipment.
Beyond the military, surface intelligence AI has potential applications across industries that require surface cleaning or assessment. It could transform processes in areas such as road repairs, ship and aircraft painting, automobile refinishing, and even touch-free car washes. By detecting surface imperfections and guiding connected systems to address issues—whether by filling a pothole or touching up paint on a car bumper—this technology promises to improve efficiency and quality across a wide range of sectors.
Founded in 1985 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Oceanit is a disruptive technology company with a world-class reputation for breakthrough science and disruptive innovation built upon values of curiosity, community, and ‘ohana. We are a skilled group of scientists, engineers, and innovators who tackle the world’s most difficult problems. Learn more on Oceanit.com.
