Unmanned cargo aircraft: a future for the Dutch and European aerospace industry? Hans Heerkens University of Twente Netherlands

Transcription

1 Unmanned cargo aircraft: a future for the Dutch and European aerospace industry? Hans Heerkens University of Twente Netherlands

2 Agenda Why unmanned cargo aircraft? Why now? Why in Holland? What next?

3 Unmanned cargo aircraft (UCA s) Specifically designed for cargo Maximizing advantages of unmanned (not just a plane without windows)

4 Not this Source: naval-technology.com

5 but this Design by the UT- students Borghout, de Jonge, Roos, van Schroijnstein Lantman en Westenberg

6 ...or this Design by the UT-students Van der Veer, Kestelo, Kohlmann, en Lechevallier

7 Why unmanned cargo aircraft?

8 Unmanned means: lower cost, higher productivity (quantity, price) No pilots, so Reduced salaries (1 long-distance plane may require 12 crews) No cockpit (cargo doors) No fatigue (long flights, efficient cruise speed with turboprop engines) No rest facilities No back-up crew No traveling expenses

9 No extra away from home pay No coupling of aircraft and crew Planning much more flexible One controller for several aircraft Controllers dedicated to airport operations Synthetic airport lay-outs Some of these advantages increase with number of UCAs in use

10 No passengers, so No windows (weak spots in airframe) No pressurized cabin Simple fire prevention Cargo containers part of structure? Optimized fuselage diameter Small is beautiful (exception in technology) More direct flights, so less damage to cargo New routes/applications

11 Why UCA s now? Technology is available Military UAVs is pave the way Large areas where infrastructure holds back growth Fragmentation of air transport (maturity) China: 61 cities with 1 million or more inhabitants Internet trade; spreading production and consumption High value-weight ratio growth Insufficient capacity of other modes of transport

12 Sustainability Yes: more efficient flight profiles No: reducing cost increases demand

13 Why here? Integration knowledge Industrial infrastructure Capabilities: combination of materials, structures, logistics, sensors, software support We need innovation (at least to talk about it)

14 We are not strong, so we have to be quick to identify niche markets Relevance unmanned aircraft will increase, one way or another Airframe integration project can give aviation industry policy focus

15 Challenges Safety In the air On the ground Certification Infrastructure will be there, but when? Chicken-or-egg problem; no tradition to build on Probably more market creation than substitution Public opinion Are these problems temporary or principal?

16 Markets Package transport Continental and intercontinental Large and small airports Thin routes, advantage for unmanned Fragmentation of air transport Internet trade A good first step

17 Bulk transport Competes with bellyfreight or converted passenger aircraft Technical challenge too big Special transport (animals) Market for dedicated aircraft small Unmanned not the best option

18 Key characteristics Payload More than minivans Not more than BAE Systems 146-class aircraft (short ranges) Range More than short-range road transport Intercontinental Speed Fast enough for reliable arrival times Optimal fuel consumption

19 Possible payload-rangecombinations Medium/long distance, tonnes Oversea routes No competition with bellyfreight Low cruise speed Europe-China, new connections or increased frequencies Short distance (intra-europe), 3-10 tonnes 2500 airfields in Europe Flying boat, floatplane, amphibian? 90% cities near waterways

20 Small is beautiful Salary cost relatively high Does not compete with belly freight Doable for Dutch industry Simple infrastructure suffices, so potential for new destinations

21 Criteria for choosing payload, Market needs range etc. Competencies of BV Nederland Logistics and technological policy of key players National International Technical feasibility

22 Potential for generating enthusiasm, involvement and support Long-term perspectives for organizations involved

23 What next? Investigate logistic flows, present and future Investigate cost structure of UCA s Identify promising payload-range combinations

24 Platform for Unmanned Cargo Aircraft (PUCA) Initiation (research) Both technical and economical perspective Needs of users are starting-point Organization (development) Mobilization (hearts & minds, money)

25 Can you contribute? YES, you can: Bachelor- and Master assignments Spread the word! Financing (partner organizations)

26 Questions? Discussion!