Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies has brought unprecedented freedom to the fabrication of functional parts with high complex, multi-material and gradient density structure.
However, currently only traditional design methods are available for AM design process, which do not take full advantage of AM capabilities. Therefore, a new design method with the consideration of all aspects of AM advantages is urgently in need.
A detailed literature review on traditional design methods is presented with focused attention on the potential of using these methods to design functional parts for Additive Manufacturing processes. Based on thorough understanding and comparison of current structure design methods, a new design approach that integrates topological and functional optimizations for AM products is presented.
With this method, an essential link is established between topological optimization result and various functional parameters of complex structure. Parts can be designed in multi levels for multi functions simultaneously. This design method provides an important foundation for future research on designing AM products with improved multiple functions and optimized topology.
According to IATA, 65 countries currently have rules for the use of small UAVs. And among EU countries, France is a pioneer: Government decrees already regulate UAV use and parliament has voted in a law coming into force next year that will punish users of UAVs flying over airports and other sensitive areas with fines or prison.
Current common European rules only cover UAVs weighing above 150 kilograms, but small UAVs can be used to deliver services in urban areas, collect data for a wide range of industries, inspect infrastructure, and aid farming. "UAVs mean innovation, new services for citizens, new business models and a huge potential for economic growth,"EU Transport Minister Violeta Bulc said in a statement. "We need the EU to be in the driving seat and have a safe UAV services market up and running by 2019. The EU needs to take a leading role worldwide in developing the right framework for this market to flourish, by unleashing the benefits for key economic sectors." added.
The aim is to have the regulatory framework functioning by 2019, with basic services like registration and e-identification. The blueprint unveiled from the European Commission, the EU executive, covers allowing drones to operate in high density under the supervision of fleet operators. The Commission cited estimates that the drone services market could grow up to €127bn in the next few years, so the demand for regulation is increasing with the rising use of drones and the risk of collisions. The European Commission said it hopes negotiations involving the European Parliament and 28 member states will be completed by the end of the year as a key part of the process. The idea is to build a system similar to that of Air Traffic Management for manned aviation, that would supply information to allow UAVs to fly safely and avoid obstacles or collisions.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which sets global standards for the aviation industry, counted 856 cases worldwide between January 2013 and August 2015 of a UAV getting too close to a plane for comfort, so the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is trying to establish a global framework for the future use of UAVs. Fortunately, there have been no collisions to date, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) reported in February.
Airbus has demonstrated he benefits of using UAVs for aircraft visual inspection at the Farnborough International Airshow.
With this new method, the aircraft downtime for inspection is reduced to 10 to 15 minutes, instead of 2 hours using conventional methods.
The images catched up by the UAV cameras and especially those showing any potential non-quality such as scratches, dents and painting defects, are compiled in a 3D digital model, recorded in a database and then analysed.
In addition, picture analysis can be done anytime afterwards and in an office, so the benefits of this innovative tool and process are significant: “The use of this new technology offers better working conditions including improving the safety and comfort for the quality inspectors”, says Nathalie Ducombeau, Airbus head of quality.
Avionis Services has sold a minority stake to EAT (European Advanced Technology), a subsidiary of IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) established since 1989 in France. Thus, the Brazilian may engage in manufacturing and marketing of aircraft systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), sensors and aircraft upgrades. (Read more)
According to the new MarketsandMarkets' research report “Small UAV Market by Trends (Mini, Micro, Hand Held UAV), by Propulsion (Hydrogen, Electric, Solar, Lithium ION), by Payload (NBC Detection, Telemetry Systems, Software Systems, Meteorology), by Application (Civil, Military, Security), by Region & by Country – Global Forecast to 2014 – 2019″, the Small UAV Market is expected to register growth with CAGR of 21.70%, and reach 2.2 million by the end of 2019.
It provides information about the leading competitors in the global Small UAV Market and apart from a general overview of the companies; it also provides details on their financial positions, key products, their unique selling points and key developments. The report also analyzes the market share on the basis of payloads used in UAVs. The report highlights the revenue analysis of the small UAV market with respect to countries such as the U.S., Austria, France, Germany, Spain, Norway, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Japan etc. This research report also segments the market on the basis of products, types, application and geography, country, forecasting revenues, market share and analyzing trends in each of the sub segments.
Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a leading manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems for prototyping and manufacturing, has announced that remote control systems manufacturer, Survey Copter, is successfully using its 3D printing technology to produce prototype and short-run component parts for mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, also known as drones.
