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Planning for the future Employers and academia are teaming to ensure that there are enough engineers with the right combination of skills to step in and succeed in the workplace for years to come. A good defense Current military-propulsion programs range from the tried and true that no one thought possible 50 years ago, to those that some might not think possible 50 years from now. Maintenance is old business at DoD Iraqi insurgents represent the U.S. Department of Defense's main concern at the moment, but an aging maintenance work force is among other concerns on its flanks. Introducing SAE 2004 President Duane Tiede With over 35 years of diverse experience in the off-highway industry, Duane Tiede steps up to a new challenge- leading SAE into its 100th year.

Controlling UAVs BAE Systems and The Math Works work together on UAV flight software using embedded code generation and a high-integrity RTOS. Supporting aircraft evolutions Testing validates the technology, then the technology changes again. Time equals money A standard process for software cost estimation developed at Lockheed Martin streamlined the company's proposals for military projects.

Advancing the art of manufacturing Use of new manufacturing tools and techniques are allowing aircraft makers to deliver their products faster. A materialistic industry Deciding which material is best suited to construct a part or plane is one of the most complex issues an aerospace engineer faces. Speeding up engine manufacture Fiber optics play a big role in percussion drilling tiny holes.

Showing how it's done Engineers are using software to better manage product development data, and applying tools to a new class of problems. NASA goes deep The agency's new long-term space exploration program starts with a return to the moon and will ultimately enable future exploration of Mars and other solar system destinations. Farnborough preview In an event that happens just once every two years, bringing the multitudes together, it is important to get as much technology as possible into the open and to find solutions to hard problems. Seats under crash loading The FAA and academia have conducted aircraft seat drop tests to compare and contrast passenger crash protection. A fluid approach Aerospace engineers have started using CFD software earlier and earlier in the design process.

More-electric small turbofan engines The aerospace industry demands continuous improvement of propulsion engines as well as timely response to the new and changing requirements for them. Zero-emissions aircraft Researchers explore the potential application of alternative fuels and propulsion systems for aircraft that include a business jet and single-engine propeller aircraft. Integration releases the reins Cessna's new Citation Mustang launches the company into a new market for business jets, helped by the latest PLM solutions from IBM. Military: general A military flight-control system proposed for use in general aviation uses inverse control to decouple the flight controls and to modify the handling qualities of the aircraft, while employing articficial neural networks to compensate for any modeling errors.

Marotta turns things around The valve-making company used to have trouble getting product out the door on time, but it has improved its turnaround dramatically via lean thinking. A view from the factory Manufacturing techniques and materials used in other industries may be debuting at aerospace factories near you. Reverse engineering Using digital processes accelerates design and increases manufacturing quality. Fine-tuning aerodynamics The aerospace industry relies on massive amounts of computing power to continually simulate, test, and optimize vehicles for reliability and accuracy.

Military maneuvers Electronics and avionics designers put control in the pilot's hand. Propelling commercial aircraft GE Aircraft Engines calls upon its engineers, and those of its "competitors," to develop a series of next-generation engines. Bonded repairs Aircraft structure repair is process-sensitive, requiring attention to detail, particularly in terms of both composite and metal surface preparation.

Wiring UAVs The development of electronic architectures for UAVs and UCAVs marks a major step-change in the evolution of military aircraft as significant as the emergence of jet propulsion more than 60 years ago. Distributed simulation A new modeling technique is applied to a HALE UAV power system using detailed subsystem simulations of the turbine engine, generators, and loads. Tradition, transition, and transformation SAE 100 Future look: As the sun sets on the first 100 years of SAE, we refllect on a proud and rich tradition of contribution to the transportation industry. The battle for information flow SAE 100 Future look: Epic Data recognizes that the recent development of highly secure, futuristic real-time information flows provide a tremendous competitive advantage to field commanders making life or death decisions.

Top technologies for 2004 "Aerospace Engineering's" annual review of the technologies chosen by its readers to be the most significant. Tooling around in the computer Much of the latest software is very capable, but learning how to get the best out of it, and getting the business processes right, is the key to success.

