AvBuyer Magazine – August 2019

116
Vol 23 Issue 8 2019
AVBUYERMAGAZINE http://www.AVBUYER.com

A

The flight-shield may include several stages of

criticality, acting as spheres within the primary

sphere. Penetration of each sphere will trigger a

greater concern and a unique reaction, as any

‘threat’ approaches closer to the physical aircraft.

Algorithms will determine the appropriate

avoidance decision to be taken by each aircraft

involved in an intrusion event.

Current unmanned aircraft operate with geo-

fencing to keep away from sensitive locations and

airports. This technology is already in our midst and

should gradually mature into something useful for

much larger Part 25 aircraft, as used in Business

Aviation.

While for today’s unmanned aircraft geo-fencing

pertains to avoidance of disallowed airspace,

tomorrow’s aviators will also employ geo-fencing

techniques to protect the aircraft itself.

Apart From CNS? EEP...

The spherical virtual aircraft (that includes the

physical structure with its payload) will benefit from

other advancing technologies than just CNS that

enhance aerodynamic performance through

improvements in Energy, Engine and Propulsion

(EEP). This equates to the ‘Four Ps’:

• Power Source (the fuel of efficient energy)


• Powerplant(the engine of efficient energy
  conversion)


• Propulsion (transferring energy into motion)


• Platform (the optimum aerodynamic vehicle
  used for transport/enterprise).

Which Current Technologies are Shaping

the Future?

Including geo-fencing, there are several

technologies that have been recently introduced or

advanced that will shape the future...

• Assuming propeller technology, the
  development of low propeller tip speeds,
  halving that of helicopters today and essentially
  lowering noise levels. For vehicles operating
  below 400ft and in urban areas this will be
  essential.


• The fusion of electric and traditional turbine in
  the form of hybrid engine technology.


• Development of eVTOL aerodynamic efficiency,
  reducing demand on the energy source and
  increasing load capacity, all at less cost.


• Stabilization in all axes to a high level of accuracy
  and response. Achieved by miniature Earth-
  referenced inertial systems emerging from
  today’s unmanned aircraft and leveraging those
  used in business jets today.


• Energy source as reliable and efficient, with low
  weight and sufficient demand capacity to
  provide power for future engines. (This is
  perhaps the primary challenge facing electric
  aircraft development where carriage
  requirements include people and cargo. One
  interesting disadvantage of batteries as an
  energy source is that – unlike jet fuel – the
  batteries weigh the same at taxi-out as they do
  at taxi-in. Fuel burns off, decreasing the gross
  weight of the aircraft as a flight progresses.)


• The replacement of gearboxes and multiple
  traditional engines with Distributed Electric
  Propulsion (DEP) technology. A family of
  electrically driven propulsors providing lift and
  thrust, redundancy and weight distribution, and
  located at points of maximum flight dynamic
  efficiency.


• Continued evolution of ‘fly by wire’ technology.


• Several evolving, electric-based, enabling
  technologies as well as the advancement of
  those in use today.

1

AVIONICS AVBUYER.com A

Figure A: The Projected ‘Virtual Spherical Aircraft’



Avionics.qxp_Finance 16/07/2019 09:57 Page 2