France-based Survey Copter, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS), specializes in the design, production and integration of complete remote systems for surveillance photography and video service applications for UAVs and other airborne craft, as well as for sea and overland vehicles.
Having previously outsourced its prototyping requirements, Survey Copter turned to Stratasys for an in-house solution that could reduce costs and ensure greater efficiency and autonomy, granting the company the means to rapidly produce very small quantities within 24 hours. Via Stratasys' French distributor, CADvision, Survey Copter subsequently installed two 3D printing solutions - a Stratasys Dimension Elite 3D Printer and Stratasys Fortus 400mc 3D Production System, which offers nine production-grade engineering thermoplastics using Stratasys' patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology.
"Effectively meeting our 3D printing needs can only be achieved via machines that are capable of producing quality parts with high reliability,"explains Jean Marc Masenelli, managing director, Survey Copter."Stratasys' reputation for delivering 3D printers that meet these criteria head-on made them the logical company to partner with."
Spearheading Survey Copter's prototyping and short-run manufacturing activities, the Stratasys Fortus 400mc and Dimension Elite 3D Printers are deployed in the production of component parts for the company's mini-UAV systems, including both helicopter and fixed-wing variants weighing up to 30kg and 10kg respectively. Ranging from a few millimetres up to parts measuring 40cm x 10cm, these components comprise mechanical structures for optical turrets, structural elements of aircraft, battery compartment housing, supporting structure, as well as scale models.
High Performance Materials Engineered for Aerospace
For Masenelli, the ability to utilise different materials according to specific application needs offers key advantages for producing durable 3D printed parts. Such materials include FDM thermoplastics polycarbonate, ABS and high performance ULTEM 9085 which boasts superior strength and lightweight properties, as well as other desirable characteristics including FST (flame, smoke and toxicity) rating. This safety standard, particularly valued within the aerospace and transportation industries, ensures a material won't promote a fire, release harmful smoke, or emit toxic fumes.
"That we are able to print production-grade materials such as high-performance FDM thermoplastics like ULTEM, which is qualified for aerospace applications, is a definite plus for our operations," he explains.
"The Stratasys 3D Printer can produce parts with complex shapes - for us a highly sought after requirement and a principle differentiator that sets Stratasys' proposition apart from that of other providers," he adds. "This specific capability enables us to produce parts of wide-ranging dimensions and hollow forms, as well as full honeycomb structures."
Featuring two material bays for maximum uninterrupted production, the Stratasys Fortus 400mc 3D Production System produces accurate, durable, repeatable 3D parts with superior throughput. It is available in two configurations: the basic system which builds parts as large as 355 x 254 x 254 mm, and an optionally upgraded system which builds parts as large as 406 x 355 x 406 mm. With four layer thicknesses to choose from, users can fine-tune their desired balance between FDM's finest possible feature detail and the fastest build.
The Stratasys Dimension Elite 3D Printer features the finest resolution of any Stratasys Design Series Performance 3D Printers and produces nine colors of real ABSplus thermoplastic. When the finest dimension resolution of 0.178 mm is not required, the Dimension Elite allows users to accelerate printing with a layer thickness of 0.33 mm.
Stratasys/CADvision will be exhibiting at the forthcoming Paris Air Show (17th - 23rd June, Paris, France) on stand 3-E54.
El Ministro de Defensa Jean-Ives Le Drian afirma que Francia está buscando UAVs de última generación para llevar a cabo misiones de inteligencia y eventualmente de combate. El armamento con que cuenta Francia está anticuado y la reciente intervención militar en Malí ha dejado tan patente su deficiente stock de UAVs adaptados a la guerra del siglo XXI, que ha sido Estados Unidos quien ha tenido que prestarle sus UAVs con base en Niger para llevar a cabo misiones de inteligencia.
"Necesitamos disponer a corto plazo de esos aparatos. Hay actualmente dos países que construyen UAVs: los Estados Unidos e Israel. Estamos en negociaciones con cada uno para comprar algo de manera inmediata." dijo Le Drian en el canal de TV iTele. Por su parte, el diario Le Monde ha revelado que Francia ha recibido la aprobación del Pentágono para comprar dos UAVs General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, y que la venta sólo necesita ya el respaldo del Congreso. El periódico añadió que Francia está negociando la compra de entre cinco y siete Reapers por 300 millones de euros. El objetivo según Le Monde es desplegarlos en Mali antes de que finalice este año.
