Information Source
: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/future-requirements-aerospace-engineering-business-ashok-sanmani
In
last few weeks I read this major news on air pollution; 1. ‘Fresh air is for
sale’ in China, A Canadian Start-up Company is selling fresh air in China’s
major cities and the first 500 bottles (of 7 liters) have been sold quicker
than expected. 2. Delhi government has enforced an experimental plan of
odd-even concept to reduce the number of vehicles on road to reduce percentage
of man-made CO2 and the government is also thinking stop the registration of
new high-powered diesel vehicles. And, on 05-Jan, Supreme Court has rejected
the appeal of Mercedes and other premier companies argument saying ‘Will your
cars emit Oxygen’….? About news are related to emission. May be above solutions
are short term precautionary measures.
The
long-run solution is, to design and build vehicles which emit less CO2. The
engineering industry is under tremendous pressure to reduce the CO2. From major
OEMs and Tier 1s, lot of experiments and researches are happening to reduce CO2
and NOx and it turned as major challenge to the engineering industry.
Even
Aerospace industry is also facing same issues on CO2 emission. “ACARE Chairman, Peter Hartman says “Attitude towards to
Environmental issues because of increase in airline traffic; ACARE (Advisory
Council for Aeronautical Research) in Europe in 2002 laid out targets to reduce
the emission; 50% reduction in CO2 ; 50% reduction in perceived noise; 80%
reduction in NOx by 2020”.
Below
picture shows a percentage of ‘greenhouse gas emissions’ by industry-wise:
Picture source from internet
Possible
probable ways to reduce the amount of CO2 and NOx irrespective of industry are;
increase of structural efficiency, development of advanced engines, design of
light weight structures using advanced metallic materials and composites,
correct estimation of loads and use of right factors, timely weight reduction
campaigns, alternate fuels, improved aerodynamics etc.
In
Sep and Nov 2014 I posted two articles on the role of advanced metallic and
composites materials in aerospace industry. In order to reduce CO2 use of
advanced materials is one of the major options available. Apart from aerospace
industry the industries like automotive, rail and wind energy industries seeing
huge benefit from this.
About
Aerospace industry:
The
man-made CO2 from commercial aviation is only up to 2% but the CO2 emission per
passenger per kilometer is 153gms which is much higher compared to other mode
of transports. Hence, aerospace industry is also under tremendous pressure to
reduce emission of CO2.
Picture source from internet
Since
future requirements for number of aircrafts are much higher compared to last
few decades, IoT also expected to play a vital role in manufacturing
engineering. This is basically to increase rate of production with minimized
errors. But, advanced engineering design and developments is the one which is
expected to bring emissions down.
- As per one of the Boeing
report, first century of composites is between 1940-2040, in that 75 years
have been passed and more research and developments have been carried out
from aerospace industry. As a result of this both Airbus and Boeing are
able to design and build the aircrafts with 50 plus percentage of
composites. The aerospace industry has seen huge benefit from the use of
composites which reduced the weight, CO2 emission and certain extent noise
level. The use of composites will also bring a more pleasant environment
for passengers as it will allow considerate increase in cabin humidity.
Both
Airbus and Boeing are working on new technologies which shall further improve
aerodynamic efficiency at reduced weight with less CO2 emission. Some of them
are;
From
Airbus:
- Under mission of ‘Aircraft
future 2050 Vision – Eco Climb, Express skyways, Free glide approach,
Ground operations and Power’
- Working on ‘Laminar flow
experiment on wing section’ along with GKN and Saab
From
Boeing and NASA:
- Working on reduced vertical
with active flow control technology under mission ‘Smaller Tails and Big
breakthroughs’
- Non-stick wings to get rid
planes of bug guts
- Shapeshifting of Aircraft wings
As
per reports, surely and shortly these researches and experiments are becoming
reality will bring huge benefit to the commercial aircraft category. The
outcome of some of these researches can be implemented in existing flying
aircrafts as retrofits and some in new designs.
Apart
from Boeing and Airbus other premier companies like Bombardier and Embraer are
also investing lot in composites and advanced technologies.
- Bombardier is following in
Boeing's footsteps with regard to introducing large-scale composite
structures in making commercial aircrafts. Bombardier management knows
that composites are the way to go. This is the future.
- Embraer says that, Lightning
strike, repair, durability under impact, post-buckling, metal-composite
interfaces, are some of those signs. These issues are being analyzed and
continue being a challenge. Knowing about that, Embraer has been investing
in trainings and incentives the development.
The
global advanced composites market is growing at a faster rate mainly due to the
growing demand in aerospace & defense, automotive, and wind energy
applications. In order to meet the increasing demand from global markets, the
leading companies recently invested heavily to increase their production
capacities. Investments are also being made in research facilities to develop
new technologies that reduce the manufacturing cost.
About
Engineering Services companies:
- In changed scenario of business
trend and requirements engineering services companies need to do more with
‘engineering’ than ‘services’ alone. This also indicates that, in future,
services type job opportunities are coming down and it will surely affect
the growth of some companies who does not understand the value of
engineering.
- In contradiction to this, some
engineering services companies are optimizing the cost by removing people
at senior level. To meet future requirements the companies need to improve
their technical strength otherwise, today’s their decision might become
expensive for such companies as the dimension of the business changing.
- With current gained experience
the companies shall do same type of work but that type of work may not
come again. Since the future requirements are different, different
approach need to be adopted. Otherwise, this increases unemployment rate.
- In last two decades Indian
aerospace industry has not able to create and develop 10 designated chief
engineers but, managed to create few hundred PMP holders.
- More qualified graduates (PhD’s
and Master graduates) need to spend their time in providing solutions to
technical problems, innovation and competency development areas. In one of
interview Airbus senior vice president said future lies in new competency,
technology and innovation.
- In India
universities/institutes are producing more BE/M Tech qualified graduates
than the requirement but industries need to make them as good engineers.
