Safran Landing Systems UK Ltd Public Funding

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The Optically Connected Landing Gear feasibility study partners (Oxsensis-Lead, Safran Landing Systems (UK) and Cranfield University) propose a feasibility study to enable future landing gear architectures and enhance performance, reliability and safety,and to allow the partners to test and create a robust business plan for a full collaborative development of an optically instrumented future landing gear product family. Led by optical instrumentation business Oxsensis, with partners comprising landing gear market leader Safran Landing Systems (UK) and Fibre-Bragg Grating optical technology R&D experts Cranfield University, this proposal meets the competition brief requirements for participants and relevance of partners. This feasibility study aligns strongly with the ATI Raising Ambition strategy in terms of Smart, Connected and More Electric Aircraft enabling advanced landing gear systems and addresses key technology target of improving integrated sensor systems. The Aerostructures of the Future strategic theme is also relevant as sensor-enabled developments in improved robustness, higher performance, and lower weight landing gear will be assisted by the realization of self-monitoring structures, incorporating advanced instrumentation and control systems. The study recognizes that significant interest has been shown by airframers in the use of optical instrumentation across the non-cabin airframe systems and the ATI is involved in a number of programmes addressing fuel systems, airframe structural health, and aero engine systems. The opportunity to build on this work and extend activity to the landing gear systems, and to consider whole-aircraft optical systems integration is timely as other systems begin to mature to TRL6\. The study includes both major classes of optical instrumentation, namely Fabry-Perot and fibre-Bragg Gratings and also considers other systems such as white light/plastic optical fibre systems -- so it comprehensively addresses relevant applicable technology in this application. The potential to take optical systems developments and integrate them within the landing system is a primary target of this feasibility study and the potential to then integrate across other airframe systems is also an ambition of this work. The benefits of an optically connected landing gear product are intended to be an improvement in safety and reliability, a reduction in operational interrupts, compatibility with future aircraft communication architectures and immunity to electrical noise hence compatibility with More Electric Aircraft developments. The key deliverable of this work is a focused business plan to define resource, investment, and a partnership to then take an optically connected landing gear product to market in aviation.

ALG will develop and combine new designs, methodologies and technologies to accelerate and catalyse benefits for current and next generation of landing gears. A streamlined and rationalised product and assembly process will be developed alongside the MTC, SMI and Sheffield University. Design methodologies and certification approaches with Bristol and Cranfield University. Innovative technology, such as Electron Beam Welding working with TWI and Birmingham University, additive manufacturing with Industrial suppliers, and super lightweight MMC structures with TISICS. Technologies will be incorporated into a 'FLAGSHIP' physical demonstration that will allow our internal and external customers, and industry to understand the art of the possible.

The Optimised Life for Landing Gear Assembly (OLLGA) project brings together top-rated academics with the landing gear world-leading manufacturer to work on a step change in the way landing gear is utilised operationally. Safran Landing Systems, the universities of Sheffield, Cranfield and Bristol will define and demonstrate how the remaining useful life of a landing gear can be adapted to its usage. Existing aircraft data will be enhanced with state-of-the-art AI technology to provide the required input to an adaptive fatigue computation model. This project will consolidate the UK as a centre of excellence in landing gear structural heath management.

