Global IT specialist CENIT is set to develop a software toolset for an automated bionic design, as part of the BionicAircraft research project.
Co-funded by the European Commission’s ‘Horizon 2020' programme, the three-year BionicAircraft project supports large-scale application of additive manufacturing in the aviation industry, as well as promotes reducing and controlling emissions in the same sector.
Currently under development by a consortium of companies, the project also intends to enable implementation of additive manufacturing and bionic design during the aircraft lifecycle.
As part of its role in BionicAircraft, CENIT is currently using streamlined design methodologies to develop a solution that simplifies the product development phase for lightweight bionic structures.
CENIT innovative aerospace solutions manager Michael Schwartz said: “One of the main reasons why additive manufacturing and 3D printing has not yet had a major impact on aircraft manufacturing is the elaborate design process.
“Since this is not yet automated, it must be carried out via a series of different software packages. Specialised software is also needed to process data for the 3D printing machines.
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By GlobalData"During the design phase, the engineers thus have to switch back and forth between different tools. This makes the process time-intensive, and that in turn makes it expensive.
“CENIT’s work thus focuses on a major simplification of the design process. To achieve this, we are integrating all 3D print, design and data conditioning processes into a single toolset for automated bionic design. That way, we can help establish a consistent digital process chain.”
Apart from CENIT, Airbus, Laser Zentrum Nord (LZN) and Institute for Laser, System Technologies (iLAS) at TU Hamburg-Harburg in Germany and others are also involved in BionicAircraft.
