System for assembling aircraft

A method of moving components of an airplane into assembly alignment, comprising:

• determining initial positions of the components responsive to determining locations of a plurality of transmitters relative to a plurality of reference targets, the transmitters being arranged in a constellation on a first structure defining an assembly space in which the airplane is assembled, the reference targets being arranged on a second structure defining the assembly space in a plurality of predetermined positions known in a first coordinate system of the assembly space;
• determining relative positions of the components in a second coordinate system of the airplane, the second coordinate system being different than the first coordinate system;
• determining desired final locations for the components to be moved from the initial positions;
• automatically determining motion to align the components to be moved with the desired final locations;
• automatically determining displacements of assembly jacks to produce the determined motion;
• performing the determined motion;
• and
• after the components have been moved, automatically determining locations of the moved components at final assembled positions.

A system, comprising:

• assembly jacks to support and move components of an airplane into assembly alignment;
• a measurement system to locate features of the components of the airplane while the components are supported on the assembly jacks;
• a computer system to determine relative positions of the components in a coordinate system of the airplane and to control movement of the assembly jacks to bring the components into assembly alignment;
• and
• means for determining a cruise orientation of the airplane based on final assembly locations of the assembly jacks.