LANDOne develops world-leading ambitious technologies to deliver the **next-generation landing-systems design**, manufacturing and assembly solution for the next generation **sustainable,** **digital, smart and connected aircraft**. LANDOne delivers novel technologies, extends the use of existing ones to the aeronautical sector and also develops methods, tools and capabilities to ensure that the future products are competitive and stay competitive. The innovation produced in **LANDOne spans across the whole life** of our landing-system and it is organized in four streams: * **Industrialisation** to optimize design and processes for industrialisation and cost reduction * **Maintenance & services** to reduce maintenance footprint through zero unplanned maintenance, increasing aircraft availability * **Performance & Autonomy** to improve aircraft and airport operation performance * **Sustainability** to minimize end-to-end environmental footprint to deliver a sustainable product, protecting the environment in line with Airline and industry environmental targets LANDOne aims at providing substantial improvement on the following figures of merit: **fuel consumption, industrial CO2, noise emission, non recurring cost, development time, time to market, recurring cost, final assembly line build time, direct maintenance cost, operational interrupt, in-service revenue, production rate ramp-up target**. LANDOne will push the innovation boundaries on the following subjects: * Develop methods, tools, processes and capabilities to ensure the **Landing-system architecture** is the optimum for future aircraft, * Optimise manufacturing and assembly of aircraft and landing-systems components using **automated and digital assembly** techniques, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, modular design and industry automation; * Develop **novel advanced sensors**; * Develop **Predictive Health Monitoring** services; * Improve the maintenance experience by **automatization of maintenance and enhanced human-machine interfaces**; * Wide-spread use of **Artificial Intelligence (AI)** capabilities for * design optimization * Improvement of maintenance activities * pushing boundaries of certification for AI algorithms on safety critical functions; * Digital traceability of landing-systems parts to build **digital twins**; * Develop methods, tool, process and capability to deploy **MBSE at aircraft level** to implement optimization of system of systems; * Develop advanced modelling and simulation for extending **virtual testing**; * Preparing for the **electrical revolution** by developing next generation actuation and exploring energy harvesting to power it; * **protecting the environment** by reducing consumables, developing sustainable manufacturing and decreasing the acoustic footprint; LANDOne provides the best opportunity for the UK companies to collaborate between them as well as with research organisation and Universities to be ready to deliver the next-generation Landing-system out of the UK.

"The project utilises high value alloyed titanium (Ti) swarf as a feedstock to sinter-forge via the new, novel technology FASTforge process into near net shapes for use in high strength and good fatigue life applications typically required within an automotive engine. 4 engine components of increasing complexity from both a manufacturing and performance perspective will be manufactured and functional bench tested. To achieve this, a new UK supply chain will be developed, with diversification for companies within traditional metal manufacturing and ""know how"" transfer from University of Sheffield, combined with multiple areas for IP generation. The FAST process has existed for many years, but when combined with forging it can release its untapped potential. The process will produce Ti at 20% of the cost of current Ti billet and with minimal waste compared to the 70% waste generated within the aerospace industry. Success will mean: a) lightweight & lower CO2 & PM emissions for automotive engines. Initially within low volume, but with increasing confidence with the product & developed manufacturing processes it can then move into higher volume applications b) growth opportunities for the supply chain, initially within the low volume vehicle industry but with the potential to move into the higher volume market and also the wider advanced manufacturing sectors of off-shore, rail, aerospace, non-auto engines, defense & low cost desalination. Exploitation in these other sectors is supported by the 4 components selected c) the metal forming industry can stay abreast of new technology in alternative metals and use world-leading materials research to halt the decline of an industry within the UK."

This project matures key technologies that will reduce costs to the operator; save fuel; improve ground operations; simplify manufacturing and simplify maintenance. The Project also defines how these Technologies will be deployed together on a future Wing/LG configuration for the first time successfully. Airbus will work with multiple partners and sub-contractors to mature these technologies, and prepare a definition of the Future Landing Gear. Each technology provides one or more benefits: New load/torque sensing technologies coupled with new ground control algorithms will limit structural loads during braking and save weight in the wing and the landing gear structure, thereby saving fuel. New composite components if suitably deployed could further contribute to Landing Gear weight reduction and fuel saving. The new ground control algorithms will simplify pilot workload on the ground, and ease operation under failure conditions. New robust sensing technology will improve basic reliability of brake temperature and tyre pressure sensing and enable a faster return to service in the event of an overload condition. New sensors and wheel modifications will enable dispatch with hotter brakes and achieve a shorter aircraft Turn Around Time. New Landing Gear materials which are corrosion resistant will reduce the cost of major overhaul and increase the time between them whilst the introduction of new maintenance tools will speed up and improve the servicing of the Shock Absorber. The Future Landing Gear project will mature each of these new items so that they can be deployed as necessary to existing aircraft programmes and also work out how they will be deployed together on the Landing Gear in a new aircraft application for the first time with minimal risk.

