PAINT MUST BE REMOVED FROM AIRCRAFT TO ALLOW DETAILED SURFACE INSPECTION, TO PERFORM REPAIR OPERATIONS, AND TO KEEP WEIGHT AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS AFTER MANY COATS OF PAINT HAVE BEEN APPLIED. SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS PRESENTLY CONSTRUCTING A ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY REMOVING PAINT FROM FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. THE PROCESS REMOVES PAINT BY PLASTIC MEDIA BEAD BLASTING. THE BLAST NOZZLES ARE POSITIONED OVER THE AIRCRAFT SURFACE WITH A ROBOT. THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF TWO, 9 DEGREE-OF-FREEDOM (DOF) ROBOTS TOGETHER WITH TWO ROBOT CONTROLLERS, ONE CELL CONTROL COMPUTER, PAINT SENSORS, AND BEAD BLASTING EQUIPMENT.