(TENTATIVE) Competitiveness and digital transformation in aviation – advancing further capabilities, digital approach to design

The design cycle of an aircraft is a complex subject that brings together many engineering disciplines. A considerable amount of effort is invested in the harmonization and optimization of the aircraft design considering the contribution of all disciplines . The efficiency in the design processes of an aircraft component is ever more relevant than in any other sector, as there is limited room for producing and testing prototypes due to their high costs, so preliminary designs must be as optimized as possible to reduce testing phases and ensure the economic feasibility. One of the challenges that the sector faces today to remain competitive has to do with the reduction of the long design and development cycles of the aircraft components while meeting the regulatory and safety requirements. In this context, the digitalization and the development of novel design and analysis tools for novel aircraft components production and optimization (i.e., weight, performance) is critical. In this sense, Airbus started the transformation called DDMS (Digital Design Manufacturing & Services), responding to the increasingly competitive marketplace while going towards the goal of being the first major manufacturer to offer climate-neutral commercial aircraft by 2035 . Moreover, there are other initiatives at international level that are relying on 3D printing for the production of aircraft components prototypes. The use of Artificial intelligence for reducing the design cycles is also another approach that is being currently researched. The project will address the development of a novel Design for Manufacturing concept architecture for multidisciplinary design, optimization and uncertainty quantification, further advancing the state of the art design ecosystem methods. The project will set the grounds for Integrated product design based on realistic numerical/experimental procedures, Virtual/testing results, manufacturing defects, process parameters & measurements, ML/ROM assist.