SpaceNXT Labs is glad to present the top stories within the aerospace industry for the month of July 2022.
Farnborough International Airshow
The Farnborough International Airshow held at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre (UK) is one of the world’s biggest aerospace events with over 1500 exhibitors from across 48 countries. This year, the event is scheduled between the 18th and 22nd of July 2022 with an expected footfall for 800,000 visitors from around 100 countries.
Microsoft launches AirSim
Project AirSim is a new platform running on Microsoft Azure to safely build, train and test autonomous aircraft through high-fidelity simulation.
The platform comes with the following advantages:
– High-fidelity simulation
– Data at any scale
– Pre-trained AI models
– Full-lifecycle platform
As Drones possess limitless capabilities ranging from surveillance, delivery to carrying passengers (eVTOLs), the AirSim platform can enhance and easily integrate with the Drone ecosystem.
Boeing rolls out Cascade Tool
Boeing has revealed a new data modeling tool to calculate the most effective scenarios for reaching carbon net-zero by 2050. The software tool, named Cascade, will assess the impact of different approaches to carbon neutrality in meticulous detail. Using the new tool, Boeing is assessing decarbonization strategies including fleet renewal, energy sources such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), hydrogen and electric propulsion, efficiency improvements and advanced technologies. Boeing stated that it will use the new tool with airline operators, industry partners, and policymakers to inform when, where, and how different fuel sources intersect with new airplane designs.
Drone Super Highway
The United Kingdom is set to become home to the world’s largest automated drone superhighway within the next two years. The initiative is a part of a £273m funding package that has been announced for the aerospace sector in the UK.
The objective of the drone superhighway effort is to create a dedicated corridor whose automated technology can take over the heavy-lifting of piloting UAVs – and in doing so, remove the risks of individual operators crashing into one another, thus increasing the security, fluidity, and ease so that a far greater number of UK businesses will use the craft. Once assembled in about two years’ time, Skyway will connect a 265 KM long UAV corridor connecting the airspaces above Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Coventry, and Rugby, and usher in beyond visual line of sight operation as the rule.
SpaceX’s 31st Launch
SpaceX managed a record 31 launches in 2021, but it has already achieved the same numbers for the current year while only half way through 2022 (as on 17th July 2022). 53 starlink internet satellites were lifted into orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX has been carrying out atleast one launch per week on an average and at this rate will be completing more than 50 launches by the end of the year.
Hydrogen fuel cell for Aviation
Hydrogen fuel source for aviation is gaining more momentum with technological advancements and an increased scrutiny on aircraft emissions.
– Rolls-Royce and Hyundai are partnering to develop a fuel-cell electric propulsion system for advanced air mobility. The automakers aim to deliver a joint fuel-cell electric aircraft demonstration by 2025.
Rolls-Royce is also pairing up with airline easyJet to develop and test hydrogen combustion engine technology for aircrafts. The goal of the collaboration, called H2ZERO, “is to demonstrate that hydrogen has the potential to power a range of aircraft from the mid-2030s onwards,” Rolls-Royce said.
– ZeroAvia, a developer of zero-emission solutions for commercial aviation, has announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PowerCell Sweden AB, a hydrogen fuel cell stack manufacturer, that will see joint development and series deliveries of at least 5,000 Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks for aviation. ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation, focused on hydrogen-electric aviation solutions to address a variety of markets, initially targeting a 300-mile range in 9-19 seat aircraft by 2024, and up to 1000-mile range in 40-80 seat aircraft by 2026.
– GKN Aerospace is leading a ground-breaking UK collaboration programme, called H2GEAR, to develop the company’s first hydrogen propulsion system for sub-regional aircraft. H2GEAR aims to develop a liquid hydrogen propulsion system for sub-regional aircraft that could be scaled up to larger aircraft.
GE Aviation to become GE Aerospace
GE Aviation is to change its name to GE Aerospace in a move executives say reflects the company’s intention to broaden its focus beyond aircraft engines. The change also reflects an intention to expand in non-engine segments of the aerospace industry.
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