eVTOL aircraft design configurations and method of categorization

AAM, Advanced Air Mobility, eVTOL, Innovation, Sustainability

Several different eVTOL aircraft designs have emerged across the globe to serve Advanced Air Mobility; however, there is yet to be an international consensus on the taxonomy for such designs. This short article reviews some methods for eVTOL aircraft categorization and presents how some of the existing and emerging eVTOL aircraft designs could be distinguished according to a specific method of categorization.

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Defining Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sustainability through UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

AAM, Advanced Air Mobility, Sustainability

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is commonly thought to have potentially great social and economic benefits for the world, particularly in environmental protection and sustainability. However, while the goals for environmental protection are readily defined, the goals for sustainability need better harmonization and definition. This short note analyses AAM, and through discussions with industry experts, explores the possibility of defining the goals of sustainability in AAM using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

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An Air Transportation System-of-Systems Model

Innovation, Systems Engineering

An aircraft is but one of multiple systems within an overarching air transportation system-of-systems (ATS) influenced by multiple stakeholders and external political, economic sociological, legal, technological, and environmental scenario factors. Gosh et al, illustrate the ATS using an Atomic Model, which helps to visualize the multiple elements and the complexity of the air transportation system-of-systems. This short exposition introduces the ATS Atomic Model as developed by Gosh et al. and suggests an enhanced version of the Atomic Model to add stakeholders and clarify the relationships of the stakeholders in what is deemed to be a more holistic model of the ATS.

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Exploring the use of TRIZ to define an innovation search-space for electric motors.

Electric Motor, Innovation

The use of the TRIZ method as a systematic means for innovation, especially in defining an innovation search space, has attracted industrial interest. While the TRIZ method for systematic innovation has been demonstrated on various products, there are no documented studies of the method being applied to electric motors. Electric motors are of great interest in the industry today due to their role in reducing global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. This paper explores applying the TRIZ method to electric motors to define an innovation search space. Specifically, it uses an extended definition of the TRIZ trends of evolution against a list of available patents from the last five years. In employing this method, this study has identified several potential Trends of Evolution in electric motors that could be considered underdeveloped and an opportunity for further innovation.

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Material Safety considerations for future nanomaterial based Human-Machine Interface equipment and devices to aircrew

Advanced Materials

Nanomaterials have various extremely interesting properties which could be implemented into devices that could help the aeronautical industry achieve lower aircraft procurement costs, maintenance costs, and fuel consumption. However, despite a steady improvement in the understanding of nanotechnology, the uncertainty on the safety of the use of nanomaterials remains a potential challenge to the adoption of such a technology, especially as studies are showing potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the types of nanomaterials that could be applicable for the industry. One area of concern not fully explored and hence studied in this paper is the potential material risks of nanomaterials to the aircrew in the flight-deck which are deemed to be primarily through devices where there would be physical contact.

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