Device and method for painting curved outer surfaces of an aircraft

A method for painting a curved outer surface of an aircraft, comprising:

• moving a paint applicator relative to the curved outer surface using a spatially adjustable positioning device, the paint applicator including a plurality of spray painting heads each assigned to one of a plurality of different base color supply units containing one of polyurethane aircraft paint and ink;
• determining a three dimensional geometry of the outer surface using a sensor device;
• deriving a two-dimensional driving geometry based on the three-dimensional geometry;
• and
• coordinating a movement of the positioning device with a paint output of the paint applicator and alternatively activating the plurality of spray painting heads using a control unit according to the two-dimensional driving geometry so as to produce a picture motif.

A computer readable media including program instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• moving a paint applicator relative to the curved outer surface using a spatially adjustable positioning device, the paint applicator including a plurality of spray painting heads each assigned to one of a plurality of different base color supply units containing one of polyurethane aircraft paint and ink;
• determining a three dimensional geometry of the outer surface using a sensor device;
• deriving a two-dimensional driving geometry based on the three-dimensional geometry;
• and
• coordinating a movement of the positioning device with a paint output of the paint applicator and alternatively activating the plurality of spray painting heads using a control unit according to the two-dimensional driving geometry so as to produce a picture motif.