Innovate the future aircraft

This infographic provides an overview of efforts to innovate the future aircraft, highlighting priorities related to making flight sustainable, the impact of electrifying propulsion and how electrification adds new complexity to the engineering process. It compares static and document-based engineering with dynamic and model-based engineering and outlines how a fly-it-before-you-build-it approach makes it possible to predict aspects of aircraft performance, optimize designs and innovate faster.

Aircraft design trends and sustainability

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving fuel efficiency and minimizing the noise footprint of future aircraft are among industry priorities. Aircraft design trends and sustainability efforts in the industry related to these objectives include electrifying the propulsion of future aircraft. Timelines for electric air taxis, hybrid-electric aircraft and hydrogen or fuel cell aircraft are forecast within the next 25 years.

The effect of electric propulsion on the aircraft engineering process

The effect of electric propulsion on the aircraft engineering process is added complexity. Electrification is a pathway for aerospace operations to achieve priorities for reduced environmental impact, but operational siloes limit gains. Unlocking the potential of the digital twin and thread makes it possible to manage challenges in pursuit of faster innovation with model-based systems engineering.

Digital technologies transforming aerospace engineering

In addition to enabling priorities related to climate change, digital technologies transforming aerospace engineering are fueling operational improvements for all aspects of innovation in aerospace. Solutions like Simcenter improve collaboration, remove silos and enable integrated, dynamic performance in the development of future aircraft.

It’s time to rethink the next generation of aircraft engineering. This infographic is a great place to start.