The aim of MIMOSA Project is the development of joined multi-material structures with new concepts able to exploit the digital and hybrid processes in order to achieve higher technological and economic performances with respect to current traditional joints. Furthermore, MIMOSA will lead to the application of circularity of materials and production by integrating the recycling, starting from the ideation phase of product and business. These ambitions and associated needs will be achieved with innovative technology and competitive process for multi-material joints between AlSi10Mg alloy for additive manufacturing (AM) and composites (CFRP, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers). The project proposes new joint concept design, after-service materials regeneration (50% of metals and 90% of CFRP), weight (-51%) and lead time (-65%) reduction and overall process environmental footprint reduction. A prototype of vertical stabilizer (VS) structure will be fabricated and analyzed as the business case of the Project. At the end of the Project, TRL6 is expected by starting at TRL3. Many aerostructures are composed of CFRP skin and metal parts coupled by rivets. However this kind of joint shows some drawbacks: (1) long time for assembling, (2) loss of fibers integrity due to rivet holes, (3) rivets payload, (4) joint surfaces treatment with paints needed, (5) rivets failure issues, (6) hard inspection and maintenance of rivets. MIMOSA Project will go beyond the state of the art in building aircraft structures by providing: (1) scientific research-driven integration of different design fields and fabrication processes, (2) new AM-CFRP multi-material joint concept, (3) reduced waste of materials thanks to recycling and associated economic value generation, (4) enhancement of process performances of energy consumption, lead-time and cost, (5) fabrication of a vertical stabilizer prototype (OB4) for narrow body airliners with the new AM-CFRP joint as business case.

TERRA Project addresses the research topic H2020-SESAR-2016-1 RPAS04: Ground-based technology, focusing on the performance requirements associated with the UTM concept, and identifying the technologies (existing and new) which could meet these requirements. TERRA proposes a technical architecture to support VLL RPAS operations, which are assumed to encompass interaction with VFR traffic. The main project objectives are the following: • Requirements identification: A set of operational and functional ground-based system requirements will be defined for three representative RPAS operational business cases, considering operator requirements but also potential impacts on stakeholders. • Technological applicability: Analysis of applicability of existing CNS/ATM technologies which could be applied to UTM, identification and development of new technologies (e.g. machine learning classification of flight trajectories) and analysis of their applicability, considering in both cases the performance provided by these technologies with the requirements imposed upon their use. • Architecture proposal and proof of concept: Identification of the most appropriate technologies, comparing their performance and applicability with the user requirements and definition of a technical architecture, which will be evaluated by means of a proof of concept demonstration. To achieve these objectives, the Consortium consists of a range of companies bringing complementary expertise (research, operational, industrial) covering all the elements of ground-based technologies for UTM; additionally, an Advisory Board of stakeholders and developers has been formed to assist the consortium on the requirements identification and proposals validation. Finally, a proof of concept demonstration of the proposed architecture will be conducted, leveraging existing simulation platforms previously developed by members of the consortium. TERRA aims to safely facilitate up to 1 million VLL RPAS fligths by 2025.

NHYTE project aims at developing and demonstrating concepts and methodologies enabling the realization of innovative integrated aero-structures, made of a new hybrid thermoplastic matrix composite material with multifunctional capabilities. The high-performing material proposed, based on a commercial PEEK-Carbon Fiber Prepreg with addition of amorphous (PEI) films, answers to the needs to have reduced weight and consequently reduced fuel consumptions and emissions on an aircraft, as well as reduced manufacturing and operational costs. Demonstration aero-structures will be fabricated by an innovative working cell implementing an advanced continuous automated production process, including: automated hybrid material fabrication; manufacturing of skin panels by automated fiber placement in-situ consolidation process; fabrication of stringers by continuous forming; component assembly by induction welding. The innovative material, conceived and patented by a partner of the Consortium, is an example of multifunctional composite, since it returns both functions of toughness improvement (multilayer material) and process simplification. This concept on one side will provide an advantage from the structural point of view, in terms of better impact damage performance; while on the other side major advantages will result on processing simplification, in particular including improved cycle times and lower energy consumptions, since it does not require the use of an autoclave curing phase. As of today, its usage has been limited to fabricate panels, only at laboratory level; hence, a suitable improvement finalized to process in industrial environment is needed. Proposed process techniques and assembly will be the first step towards the industrial application of the innovative material. Consortium has set a target for weight saving not less than 5% for primary structures. Further reduction of full life cycle cost is expected from scrape material and end of life structures recycling.

The project aims at the development of a new, bio-based, smart and completely recyclable composite material, obtained by fast and low energy consumption out-of-autoclave process. The matrix will be made by a new bio-based epoxy resin formulation filled by expanded graphite (EG), that will have a multiple role in the enhancement of both material and manufacturing process, providing smart-functions. A hybrid composite will be developed, by the use of hemp and recycled carbon fibers (rCFs), thus maximizing the environmental benefits with a life-cycle perspective. The hybridization will let to exploit the advantages offered by both fibers, minimizing the relevant drawbacks. The manufacturing process will consist in a low energy version of the prepreg compression moulding (PCM). Aeronautics and automotive field are the main sectors of interest.

While Earth Observation (EO) data has become ever more vital to understanding the planet and addressing societal challenges, applications are still limited by revisit time and spatial resolution. Though low Earth orbit missions can achieve resolutions better than 100 m, their revisit time typically stands at several days, limiting capacity to monitor dynamic events. Geostationary (GEO) missions instead typically provide data on an hour-basis but with spatial resolution limited to 1 km, which is insufficient to understand local phenomena. SURPRISE’s main objective is to implement a demonstrator of a super-spectral EO payload - working in the visible, near- and mid-infrared and conceived to operate from GEO platform - with enhanced capability in spatial resolution, onboard data processing and encryption functionalities. SURPRISE develops two disruptive technologies: Compressive Sensing (CS) and Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). CS optimises data acquisition (e.g. reduced storage and transmission bandwidth requirements) and enables novel onboard processing and encryption functionalities. SLM here implements the CS paradigm and achieves a super-resolution architecture. SLM technology, at the core of the CS architecture, is addressed by: reworking and testing off-the-shelf parts in relevant environment; developing roadmap for a European SLM, micromirror array-type, with electronics suitable for space qualification. By introducing for the first time the concept of a payload with medium spatial resolution (few hundreds of meters) and near continuous revisit (hourly), SURPRISE can lead to a EO major breakthrough and complement existing operational services. CS will address the challenge of large data collection, whilst onboard processing will improve timeliness, shortening time needed to extract information from images and possibly generate alarms. Impact is relevant to industrial competitiveness, with potential for market penetration of the demonstrator and its components.