Kevin Sitton

Papers

Total Citations

109

H-Index

About

Kevin Sitton is a pioneering figure in aerospace manufacturing automation, best known for his transformative work in robotic drilling systems. His key research area centers on developing high-precision, flexible automation solutions for aircraft assembly, with a particular focus on one-sided robotic drilling for complex structures. Sitton’s most notable contribution is the ONCE (ONe-sided Cell End effector) Robotic Drilling System, introduced in 2002. This system ingeniously repurposed a mass-produced, high-capacity industrial robot as the motion platform for an automated drilling, countersinking, and hole inspection machine. Its application on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet wing trailing edge revolutionized the skin-to-substructure joining process, dramatically improving accuracy, repeatability, and cycle time over manual methods. With 109 citations, this seminal work has become a foundational reference in aerospace robotics, influencing subsequent automated drilling systems for both military and commercial aircraft. Sitton’s achievement demonstrates how creative adaptation of existing industrial technology can solve critical manufacturing challenges, making him a key innovator in the field of robotic assembly for high-value, safety-critical structures.