Flying safer Software is being designed to predict pending failures, warn pilots, and maybe even fly the plane. CMM + laser probe = complete inspection Sonaca gave up its manual inspection methods in favor of a digital approach to save time- and money. A rounded view of fibers The use of fibers for aerospace gyroscope applications- notably inertial navigation and platform stabilization- is common now, but it was not always so. Piston engine propulsion SAE 100 Future look: As the propulsion industry looks to the future, the barriers remain challenging, the drivers more critical, but the innovations more promising. What's downstream in turbine technology SAE 100 Future look: Gas turbine machines-aviations, industrial, and vehicular- are versatile and cost-effective machines used for the provision of electricity, mechanical load power, and propulsion.

Collaboration off shelf Major software suppliers are using their experiences supporting aerospace customers to develop solutions that make suppliers more efficient. The future of wire health While recent technological advances can provide increased safety through faster suppression of shorts and arcing type conditions, it can also add significantly to ongoing maintenance costs. Tomorrow's reality in defense electronics SAE 100 Future look: From space-based satellite communications systems to rifles equipped with laser and thermal imaging sights, electronics has intergrated itself as a core ingredient of contemporary war-fare.

STOVL propulsion-onward and upward Rolls-Royce's unique Pegasus engine has made possible a generation of vertical-landing military aircraft. Testing solutions This special section highlights some of the latest equipment used by engineers to validate new technologies.

F-35 manufacturing ergonomics addressed Human-factors simulation from Delmia is playing a key role as Northrop Grumman tools up for work on the Joint Strike Fighter. Keeping it together: design, development, and maintenance It is only in relatively recent years that the full meaning of integrating manufacturing and maintenance as part of the design and development processes has been grasped by the aerospace industry. Exploring the boundaries of our solar system SAE 100 Future look: In addition to helping enable NASA's new vision of taking humans back to the moon and paving the way to Mars and beyond, two robotics space science missions are preparing to explore the outermost and innermost edges of our solar system. What's on the horizon for space SAE 100 Future look: Dramatic changes in the Earth's climate are certain to drive humanity's search for alternative fuel sources.

Super-sized rig Goodrich has unveiled the world's largest landing gear test facility, lending credence to the nation that bigger sometimes can be better. Space goes commercial Redundancy, control, and software are key enabling technologies toward bringing space flight to a store near you.

Designing high-bypass nacelle inlets Simulation significantly reduces the time required of engineers at Goodrich to evaluate inlet performance and preliminary designs. Virtually eliminating prototypes IBM PLM Solutions developed by Dassault Systemes have enabled Dassault Aviation to meet the challenges of the executive business jet market with a new virtual platform. DOD looking for faster fixes The U.S. military is in the midst of a mighty push at its bases and depots to shorten the time it takes to get aircraft, trucks, tanks, and other weapon systems out the gate after they arrive for repair. A vision of military and civilian aviation tomorrow SAE 100 Future look: At Dessault Aviation, we believe the quest to fly "higher, faster, and further" that moved moved aviation's pioneers will continue to blaze new trails in the 21st century.

Global technologies Much of the excitement surrounding such aircraft as the point-to-point 787, hub-to-hub A380, and 7X business jet is due to the application of new technologies. Engineering a career With an impending shortage of aerospace engineers, industry and academia team to mold future engineering talent for an increasingly global environment. Taking research to the bank Behind the doors of BAE Systems' Advanced Technology Center. Testing toward perfection In a competitive global market, commercial aircraft need to be lighter, faster to market, cheaper to build, easier to maintain, and safer than ever.

Advanced materials for manufacturability The big three- aluminum, titanium, and composites- duke it out in the sky. Automation makes big advances Aircraft manufacturers continue to adopt new technologies that improve efficiency, speed up production, and reduce worker injuries. Electric braking debuts in military and commercial applications SAE 100 Future look: Goodrich led the development of electromechanical aircraft braking with a highly focused team of experts from three divisions within the company, each working in their own fields of expertise: braking performance, electronic controls, and electromechanical acutators (EAs). Looking into the future with NDT SAE 100 Future look: The need for systemized inspection inthe aircraft industry did not arise until the dramatic increase in air travel that took place in the late 1940s. Electronic warfare SAE 100 Future look: Today's combat aircraft commonly use electronic warfare (EW) receivers and jammers for self protection.

Armed, autonomous, and unmanned UAVs come of age as the 21st century surveillance platform. Designers go digital New capabilities in design and simulation are influencing many aspects of aerospace product development. Streamlining circuit design Alcatel conquers the next frontier of satellite design with algorithmic C synthesis. Space station design rules Engineers can develop the best solution to a problem that has conflicting objectives by using a space station design language.