The Large Landing Gear of the Future project will develop, mature and demonstrate key technologies that will improve the efficiency of aircraft landing gears in their design, manufacture, operation and cost of ownership. It will take a holistic view of the landing gear system construction and life cycle seeking to benefit from closer integration of key components and functions that have historically been addressed separately. The project will use technology demonstrators representative of an operational landing gear to validate the project outcomes. Messier-Dowty Ltd will lead a strong consortium of partners and subcontractors drawn from UK industry, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres and academia to deliver the project.

A consortium lead by Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, Metalysis, University of Sheffield and the Advanced Forming Research Centre is working on the FASTForge project: From rutile sand to novel titanium alloy aerospace component in 3 steps. The aim of FASTForge is to develop a novel low cost titanium forging production process, unique to the UK. The production of this aerospace grade titanium at affordable price, will be an enabler for the introduction of more titanium on aerospace components but also introduction of titanium, a light and non corrosive material, to other industries such as the rail, automotive, heavy duty construction, defence…. The project will develop the raw material process, establish how it can be embodied in a new UK supply chain, develop cost effective manufacturing techniques and prove the capability in a landing gear application

This consortium will develop manufacturing technologies to challenge the current state of the art manufacturing system for complex landing gear components to achieve Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6). Funding opportunity with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is allowing developing technologies with partners (Academia or other industrials) to keep our competitive edge in the difficult to manufacture materials. MBD is the leader in the design, manufacture and testing of Landing Gears product. By working together with the UK Advanced Manufacturing research centres (AMRC and The MTC), the consortium will provide a powerful team to deliver challenging innovation to benefits UK Aerospace industry.

Messier-Bugatti-Dowty has partnered with The Technology Partnership, the University of Sheffield and the University of Cambridge to conduct a research project into health and usage monitoring for aircraft landing gears. The project aims to demonstrate how usage data can be captured and stored for a landing gear, how the real life experienced by a landing gear compares with the design assumptions, how life experience impacts on the health state of the landing gear and how that life data can be tracked using identity tagging technology. The project will also investigate self-learning mathematical modelling techniques that can reliably predict the loads on a landing gear using aircraft flight data with minimal additional sensors. The motivation for the project is for MBD to be able to offer its customers additional services that will reduce unscheduled maintenance of landing gears, increase airline operational efficiency and enhance the design of future landing gears. The collaboration between world leaders in their industrial fields and teams at the cutting edge of academic research is expected to result in increased jobs and business in the UK aerospace industry together with further reinforcement of the UK as a centre of excellence for innovation.

This project matures key technologies that will reduce costs to the operator; save fuel; improve ground operations; simplify manufacturing and simplify maintenance. The Project also defines how these Technologies will be deployed together on a future Wing/LG configuration for the first time successfully. Airbus will work with multiple partners and sub-contractors to mature these technologies, and prepare a definition of the Future Landing Gear. Each technology provides one or more benefits; Electric Taxi will save fuel by using the efficient aircraft Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide electrical power to move the aircraft using motors embedded in the wheels. New load/torque sensing technologies coupled with new ground control algorithms will limit structural loads during braking and save weight in the wing and the landing gear structure, thereby saving fuel. New composite components if suitably deployed could further contribute to Landing Gear weight reduction and fuel saving. The new ground control algorithms will simplify pilot workload on the ground, and ease operation under failure conditions. New robust sensing technology will improve basic reliability of brake temperature and tyre pressure sensing and enable a faster return to service in the event of an overload condition. New sensors plus Hydraulic Fluid Ignition testing and wheel modifications will enable dispatch with hotter brakes and achieve a shorter aircraft Turn Around Time. New Landing Gear materials which are corrosion resistant will reduce the cost of major overhaul and increase the time between them whilst the introduction of new maintenance tools will speed up and improve the servicing of the Shock Absorber. The Future Landing Gear project will mature each of these new items so that they can be deployed as necessary to existing aircraft programmes and also work out how they will be deployed together on the Landing Gear in a new aircraft application for the first time with minimal risk.

