Aerospace R&D
Aerospace R&D has been a driving force for innovation pushing major technological advancements that have redefined transportation, led to incredible discoveries, and sheparded in a fourth industrial revolution—digital transformation—which will create exciting opportunities for revolutionary transitions. AIAA can provide thought leadership and be a trusted voice, guiding the larger community through this shift. Interdisciplinary work fostered by advanced collaboration promises to yield breakthroughs in aeronautics and aerospace systems. Digital transformation is driving model-based technological advances such as digital engineering, digital twin, and digital thread, which are expected to accelerate the pace of R&D to deployment of advanced systems significantly. Such innovation can lower overall total lifecycle cost and ultimately improve customer experiences.
Across aeronautics and aerospace, we are information rich, but knowledge poor. We need smarter collaboration between people and their machines and tools to harvest the data. Digital transformation will allow us to capture knowledge, use it in models, and then apply it to new materials. Rapid prototyping and integration will accelerate first-design feasibility. We also need to enable artificial intelligence and machine learning to make our machines smarter. Shifting routine tasks to machines will allow our workforce to focus on tackling the next generation of technology challenges.
Within the Aerospace R&D Domain, we must address significant issues including potential cyberattacks on aerospace systems and building autonomous systems from a moral, ethical, and legal perspective. We also must find ways to accelerate the deployment of technology, with appropriate testing to help ensure success.
- Insights into the AIAA Domain Approach
Aerospace America
The AIAA Domain Leads share their insights on how the Domain approach will help AIAA move the industry forward by addressing key priorities and issues.
Priority Areas in Aerospace R&D
Advanced System Engineering Tools and Techniques How do we embrace digital twin concepts being inspired by engineered resilient systems and accelerate adoption of model-based systems engineering (MBSE)? How do we create frameworks to incorporate new technologies into system engineering methodologies, such as human-AI teaming and advanced materials more effectively? And we must leverage new digital techniques to reverse the trend of increasing timelines from first flight to initial operational capability.
Autonomy / Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning We must safely insert advanced information technologies into aerospace systems and provide smart contingency management capabilities across all aerospace platforms. How can we leverage lessons from the automotive industry to help us address emerging issues, such as increasing congestion in both air and space traffic? We should consider how we adopt a human-centered AI approach.
Resilient and Assured Systems With increasing levels of autonomous control, how do we ensure that the resulting behaviors satisfy legal, moral, and ethical perspectives? As we create increasingly more complex and adaptive systems, how do we ensure that these systems are as safe, or safer, than previous generations? How do we accelerate lessons learned and incorporate into already deployed systems? As systems become more self-aware, can they adapt their control systems to reflect sensor or mechanical disruptions?
Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced Materials How do we incorporate multifunctional materials, create lighter systems through the application of new materials and new manufacturing techniques, and accelerate the certification of new materials and new manufacturing processes?
Events
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28th Annual Design/Build/Fly Competition
18 April - 21 April 2024
Wichita, Kansas, USA
AIAA and the AIAA Foundation invites all university students to participate in the Cessna/Raytheon Missile Systems Student Design Build Fly competition. -
Dayton Digital Transformation Summit
8 May - 10 May 2024
Dayton, Ohio, USA
The Dayton Digital Transformation Summit is a three-day event on Digital Transformation to educate and align the Dayton Region and interested parties (both locally and nationally) to support the USAF Digital Transformation.
Courses
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Composite Structures: Process Analysis, Progressive Damage, Failure Analysis, and Advanced Software - Online Short Course (May 13-16, 2024)
13 May - 16 May 2024
This new, practical course taught by premier experts in Composite Aircraft Structures will cover advanced topics in composite analysis and use software from Digital Blue to demonstrate example frameworks.
Open for registration. Register Now
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The Anatomy of Autonomy – Online Short Course (Starts June 3, 2024)
3 June - 19 June 2024
This course enables a fundamental understanding of autonomous capabilities, the foundations of their design, and their impact on current and future aviation and space systems.
Open for registration. Register Now
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Financial and Business Acumen for Navigating the Aerospace Industry
News
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2024 AIAA DEFENSE Forum to Focus on Accelerating Technology Transition for Battlespace Dominance
22 March 2024
AIAA has announced its three-day program for the 2024 AIAA DEFENSE Forum, 16–18 April at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland. -
AIAA Statement on Third SpaceX Starship Test Flight
14 March 2024
AIAA issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher: “Congratulations to the SpaceX team on today’s test flight of Starship from Starbase, Texas. We are excited to witness this new launch vehicle reaching orbit. -
Challenger Center and AIAA Announce 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Awardees
5 March 2024
Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announce Jenn Donais, Sarah Leonard, and Darryl Newhouse as the winners of the 2024 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award.
Past Events
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2024 IEEE Aerospace Conference
2 March - 9 March 2024
Big Sky, Montana, USA
The International Conference for Aerospace Experts, Academics, Military Personnel, and Industry Leaders. The 2024 conference will be the 45th and is set for 2–9 March 2024. -
Aerospace Perspectives Series: Testing and Validating Electric Aircraft Powertrain and Propulsion Systems from an Automotive Electrification Perspective
25 January 2024 1200 - 1300 (Eastern Standard Time)
Virtual
During this webinar, dSPACE, EMPS Consulting, and AIAA will review the adjacencies found when developing electrical powertrain and propulsion systems in the automotive and aerospace industries. -
2024 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (AIAA SciTech Forum)
8 January - 12 January 2024
Orlando, Florida, USA
The AIAA SciTech Forum program covers the science, technologies, and policies that are shaping the future of aerospace. The forum is the largest event for aerospace research, development, and technology in the world.
Aerospace R&D Playlist
Task Force
The AIAA Autonomous Vehicles and Systems Task Force recommends a national R&D plan for autonomous capability for aeronautics and aerospace. Autonomy will drive new missions and capabilities by improving performance, lowering cost, enhancing just-in-time maintenance, and/or lowering risk for aeronautics systems. We are seeing a global race to integrate autonomous components, especially in AAM systems. Just as the Biden Administration has set a visionary goal for electric cars, autonomous air systems, including AAM aircraft, should soon follow a similar visionary path.
AIAA Aerospace R&D Lead
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Greg Zacharias
AIAA Aerospace Research and Development Domain Lead; AIAA Senior Member, Pasteur Labs