sábado, 24 de octubre de 2020

Universal Hydrogen Co has developed Kevlar-coated, pill-shaped pods filled with hydrogen for H2 Aircrafts

 

 

``We want to basically turn hydrogen into dry freight,’’ said Eremenko. He and other founders have poured about $3 million into the startup.  Continue reading: https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-08-26/eighty-years-after-hindenburg-startup-pitches-hydrogen-flight

 

 

USAF chief of staff sees Agility Prime aircraft fulfilling logistics missions

 


Sabrewing Aircraft’s Rhaegal-B heavy-lift, long-range, unmanned cargo aircraft. The USAF chief of staff views Agility Prime as an opportunity to acquire an unmanned logistics platfor… https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/usaf-chief-of-staff-sees-agility-prime-aircraft-fulfilling-logistics-missions

Gripen Officially Presented in Brazil

 

press release





The Gripen E, named F-39E Gripen by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), was officially presented today October 23rd, during the celebrations of Aviators’ Day and the Brazilian Air Force Day, at Wing 1, in Brasília. The aircraft flew over the air base after an air display of the Brazilian Smoke Squadron.



The ceremony was attended by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilian Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva; the Swedish Ambassador to Brazil, Johanna Brosmar-Skoogh; the Brazilian Air Force Commander, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez; Commander of the Swedish Air Force,Major General Carl-Johan Edström; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saab, Marcus Wallenberg; and President and CEO of Saab, Micael Johansson, among others.

“It is a great honour to see Gripen E at the ceremony in celebration to the Aviators’ Day and the Brazilian Air Force Day. I do not believe that there is a more appropriate occasion for this presentation, as it certainly means a lot to all Brazilian aviators to have the aircraft flying in the skies of Brazil”, stated Micael Johansson, CEO and President of Saab. "This is the result of a successful collaboration between Brazil and Sweden, and a great opportunity to further strengthen ties between the two countries".

Lieutenant Brigadier Bermudez pointed out that the new fighter is soon ready to begin the operation by the FAB.

”The development and manufacture of the smart fighter has also been closely monitored by members of the Brazilian Air Force and involves professionals from several national companies. Therefore the 23rd of October is even more special this year, as we have the official presentation of the first F-39 Gripen that arrived in Brazil”.

The aircraft arrived in Brazil on September 20 and three days later made its first flight in the country, from Navegantes (Santa Catarina State) to Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo State), to continue the flight test programme.

In Brazil, the activities include tests on flight control and climate control systems, as well as tests on the aircraft in tropical climatic conditions. In addition to the tests that are common to a Gripen E programme aircraft, unique characteristics of the Brazilian aircraft will be also tested, such as armaments integration and the Link BR2 communication system - which provides encrypted data and voice communication to the aircraft.

The first fighters will be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force, at Wing 2, in Anápolis (Goiás State), at the end of 2021.

The Brazilian Gripen Programme

The partnership with Brazil began in 2014, with the signing of the contract for the development and production of 36 Gripen E/F aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force, including systems, support and equipment. An extensive technology transfer programme, which takes place over a ten year period, is already promoting the development of the local aviation industry through partner companies participating in the Brazilian Gripen Programme.

During this period, more than 350 Brazilian technicians and engineers will also participate in theoretical and practical training in Sweden in order to acquire the necessary knowledge to perform the same tasks in Brazil. So far, more than 230 professionals have completed the training and most of them are back in Brazil, working at the Gripen Design and Development Center (GDDN).

The Gripen E/F fighters that will be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force will be developed and produced in collaboration with the Brazilian technicians and engineers. From 2021 onwards, the complete assembly of 15 aircraft will begin locally. The development of the two-seat Gripen F is advancing with numerous activities at the GDDN.



Imec develops SARS-CoV-2 test to identify positive cases in less than 5 minutes . Method could be tested at Brussels Airport in Summer 2021





press release





LEUVEN (Belgium), October 23, 2020 — Imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, announced that it has started developing a groundbreaking SARS-CoV-2 test. Unlike current approaches (using blood, saliva, or a nasopharyngeal swab), the new test will identify SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in a person’s exhaled breath. The solution promises the accurate identification of a contagious case in less than five minutes. This will make for faster, easier, more comfortable, and larger-scale testing – an essential requirement for getting a grip on epidemics much sooner while limiting their economic and social impact. Imec is teaming up with the UZ Leuven University Hospital for the solution’s clinical validation. By the summer of 2021, imec intends to test a functional prototype at Brussels Airport.

This year, it has become abundantly clear that viruses are capable of striking hard and turning people’s lives upside down. In order to minimize the effects of epidemics and pandemics on our health, society, and the economy, governments and experts need to be able to swiftly and accurately assess how a virus is spreading. Today’s SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tools come with quite a few limitations, however.