Cr6+ chemistry dominates the field of corrosion protection; however, its elimination by 2016 as currently recommended by REACH, requires new alternates to be found. Some alternatives have been proposed, but there is no wide acceptance of them and the acceptance criteria and test regime to support new developments, other than salt fog testing, which is widely seen as inadequate, do not exist. This is of particular concern to the aerospace industry as critical aerospace applications require the use of “paint finishes to protect the base metal from corrosion for up to 40 years to ensure the safety of passengers” (ASD position paper to ECHA, dated 13 September 2011). The development of valid, industry wide test methodologies, application of these to the development of REACH compliant replacements suitable for rapid deployment before 2016 is thus required. A consortium has been brought together to address this issue over 2 years.

Titanium matrix composites (TMC), silicon carbide fibre in a titanium alloy matrix, are novel materials with a unique combination of strength and low weight attractive in a range of applications e.g. aerospace, space and energy sectors. The objective of the TICCRAMM – Titanium Matrix Composite Cost Reduction and Manufacturing Maturity - project is to develop existing production technologies for TMC to lay the foundation for a high value supply chain into these sectors. The proposal brings together a consortium led by TMC specialist SME TISICS of OEMs Rolls-Royce and Messier Bugatti Dowty, SKYLON spacecraft development SME Reaction Engines and supply chain partner Bodycote HIP. The project aims to resolve key technological challenges for greater manufacturing maturity and viable manufacturing economics; reducing silicon carbide fibre process steps, developing customisable net shape manufacturing methods, new low cost and / or reusable tooling materials and improving feedstock conversion. Current low volume demand, low maturity and manufacturing methods dispersed between OEMs and SMEs make the technology uneconomic at present; success will lead to a world-leading, low-cost integrated capability for TMC as the foundation of a future UK supply chain for demanding applications, markets, and environments which are mass critical and unsuited to polymer composites. In aerospace TMC can reduce weight and thus fuel burn, emissions and life cycle costs. Similarly, improved performance, reliability and service life can be achieved in other sectors.

This project will apply new high strength stainless steel materials to the challenging Landing Gear environment with the key objective to minimise corrosion related maintenance and enable greatly extended Time between overhaul (TBO). Landing Gear is today a significant contributor to the operational cost of the management of an Aircraft fleet. Corrosion contributes to operational interrupts leading to delays and cancellations of Aircraft. Airlines have confirmed that overhaul cost, largely driven by corrosion, is one of the major contributors to the maintenance cost of Landing Gear. Corrosion has been identified as the key factor limiting TBO to 10 years on current aircraft programs and also around one third of the overhaul repair bill. Studies have shown that increasing the TBO from 10 to 14 years would reduce Landing Gear cost of ownership by around 10$/FH per aircraft. The project is collaboration with Messier-Dowty Ltd for landing gear design material requirements, Carpenter Technology Corp for corrosion resistant steels and the AMRC in Sheffield for advanced manufacturing and test capability. Airbus will be responsible for performance Requirements, Integration, Certification and test requirements aspects of the Technology.

This project will apply new electric actuation systems for braking, steering and extension/retraction in place of existing hydraulic systems to the challenging landing gear environment with the key objective to minimise maintenance, increase availability and reduce the cost of landing gear ownership

NGCW will ensure that mature technologies are available to enable the design, development, validation, manufacture, equipping and testing of lightweight aerodynamically efficient and economic to produce wings which are optimised with the overall aircraft ensuring minimum environmental impact. HIVOL will investigate and develop low cost manufacturing technologies that will enable high volume wing manufacture for next generation aircraft.

Awaiting Public Summary

The public description for this project has been requested but has not yet been received.

Awaiting Public Summary