Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2010. Updated in 2025 to reflect the continued relevance of industrial automation in the defense industry.

Fifteen years ago, Aerobotix saved a legacy missile program by installing a turnkey robotic painting system after a defense contractor experienced throughput and ergonomic issues. The robot, affectionately known as Robbie, received a warm welcome and quickly became a beloved member of the manufacturing team.

Heavy demand quickly placed extreme stress on the manual painters, consequently slowing them down and making it difficult for them to keep up. With substantial orders to fill and an ergonomically-hurting workforce, engineers therefore began searching for a problem-solver capable of repeatedly spraying primer and a Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) while working at a high rate in a Class 1, Division 1 environment.

While robotic automation is commonly perceived as a threat to vocational trades, in reality, it created both physical and professional opportunities for the painters. Subsequently, after installation, they received comprehensive training on a custom Human-Machine Interface, or HMI, that operated and fed Robbie. Furthermore, this professional development opportunity promoted them from painters to robot operators. Additionally, engineers removed them from the paint booth, thus relieving them from exposure to dangerous chemicals. 

The defense contractor found themselves thoroughly impressed by both Aerobotix’s streamlined purchasing process and Robbie’s exceptional performance capabilities. Consequently, as production demands continued to escalate, the contractor decided to invest in a second robotic system. Therefore, this expansion demonstrates how successful automation implementations naturally lead to increased confidence in robotic solutions, ultimately helping manufacturers stay ahead of growing market demands while maintaining quality standards.