Author name: Kirsten Propitius

Integration of MALE RPAS into European Airspace
Air Traffic Management

09 January 2023

R&D case: Integration of MALE RPAS into European Airspace

In addition to supporting defense operations, Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) have numerous civilian applications ranging from infrastructure inspection to search and rescue. However, the current regulatory environment in Europe inhibit such applications as they only permit MALE RPAS operations in segregated airspace. Furthermore, each MALE RPAS flight requires numerous permissions from national aviation authorities, and this process can be very time consuming.

Defence and Security

03 January 2023

Norwegian-Dutch nanosatellites successfully launched

Two Norwegian-Dutch nanosatellites were successfully launched today. “Birkeland” and “Huygens” were placed in orbit around the earth by the company SpaceX. MilSpace2 is a cooperation project between the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).

3D scanner KUKA robot at NLR Marknesse
Construction and Manufacturing

26 October 2022

R&D case: Sustainable Cost Efficient High Performance Composite Structures

The SuCoHS project focusses on new structural concepts with novel multi-material composites to provide high resistivity against thermal, mechanical and fire loading. In order to achieve the project objectives for sustainable and cost-efficient high performance composite structures, the SuCoHS concept focusses on the three main topics: design, manufacturing and operation.ot grown.

Scalair taxi test Deelen
Flight Operations and Certification

26 October 2022

R&D case: Scaled Flight Demonstrator - SFD

SCALAiR is part of Clean Sky2 Large Passenger Aircraft, and aims to validate scaled flight testing as a viable means for de-risking disruptive aircraft technologies and aircraft configurations to a high technology readiness level. The NLR activities involve ‘Test Aircraft Preparation and Qualification’ acceptance.

NLR BVLOS technology demonstrator drone
Platform System Design

26 October 2022

R&D case: Detect And Avoid system (ADACORSA)

To enable safe airspace integration of unmanned aircraft, a Detect And Avoid (DAA) system is required to evade other (manned) aircraft. One solution is to use a Cooperative Traffic Sensor based on transponder signals. Such a sensor is not yet available with a small form factor suitable for unmanned aircraft. Within the Airborne Data Collection on Resilient System Architectures (ADACORSA) project, such a sensor will be developed and tested in cooperation with the partners.

Air Traffic Management

26 October 2022

R&D case: Urban Air Mobility and U-Space (AMU-LED)

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) promises to be the next mobility revolution, enabling faster, more efficient and sustainable transport solutions (such as flying taxis and other large drones) throughout urban areas. But there are a number of challenges that need to be overcome for UAM to become a reality. These include the organisation of the lower-level airspace, the scale-up of operations in a safe way, integration with ATM, the development of an architecture that can support operations and public acceptance.

Digital twin proces monitoring
Construction and Manufacturing

26 October 2022

R&D case: Digital Twins for automated composite manufacturing

The aerospace manufacturing and production industries are increasingly challenged to be more competitive, and do more with less. To be able to comply with higher production rates, affordability and constant quality, high levels of automation are required for current-day manufacturing processes. This results in more parts meaning more process data to control and keep track of while the number of operators at the production floor has not grown.

F35 Lightning II (JSF) Leeuwarden 2016
Training and Simulation

21 October 2022

R&D case: SCOTT- Smart Controller Training Tool

Diverse and realistic scenarios for fighter controller training. Fighter controllers are essential for the safety and effectiveness of fighter pilots. They provide the pilots with a complete and correct air picture. Fighter controllers must be well trained to observe, assess and communicate in rapidly evolving situations. This includes training scenarios that are diverse and have realistic fidelity and scale in terms of the platforms involved and their behaviour.