Internet of wings: the rise of aerospace 4.0

Simulation and certification are helping aerospace adapt to additive manufacturing. Andrew Wade and Jon Excell report on the Farnborough Aerospace 4.0 Zone

Aerospace, by its nature, has to take a conservative approach to new technologies. Failure at 30,000 feet has consequences not commonly found in other engineering sectors, and a low tolerance of risk is inevitable. As a result, the aerospace industry has perhaps not enjoyed the same benefits of digitalisation that less risk-averse sectors have. But at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow, the winds of change were blowing.

For the first time, Farnborough hosted an Aerospace 4.0 Zone. Exhibitors included SAP, Deloitte and Frazer-Nash Consultancy, alongside organisations such as the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). While a range of digital technologies was on display, additive manufacturing (AM) and its potential benefits were undoubtedly the focal point.