Smart health monitoring system to reduce costs

For the next generation aircraft, higher laminar performance is considered to be one of the key developments to reduce drag, thus increasing overall performances and reducing emissions. In the Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft (SFWA) ITD, an Airbus A340-300 will be fitted with new outer wing sections to demonstrate an all new designed natural laminar flow wing in operational conditions.

 

Aernnova has developed a structural health monitoring system, PAMELA SHM™ that detects in real time damages and defects on such wings, hence reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Aernnova plays a vital role in SFWA and is involved in wing box design, manufacturing, smart assembly, metrology verification to achieve Natural Laminarity requirements, testing on ground (if required) and of course the installation of Aernnova´s PAMELA TM structural health monitoring system on the SFWA BLADE wing box, to be ultimately assembled on an A340-300 Flight Test Bed. The purpose is to monitor in real time structural performance and any temporary or permanent structural changes. The integrated "all in one" PAMELA TM SHM electronic device will be installed for the first time without cables and directly above the surface bonded transducer, building together the onboard system for smart communication between the structure and maintenance staff.

 

Press Release