Aerospace technology is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Aircraft are getting more efficient, and space exploration is moving forward quickly.
Innovative material technology enables manufacturers to produce stronger and lighter aerospace parts. It reduces flight weight, which lowers fuel costs and simplifies maintenance.
Aerospace engineers are constantly working on improving the safety of air travel. They also work to reduce airplane emissions and comply with government regulations.
Artificial Intelligence
AI can help on the factory floor and in aerospace production by automating tasks, reducing the number of errors that may occur while human operators work, and enabling greater productivity. There are various website where AI-powered applications can be found to help optimize supply chain management for aerospace companies. These applications include inventory management and demand forecasting, which can assist companies in saving money on materials and labor costs.
Predictive maintenance is an area where AI can help aerospace businesses by tracking data on component performance and use, which can be used to schedule maintenance and repairs. It reduces downtime, cutting productivity and costing organizations thousands of dollars in lost revenue. Likewise, generative AI software can help reduce the cost of digital twins by eliminating the need to purchase costly hardware and compute infrastructure.
Electric Propulsion Systems
The journey to the Moon, Mars, and beyond requires a variety of spacecraft, from powerful rockets to advanced electric propulsion thrusters. Rather than burning fuel in an exothermic reaction, electric propulsion systems ionize and accelerate atoms of inert propellant gases to generate high-efficiency thrust.
This technology can lower launch costs by using less fuel and reducing overall spacecraft weight to permit it to carry more payload mass, like advanced scientific instruments or technology demonstrations. For example, the OTVs transporting cargo to and from Gateway, a future international space station orbiting the Moon, will utilize an electrically propelled system.
The technology could also be used in electric aircraft, revolutionizing air travel by eliminating emissions and noise pollution. It will require advanced battery technology and lightweight materials that are advancing rapidly.
Advanced Air Mobility
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has been a hot topic in the aviation industry since 2017, as it envisions new pathways in the skies above congested city centers. More broadly, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) encapsulates technologies and infrastructure that support passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft and cargo flights within cities and between metropolitan areas.
Many manufacturers are profound in SFAR certification efforts and have been performing functional tests on prototypes worldwide. These vehicles are poised to transform on-demand aviation.
Space-Focused Communication Systems
Good communication is essential for collecting science and status data from spacecraft and navigating them throughout the Solar System. This is incredibly challenging when communicating with satellites and spacecraft that travel far from Earth.
Optical communications systems offer reduced latency compared to radio frequency (RF) communication technologies and enable more efficient data transfer. They also consume less power, which translates into lower operational costs.
A laser communications relay demonstration on the ISS is set to demonstrate a bidirectional 100 Mbps optical link. This key technology enables future interplanetary space missions with reduced launch costs, a more agile operations model, and a sustainable low-Earth orbit (LEO) communication network. This is an area of research in which Discovery and preparation have contributed through a series of studies.
Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a process that builds parts layer upon layer from digital 3D model data rather than cutting away or shaping material as in traditional machining. It enables parts to be reproduced nearly precisely, reducing the variance between batches and helping cut costs.
AM can produce lightweight aircraft components with optimized design methods and superior strength-to-weight ratios. These lighter components can lower fuel consumption and boost aerodynamics.
Metal AM processes can be used with aerospace-grade alloys like titanium and Inconel to craft parts with exceptional durability, corrosion resistance, strength, and precision. It can improve safety and help manufacturers achieve better performance and cost efficiency. However, AM’s true potential in the industry will only be realized when it is fully integrated into existing manufacturing processes.