5 Trends in the Aerospace Industry

The global aerospace industry is undergoing significant changes due to innovation and digital transformation. These changes focus on improving propulsion, autonomous system, additive manufactured parts, and maintenance, repair, & operation (MRO). These trends add complexity to the flight system which can be addressed by using multiphysics simulation solution. Read below to gain in-depth about these evolving trends of Aerospace Industry:

Use of Electric and Hybrid Engines to reduce Flight Costs and Emissions

The future aircraft engines need to output more power, produce less noise, consume less fuel, and emit fewer emissions. In order to achieve this, the aerospace industry is working on improving the efficiency of combustion engines and exploring electric and hybrid propulsion systems. This enhancement in the aircraft will directly reduce the flight costs as well.

Autonomous Flight System

Autonomous drones are the future of the aerospace industry. Many companies are building a business case for local air transportation called urban air mobility (UAM). The idea behind UAM is to build an autonomous flight system.

Maintenance, Repair, and Operation (MRO) will depend on Simulated Data

The increase in the number of aircraft is helping MRO market to grow steadily. The simulated data can be used to predict the performance and functioning of aircraft. Therefore, it will help the industry to understand better, and predict, how systems are performing. 

Additive Manufactured Parts

Additive manufacturing parts combined with topology optimization and can help engineers to simplify maintenance, save fuel, and make the supply chain more efficient.

Use of Multiphysics Simulation Solution

Multiphysics simulations solution will reduce complexity and minimize risk in the Aerospace Industry. It will help in predicting how the aircraft systems will react in the real world.

All in all, virtual realities and multiphysics simulation are the only solutions to test the future aircraft systems and to predict how these systems will react to possible situations in the short timeframe.

Nasa’s 2020 Mission: The Mars Helicopter

NASA is working on its next mission to launch a helicopter to the Mars. The project is scheduled in July 2020. The project is in the development phase at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) since the year 2013. Some of its features are:

  • The Mars helicopter will weigh around 1.8 kg and will be designed to operate in the planet’s extremely thin atmosphere.
  • Earth, being several light minutes away, the helicopter will be highly autonomous.
  • It will receive and operate on the commands from the ground to share information.

The Mars helicopter is a high risk- high reward project and if successful, it may open new opportunities in interplanetary exploration.

AeroAstro Engineering Student Explores Living on Mars 

Planet Mars has been fascinating the engineers all over the world for a long time. Researchers and scientists have been working to design simulated environments, rovers and safelights to explore the planet and its life possibilities.
To experience the living conditions and environment, a project called Poland Mars Analogue Simulation was designed.
The project aims to support real missions to Mars by giving researchers an opportunity to see what living and working on Mars will be like.
A team of engineers and researchers started experimenting with this project.
One among them was Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAE) graduate student Jennifer Pouplin. She has been an enthusiastic student studying astrodynamics and propulsion which made her a perfect fit for the experiment.
This was one of a kind of mission that is expected to help researchers potentially explore the planet.