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Alien robot to visit International Space Station

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The International Space Station is to receive a visit from an alien robot called Cimon, pronounced Kimon, from Planet Earth. 

Cimon – Crew Interactive Mobile CompanioN – was developed by Airbus in cooperation with IBM, and is described as an artificial intelligence-based assistant for astronauts for the DLR, or German, Space Administration.

The technology demonstrator, which is the size of a medicine ball and weighs around 5 kg, will be tested on the ISS by Alexander Gerst during the European Space Agency’s Horizons mission between June and October 2018. [Read more…] about Alien robot to visit International Space Station

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens launch electric hybrid plane

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Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens have teamed up to for what they call an “electric future partnership”, and have launched the E-Fan X hybrid-electric flight demonstrator

The electric revolution shows no sign of cutting out. Indeed it is accelerating and intensifying. 

New electric planes may mean quieter skies and fewer complaints from people living near airports.

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens have formed a partnership which aims at developing a near-term flight demonstrator which they say will be “a significant step forward in hybrid-electric propulsion for commercial aircraft”. (See picture and infographic below.) [Read more…] about Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens launch electric hybrid plane

Airbus chooses Stratasys system to 3D print components for new aircraft

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Stratasys has been chosen by Airbus to supply 3D printing and additive manufacturing systems for the production of components for aerospace company’s new plane. 

Airbus has already used the Stratasys FDM 3D Production System to produce 1,000 flight parts for use on its A350 XWB aircraft.

The 3D printed parts use a resin called Ultem 9085, which is certified to an Airbus material specifications to have a high strength to weight ratio and to be resistant to flame, smoke and toxicity – necessary for aircraft interiors.  [Read more…] about Airbus chooses Stratasys system to 3D print components for new aircraft

New Russian plane looking for room in global market dominated by Boeing and Airbus

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An MS-21 medium-range passenger plane, produced by Irkut Corporation, takes off in Irkutsk, Russia, May 28, 2017. Courtesy of Irkut / via Reuters

By Tim Hepher, Reuters

Russia’s new jetliner, which conducted its maiden flight on Sunday, may have a hard time challenging the sales duopoly of Boeing and Airbus, but it does point the way to radical changes in how they could be building jets in the future.

The MS-21, a new single aisle airliner produced by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, and its associate company Irkut, is the first passenger plane borne aloft by lightweight carbon-composite wings built without a costly pressurised oven called an autoclave.

The manufacturing process provides a test for a technology already being assessed by Western rivals, who are looking for cheaper and faster ways to build some of their aircraft with composites, according to aerospace executives and suppliers.  [Read more…] about New Russian plane looking for room in global market dominated by Boeing and Airbus