Case Study: Boeing achieves precision aircraft surface-coating with Wolfram Mathematica

Boeing uses Wolfram Mathematica to produce precision surface coatings with exact hyperbolic-cosine patterns

Boeing engineers faced the challenge of applying a conductive surface coating to fighter aircraft that would prevent radar detection. The coating needed to vary in thickness without any sharp transitions, a complex task that previously relied on manual spray techniques. They turned to Wolfram and used Mathematica to mathematically define the ideal coating pattern.

The solution implemented by Wolfram used Mathematica's integrated algebraic, numeric, and graphics capabilities to model the required hyperbolic cosine function and generate a high-resolution phototool. This tool was then used in a photochemical etching process to apply the coating with precision. As a result, Boeing achieved a more accurate and automated production process, eliminating the need for manual spraying and ensuring the aircraft's stealth capabilities.

Boeing