Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • September 2023
    • June 2023
    • March 2023
    • December 2022
    • SHOWCASE 2023
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. Showcase 2024
    2. September 2023
    3. June 2023
    4. March 2023
    5. December 2022
    6. SHOWCASE 2023
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    3rd November 2023

    In this Issue – Showcase 2024

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this Issue – Showcase 2024

    3rd November 2023

    In this Issue – September 2023

    30th August 2023

    In this Issue – June 2023

    7th June 2023
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Opinion

Meeting the testing challenges of the future aviation industry

Opinion WritersBy Opinion Writers2nd April 20203 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Waruna Seneviratne, director of the Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems at the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University
Waruna Seneviratne, director of the Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems at the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University

The Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) facility exists because we are facing a dramatic challenge in the aerospace industry. Over the next 20 years it is forecasted we will need to produce 40,000 more aircraft to meet global demand, a figure which includes the gradual retirement of the current fleet of 26,000. 

Even if we double the size of factories and use the latest and most advanced manufacturing methods, we will still need to be able to find enough qualified people to make all of these aircraft. 

The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University has a US$96 million annual budget, a staff of 600 and nearly one million square feet of laboratory and office space in four locations across the city of Wichita. ATLAS is a US$30 million part of that and is pioneering automated technologies in advanced manufacturing and inspection/testing. It is also providing a pipeline of industry-ready engineers with the correct skills and expertise to operate, program and maintain these machines in the factory of the future. 

Launched at the beginning of 2019, ATLAS is a makerspace for automated fiber placement (AFP) and thermoplastics. It truly is an extension of the research and development capabilities of the aerospace industry in the USA. If a supplier wants to test a new material or an entrepreneur wants to develop a prototype aircraft, they can do that on industry-scale equipment at ATLAS and more confidently make investment decisions. 

The machinery and equipment at ATLAS is accessible to all on a neutral territory – the facility is designed so different companies can be working in various sectors at the same time.We are partnering with equipment manufacturers like ElectroImpact and Coriolis which provide equipment for major aircraft manufacturers. Our AFP machines can manufacture a single-aisle aircraft fuselage section with advanced materials. Our 4x8m autoclave is the largest in any university in the world and capable of heating materials up to 425°C, with in-situ process monitoring and wireless temperature sensors. 

The research we are conducting on in-process inspection coupled with machine-learning algorithm and artificial intelligence means that the machines in the future will produce higher quality parts faster. The manufacturing processes we are developing will allow production lines to become flexible enough to produce different types of urban air taxis and unmanned drones and customize them on-demand. 

ATLAS staff is working closely with industry partners to develop ways to increase efficiency, productivity and quality. I’m extremely proud of the diverse network of industrial partners we’ve assembled. In addition to exposing manufacturers to effective new technologies, we are developing training programs to enable companies to rapidly scale these new advanced manufacturing operations across multiple production lines. 

As a university entity, we are also committed to creating a pipeline of highly skilled engineers trained in the hardware, software and processes needed in future factories. There is a real need for ATLAS in the USA and I am sure it will prove its value in the coming years.

For further information on ATLAS, go here or contact waruna@niar.wichita.edu

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleSaab’s Gripen fighter test progam moves towards delivery
Next Article Element provides testing for new UK ventilators to help fight Covid-19
Opinion Writers

Related Posts

Opinion

How digitization is enabling faster certification of eVTOL aircraft

22nd November 20235 Mins Read
Drones & Air Taxis

Academic insight: Dangerous work for drones

27th September 20233 Mins Read
Opinion

Academic Insight: Powering up with hydrogen

26th July 20233 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Wisk completes unmanned BVLOS test flights in New Zealand

5th December 2023

Dassault’s Falcon 6X biz jet enters service

5th December 2023

Lilium picks Honeywell for thermal management in eVTOL

5th December 2023
Supplier Spotlight
  • National Institute for Aviation Research
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Free Email Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.