U.S. Ambassador to NATO Visits UDRI to See Machina Labs’ RoboCraftsman

The Honorable Matthew Whitaker, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, visited the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) for an up-close look at the future of aircraft sustainment and the role that advanced manufacturing will play in supporting NATO’s shared readiness goals.

As part of the tour, Ambassador Whitaker was introduced to the RoboCraftsman, which was deployed to UDRI earlier this year, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO). The portable, AI-driven manufacturing platform represents a new model for on-demand, point-of-need production of complex metal components, especially for legacy aircraft platforms operated by both the U.S. and many NATO allies.

"During my visit with the University of Dayton Research Institute and Machina Labs, I saw how the AI-powered RoboCraftsman redefines what’s possible with rapid production. Backed by the Air Force’s Rapid Sustainment Office, I see a clear path for defense investments like this to strengthen NATO’s resilient logistics." - Matthew Whitaker, U.S. Ambassador to NATO 

Housed within UDRI’s Integrated Technology Operations Center (ITOC), a joint workspace with the Air Force RSO, the RoboCraftsman is being used to support part qualification and sustainment innovation efforts. The system’s core capabilities include RoboForming (Incremental Sheet Forming), advanced scanning, trimming, and drilling, all performed without the need for traditional dies or molds. 

The visit came at a critical time, as both the U.S. and its NATO partners work to strengthen supply chain resilience and increase operational readiness. Many NATO member countries operate similar airframes, such as the C-130 Hercules and KC-135 Stratotanker, where sourcing qualified replacement parts remains a sustainment challenge.

The deployment of RoboCraftsman to UDRI, supported by the Air Force RSO, underscores a growing recognition that agile, software-defined manufacturing must be integrated into modern military logistics. With its ability to be rapidly deployed, the RoboCraftsman can reduce sustainment lead times from months to days and offers NATO allies a scalable, rapidly deployable solution that can adapt and deliver at the point of need.

We’re honored that Ambassador Whitaker had the opportunity to see the RoboCraftsman platform firsthand, and we’re proud to support Air Force RSO in its mission of sustaining aircraft fleets faster, smarter, and closer to where they’re needed.