True Position Robotics awarded £670,860 ATI Programme funding to accelerate aerospace automation
True Position Robotics Ltd (TPR) has been awarded £670,860 in funding from the ATI Programme, to lead an ambitious £1.15m project that will transform how aircraft sub-assemblies are built.
The project, called SIMPL (Space, Information, Mobility, Power and Machine Learning), will run for 18 months from July 2025. It brings together advanced robotics, digital simulation, machine learning, and energy-efficient design to increase the adoption of automation in aerospace manufacturing.
Currently, up to 80% of aircraft sub-assembly build is manual – a process that is time-consuming and reliant on scarce skilled labour. SIMPL aims to cut build times, improve productivity, and support the UK’s aerospace industry to scale up sustainably while reducing environmental impact.
Next-generation automation for aerospace
SIMPL is structured around five innovative work packages:
- Space – New planning software for large volume metrology zones, performed off-line, giving confidence in the real volumetric accuracy (TPR patent filed process), enabling non specialists to successfully plan a robot cell.
- Information – Creating affordable digital thread solutions to connect supply chains using the latest standards.
- Mobility – Deploying autonomous mobile robots, enhanced with LIDAR “driverless car” technology, to move robots flexibly on the factory floor.
- Power – Minimising energy consumption through lightweight robotic drills, rapid tool-change systems, and portable service packs.
- Machine Learning – develop and enhance process control using data from equipment and inspection systems, making greater use of the data available to improve quality.
The project will deliver TRL6 technology demonstrators, with support from leading aerospace manufacturer Airbus.
Economic, social, and environmental benefits
SIMPL will:
- Double True Position Robotics’ target market in five years.
- Create new high-value engineering and sales jobs by 2030.
- Contribute to environmental goals with an estimated 50% reduction in energy use compared to traditional aerospace robotics.
- Support UK supply chain resilience and competitiveness in the face of global competition.
Quotes
Roger Holden, Managing Director of True Position Robotics, said:
“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 are excited to demonstrate how UK innovation can deliver real productivity, environmental, and economic benefits.”
Notes for editors
- About True Position Robotics: True Position Robotics is a UK SME specialising in high-accuracy robotic systems for aerospace manufacturing. Its patented drilling and inspection technologies are already being deployed with major manufacturers worldwide.
- About the ATI Programme: The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme is a joint government and industry investment, delivered in partnership between the Aerospace Technology Institute, the Department for Business and Trade, and Innovate UK (UKRI). It supports innovation in civil aerospace technology and manufacturing, aiming to grow the UK’s share of the global aerospace market while reducing aviation emissions.
Press contact:
Alex Green – Marketing Manager
alex@tpr.solutions