Platform System Design

Electric Aircraft System Integration EnableR (EASIER)
Platform System Design

20 September 2023

R&D case: Electric Aircraft System Integration EnableR (EASIER)

To reduce the impact of aviation on the climate, the aviation industry needs to develop solutions that drastically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Hybrid electric flight is one of the cornerstones of our progress towards sustainable aviation. However, the significantly increased electric power levels associated with having electric propulsion on board yield both thermal and electromagnetic challenges.

Sustainability and Environment

03 July 2023

Scalable electric solution for all aircraft sizes

EASIER, a project funded by the European Commission, has come to an end. The consortium of parties from five different European countries has been able to develop enabling technologies for scalable solutions that deal with increased electric power levels of (hybrid) electric aircraft.

Screenshot AURA (ATM U-space InteRfAce)
Air Traffic Management

05 June 2023

R&D case: ATM U-space interface (AURA)

The AURA (ATM U-space InteRfAce) project (SESAR 2020 project PJ34 ) investigated the development of concepts and technologies that are necessary to allow existing ATM systems and future U-space operations to interact in a safe, predictable and seamless way. One of the basic assumptions of the project is that manned and unmanned movements take place in ATM U-space Shared Airspace (AUSA). AUSA can be delegated to be either ATM or U-space controlled. U-space traffic is then segregated by geo-cages around the U-space delegated part of AUSA. Contingencies and emergencies needed to be mitigated by delegating additional AUSA volumes to U-space.

ATTILA: Advanced Testbed for Tiltrotor Aeroelastics
Platform System Design

15 May 2023

R&D case: Advanced Testbed for Tiltrotor Aeroelastics (ATTILA)

Rotor blade designs have to be sufficiently strong for wind tunnel testing and must have dynamic characteristics that resemble the full-scale behaviour. This implies that the blade design should have a closely matching stiffness and mass distribution along its entire span in comparison with the target properties of the aeroelastically scaled blades.

Taxi testing DEP SFD at Deelen air base
Flight Operations and Certification

11 May 2023

Setback for research project with electric scale model

During a ground test, a scaled, unmanned aircraft caught fire. Despite the disappointment, the project partners are determined to persevere. The cause of the incident has not yet been determined, but it serves as a reminder that extensive testing remains necessary.

SFD mission flight Italy - Taranto-Grottaglie Airport
Sustainability and Environment

05 December 2022

Accelerating the development of future aircrafts

Aviation needs to become more sustainable and the requirements for that include innovative aircraft models and alternative means of propulsion. To accelerate those developments, Royal NLR is working with Airbus and the Italian and French knowledge institutes CIRA and ONERA to investigate the potential of scale models that mimic the dynamic movements of full-size aircraft. “We’re making sure that the aircraft of the future can be developed faster and more efficiently,” says Leo Timmermans, a senior R&D engineer at NLR.

SFD mission flight Italy - Taranto-Grottaglie Airport
Flight Operations and Certification

28 November 2022

How to accelerate development for future aircraft

Aviation needs to become more sustainable and the requirements for that include innovative aircraft models and alternative means of propulsion. To accelerate those developments, Royal NLR is working with Airbus and the Italian and French knowledge institutes CIRA and ONERA to investigate the potential of scale models that mimic the dynamic movements of full-size aircraft.  “We’re making sure that the aircraft of the future can be developed faster and more efficiently,” says Leo Timmermans, a senior R&D engineer at NLR.