To advance helicopter assembly technology, this study presents a systematic investigation into the feasibility and advantages of human-robot collaborative (HRC) riveting through a comprehensive methodology combining quantitative experimentation and expert qualitative analysis. A panel comprising ten riveting skill experts was assembled to conduct a thorough evaluation of the HRC riveting process, identify technical challenges, optimize design parameters, and develop an integrated HRC riveting system. The experiment selected semi-round head solid rivets with LY10 material, a diameter of Φ3mm, and varying lengths (6mm, 7mm, and 8mm), along with standardized test plates matching the material specifications and thickness of actual helicopter components, as samples. The results demonstrate that, compared to traditional manual riveting, the HRC riveting process improves efficiency by 3.6 times, increases the first-pass qualification rate from 83.6% to 100%, and significantly enhances the quality and stability of rivet head formation. The research shows that the HRC production mode gives full play to the advantages of operator flexibility and equipment high precision through the cooperative optimization, which is especially suitable for the manufacturing needs of multi-variety, small batch and high precision helicopter products. While these results are promising, it is important to note that the application of HRC technology in helicopter assembly remains in its nascent stages. Future research directions should focus on expanding the application scope of HRC systems to more complex assembly scenarios, with the ultimate objective of advancing helicopter assembly processes toward enhanced efficiency and superior quality standards.