This three-and-a-half year project is to release, validate and verify a unique computer environment (i.e. the EPICEA platform) assimilating a complete understanding of electromagnetic (EM) issues on Composite Electric Aircraft (CEA – i.e. aircraft with composite and electric technologies combined and operating at higher altitude/latitude). EM on CEA includes EM coupling, interconnects, and Cosmic Radiations (CR) on electrical systems together with new concepts of antennas designed to maintain performance in composite environment without modifying aircraft aerodynamics. In EPICEA, CR, as parts of the EM spectrum, are considered as EM environmental hazards such as lightning or HIRF (High Intensity Radiated Fields). The targeted computer platform will support a decision making process for selection of the best strategy for the integration of electrical systems. Starting at a TRL3, the consortium will demonstrate a TRL4 at the end of the project. The project will address numerous engineering issues, aiming at a significant reduction of energy consumption through more electrical aircraft and systems integration. If successful, it will create a more robust EM protection for electrical systems (i.e. lightweight, cost effective and safety compliant), a lighter and safer electrical system architecture for EM protected, less redundant, safety compliant, easy to maintain systems, a less drag on new systems of antennas while maintaining EM performance, and also will point to best possible health monitoring solutions. Used from the early design phase of electrical systems up to the architecture definition for installation and integration of electrical systems into CEA, the EPICEA outcome will limit the recourse to over conservative protection and unnecessary redundancy in integration architecture. This will overcome the weight penalty currently jeopardising the development of energy-efficient CEAs and will strengthen the aircraft safety.

Challenges presented by aircraft electric propulsion requires the development of new airborne technologies that enable expanding the electrification technology trend already impacting other areas, like ground transportation or the autonomous generation/usage of electricity from renewables, to efficient and economical air transportation. Those intended technologies must be capable of producing a highly efficient, lightweight, and compact aircraft electrical system that can supply the electric power for propulsion as well as for other uses while keeping electromagnetic emissions under safe limits compatible with airborne equipment operation and human safety. In addition, they shall control heat up of the system by enhanced thermal dissipation through a proper thermal management system. With this aim, EASIER will bring together a multidisciplinary team in order to achieve the following objectives: 1. Investigating EMI filtering solutions with less volume and weight. 2. Investigating EWIS technologies with less radiated EMI, less volume and lower weight. 3. Improved heat transfer from electrical systems to the aircraft exterior. 4. Optimization of the integration of electrical systems with significant mutual impact. 5. Engagement with airframers and regulatory agencies. 6. System trade-off analysis and technology identification. 7. Roadmapping of hybrid/electric aircraft key enabling technologies in terms of EMI and thermal management. To achieve the objectives a strong partnership is established among all members of the EASIER consortium from EU and US who will collaborate following a coordinated plan, with the Industrial Advisory Board and other consortium(s) executing areas 1-3 from the call.

More Electric and Connected Aircraft (MECA) is one of the most promising enablers to reach Flightpath 2050. But MECA asks for more electrical systems, which exchange more data which can be safety critical, and consume more electrical power leading to higher thermal dissipation. This leads to complexity, weight penalty and increased exposure to intended (cybersecurity) and unintended (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility) interference. Overcoming these barriers requires an interdisciplinary cooperation and, in this context, the ADENEAS project emerged, aiming at paving the way for a safe, light, self-configuring, autonomous and modular power and data distribution network that is scalable to all aircraft sizes. To achieve this long-term objective, ADENEAS will define new architecture concepts, develop advanced Artificial Intelligence-based design tools, enabling technologies for intra-aircraft data communication and for power network and a cooling system. The project will also demonstrate the integration of the data and power network and cooling system, initiate standardisation activities and ensure commercial viability. To achieve these objectives, ADENEAS will start from solid foundation of partner’s background, previous and ongoing R&D activities and will implement a stepwise approach from the definition of requirements and reference case (for small, medium and large aircraft) up to the assessment and evaluation of the developed, tested and demonstrated technologies. This includes strong involvement of an Industrial Advisory Board as well as standardisation perspective. The ADENEAS future proof power and data network, scalable to all aircraft size, will support the Flightpath 2050 objective by allowing to save 0.7% block fuel burn and >156,000 kg of CO2 emitted per aircraft per year and secondary by optimizing maintenance and providing novel technologies to be deployed for increased passenger experience.

The overall objective of ACASIAS is to contribute to the reduction of energy consumption of future aircraft by improving aerodynamic performance and by facilitating the integration of novel efficient propulsion systems such as contra-rotating open rotor (CROR) engines. The aerodynamic performance is improved by the conformal and structural integration of antennas. The installation of CROR engines is facilitated by installation of an Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC) system in the fuselage. The integration of such a system in fuselage panels will annoying noise in the cabin caused by multi-harmonic sound pressure level which is radiated by CROR engines. CROR engines are able to realize up to 25% fuel and CO2 savings compared to equivalent-technology turbofan engines (http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19890003194.pdf). The ACASIAS project focuses on challenges posed by the development of aero- structures with multifunctional capabilities. The following concepts structural concepts are considered: • A composite stiffened ortho-grid fuselage panel for integrating Ku-band SATCOM antenna tiles. • A fuselage panel with integrated sensors and wiring for reduction of CROR cabin noise. • A smart winglet with integrated blade antenna (integrated substrates into special foam, partly covered by a 1 mm glass/quartz epoxy layer). • A Fibre Metal Laminate GLARE panel with integrated VHF communication slot antenna. The 36 months action with a project cost of 5.8 MEuros will bring together 11 partners from 6 countries covering the three main disciplines required: (composite) structures, advanced antennas and miniaturized sensors in a multi-disciplinary project. The project innovations facilitated by integration of these disciplines, as well as resulting in operational cost reduction and decreased emissions for airlines, will also lead to a more competitive supply chain in the aviation sector, which increasingly uses composite structures.

Main objective for the Clean Sky 2 Large Passenger Aircraft Programme (LPA) is to further mature and validate key technologies such as advanced wings and empennages design, making use of hybrid laminar airflow wing developments, the integration of most advanced engines into the large passenger aicraft aircraft design as well as an all-new next generation fuselage cabin and cockpit-navigation. Dedicated demonstrators are dealing with Research on best opportunities to combine radical propulsion concepts, and the opportunities to use scalled flight testing for the maturation and validation of these concepts via scaled flight testing. Components of Hybrid electric propulsion concepts are developed and tested in a major ground based test rig. The LPA program is also contributing with a major workpackage to the E-Fan X program. The R&T activities in the LPA program is split in 21 so-called demonstrators. In the project period 2020 and 2021 a substantial number of hardware items ground and flight test items will be manufactured, assembled tested. For some large items like the Multifunctional Fuselage demonstrators or the HLFC wing ground demonstrator the detailed design and manufacturing of test items will be commenced. For the great majority of contributing technologies a Technology Readyness level (TRL) 3 or 4 will be accomplished or even exceeded. Based on data generated for each key technology contributing to the LPA program inputs will be provided to the CleanSky Technology Evaluator via the integration in agreed concept aircraft models in order to conduct the overall CS2 assessement. LPA is also contributing to conduct Eco Design Life Cycle assessements for selected LPA technologies.