Construction and Manufacturing

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.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) for metal manufacturing
Construction and Manufacturing

25 August 2022

Collaboration is the key ingredient in additive manufacturing

A broad and effective implementation of additive manufacturing technologies requires collaboration. This is essential to enable multidisciplinary projects typical of additive manufacturing, where different phases need to be covered  from conceptual design to certification of a 3D printed part. But next to a technical collaboration, the co-operation and interaction between end-users, manufacturers and researchers is necessary to achieve the best solution possible.

ESA Galileo constellation
Construction and Manufacturing

03 May 2022

NSO awards €500k for research into manufacturing of satellite propellant tanks

In close collaboration with the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) challenges entrepreneurs to develop space applications. Their products must contribute to the ESA programs. Dawn Aerospace has been awarded €500k for this through the phased innovation competition 'Small Business Innovation Research' (SBIR).

Environmental structure testing
Construction and Manufacturing

21 March 2022

'Sharp' designing with a world first

NLR was the first to purchase a testing machine that helps to map the behaviour of material under specific loads much faster than was possible up to now. This enables NLR to draw up stricter design rules. Not only does this save on costs, but it also reduces resource consumption and thus waste while maintaining the desired quality.

Platform Technology

31 August 2021

R&D case: Integrated antennas for aerostructures (ACASIAS)

Advanced Concepts for Aero-Structures with Integrated Antennas and Sensors (ACASIAS). The European ACASIAS project will be reducing the energy consumption of aeroplanes in the future by improving their aerodynamic performance. NLR, together with Fokker Aerostructures, is investigating smarter ways of using parts of the fuselage by adding functions to them, such as building in a beamforming antenna.

CFRP Vinci Thrust Frame - composite
Construction and Manufacturing

12 July 2021

R&D case: CFRP Vinci thrust frame for the Ariane 6 launcher

Optimising the engine thrust frame of the Ariane 6 launcher. The Ariane 6 Launcher will enter a very competitive commercial launcher market. New entrants to this market have reduced the launch price per unit mass payload by half (50%). Compared to Ariane 5 the production costs of the Ariane 6 launcher should be reduced by at least 50%.