Technological advancements are hurling the pace of the global aerospace industry.

Aerospace Industry has gone tremendous transformation over the past decade. Who would have thought that with the construction of the first powered aircraft by the Wright brothers in 1902, humans will germinate technologically- advance Boeing and Airbus?

Undoubtedly, technological advancements are hurling the pace of the global aviation industry. It is enhancing and improving how aircraft are operated. Courtesy of technology, the current era has advanced fighter jets, and world-class aircraft, which is aesthetically improving human life. Countries have long realized the power that the aviation industry holds in global politics. That's why the past years have observed major deals signed related to the aviation industry. It is one sector which has made countries friend and foe simultaneously.

Moreover, the aerospace industry, in particular, is reaping the benefits of technology as well. In recent years, humans have managed to celebrate some very successful incidents. All thanks to Technology! Apart from many attributes, a countries power is measured by its performance in the aerospace industry. That's why it becomes imperative to observe those technologies, which is making progress in the aerospace sector.

In this article, we will observe the top five aerospace technologies that experts are curious about:

1. Zero-Fuel Aircraft- Until the initial years in the 21st century, nobody would have imagined that an aircraft with zero-fuel can be created. The aviation sector always had the highest fuel consumption. Engineered by Bertrand Piccard in 2014 and launched by Solar Impulse Foundation, Zero-fuel aircraft is gaining momentum in both the civil and commercial domains. This aircraft impels the concept of limited fuel consumption, something that traditional aircraft are not acquainted with. This type of aircraft is now heavily recruited in agriculture, aerial photography, 3D mapping, wildlife protection, and internet access in remote areas. Experts have described its working methodology as, "Zero-fuel aircraft use photovoltaic panels to utilize solar energy to provide the necessary thrust to the engines. The Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered prototype, had nano carbon fiber reinforced structural components to reduce the overall weight of the body,"

2. Structural Health Monitoring- Due to a surge in aircraft accidents, NASA formulated a new technology-driven strategy to monitor aircraft health in 2007. The aircrafts health management system includes self-awareness and prognosis of landing gear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, electrical and power systems, fuel and lubrication systems, avionics/communications, navigation, surveillance/flight critical and flight management systems, and robust distributed, fault-tolerant, self-recoverable architectures for flight-critical aircraft applications.

3. Advanced Space Propulsion Technologies- Developed by NASA in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, this is new plasma-based rocket propulsion technology is known as Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMIR rocket). It enables faster space travel, reduces fuel consumption, protects astronauts from the dangerous effects of radiation during the trip, and helps international space station in orbit without requiring extra fuel to be brought up from Earth. As this rocket utilizes Hydrogen as the fuel, it shields the aircraft from radiation.

4. Advanced Material- Unlike traditional materials like steel and iron, the manufacturers are now more inclined to use advanced materials such as graphene and nanotubes to design aircraft structures. These materials make the aircraft wings more efficient, reduce the weight of the aircraft and fuel consumption.

5. Smart Automation and Blockchain- According to a new research study by SITA, Blockchain has been recognized as the most emerging technology in the aviation and aerospace sector. The 2018 SITA research program shows that 60% of the airlines have Blockchain-enabled pilot, with 42% research-based programs implemented by 2021. Apart from the transparency of Blockchain, it has been deployed for multi-enterprise applications. For example, Blockchain improves transparency, automates transactions between supply-chain partners, and caters to the passenger preferences by asset tracking and managing frequent flyer programs.

To simplify the complex processes in the aerospace sector, researchers are moving towards smart automation. By integrating the existing system with technologies, such as a robotic arm, the manufacturers are optimistic about scanning the metal surface with a tablet or smart glass or how much torque is required in an aircraft's structure.

Outlook

With emerging technologies and innovations, the future of the aerospace industry looks optimistic. But as technology is a double-edged sword, the manufacturers and scientists must keep in mind the opposite effect of technology before leveraging it in structural and functional areas.