The most sensitive and reliable tool today is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that aims at detecting the virus’s genetic material in a nasopharyngeal specimen. This tool's downside is that trained medical personnel must collect the swab, and the process is described by many as highly uncomfortable. Moreover, the test comes with a processing time (in a clinical lab) of about two days.

Another alternative, the rapid antigen test, is less reliable due to its complexity. Lastly, the serological test (which uses a blood sample) is faster and less expensive than a PCR test but only detects whether someone has developed antibodies after the person has been in contact with the virus.

“While each of these tests can provide clues about a current or past infection, none of them can determine to what extent someone can still pass the virus to others. That is why we have started developing a test that indicates, in less than five minutes, whether someone is carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus and whether they have a high probability of being contagious. To accomplish this, our solution looks for SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in a person’s exhaled breath because research shows that breath particles are the virus’s main transmission method,” says Peter Peumans, CTO of Health Technologies at imec.“Provided positive results in our clinical studies, our tool will make testing for SARS-CoV-2 easier, faster, more comfortable, and possible on a much larger scale. Moreover, we are designing our test to flexibly cope with the rise of other viruses and germs that spread via exhaled particles – such as influenza, RSV, and tuberculosis.”

Peter Piot, microbiologist and member of the European Commission advisory panel on COVID-19, confirms this: “It is now clear that the virus is transmitted pre-symptomatically via exhaled particles. SARS-CoV-2 testing via breath sample coupled with an ultrafast molecular analysis would be game-changing since it would allow for the timely detection of individuals who are most likely to transmit the virus. Because a breath sample is much less invasive compared to swabs or saliva, it would also allow for more frequent testing and a faster return to normal."

Imec’s solution consists of a sample collector and an analysis unit, both of which are being custom developed by imec researchers. Researchers are focusing much of their attention on the sample collector, which will act as the aerosol (and virus particle) collector and support the solution’s high-speed real-time quantitative (RT-q)PCR functionality.

“Merging these tasks using conventional technologies would be extremely hard to do. But thanks to our innovation capability when it comes to using silicon, we have developed a chip that effectively does both. Its silicon microscale PCR cavities make for thousands of impactors that allows us to capture the viral particles, while its powerful RT-qPCR functionality brings down the duration of the PCR effort from 50 to 5 minutes. Importantly as well, the standard silicon technology used to build this chip facilitates mass production at a low cost,” explains Peumans.

“Thanks to a grant of 2 million euro provided by the Flemish government, we are off to a flying start,” says Luc Van den hove, CEO of imec. “After all, the speed with which we will be able to bring this test to the market will greatly depend on the proper financial support. In anticipation of other investors joining this effort, imec has decided to pre-invest the necessary resources as part of our contribution to the global fight against COVID-19.”

“We are happy to be teaming up with imec for this exciting new development,” says professor Katrien Lagrou, head of the molecular diagnostic lab of UZ Leuven. “Not only will we provide extensive clinical support to validate the test, we will also support the development using the PCR diagnostic know-how we built up at UZ Leuven for over 20 years.” The new test could be used very broadly. “Also, for a first SARS-CoV-2 screening of potentially contagious patients or medical staff at hospitals, such a rapid test using exhaled breath will be very valuable,” confirms prof. Lagrou.

Following the development of the underlying technology, experts from the UZ Leuven University Hospital will team up with imec to engage in an extensive clinical study. By the summer of 2021, researchers plan to test a functional prototype at Brussels Airport to ensure that the final solution meets all requirements needed to enable people to travel and meet up again safely and comfortably. “At Brussels Airport, we are convinced that testing is and will be a key element in the recovery of the aviation sector,” says Arnaud Feist, CEO at Brussels Airport Company. “Creating a safe environment for our passengers is our top priority and, in this context, it is imperative for us to rely on rapid and reliable testing".

TECNAM P-VOLT: LIFTING THE WORLD TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY | Tecnam

Press release

https://www.tecnam.com/slider-home-en/tecnam-p-volt-lifting-the-world-to-sustainable-energy/ 




CAPUA, Italy. In this modern world, full of challenges and changes, TECNAM remains more focused than ever on exploring innovative solutions for the future of greener aviation. Never has it been more important to pursue knowledge and develop practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions, both in design and in operation.

With these key factors in mind, TECNAM is pleased to announce a partnership with Rolls-Royce and major worldwide aviation players, including North American and European airlines for the development of the P-Volt: an all-electric, twin electric motor, Short and Medium Range passenger aircraft, designed for maximum versatility and safety, powered by renewable energy.

The P-Volt will benefit of TECNAM's achievements in the 11 seats category aircrafts, where, after decades, the P2012 Traveller has established a new global reference, the P-Volt will be the first commercial
9 passengers, cargo, medical evacuation and special mission aircraft to be electrified directly by the manufacturer, raising TECNAM's 'DREAM concept' (Durability, Reliability, Employability, Affordability & Manageability) to a new, unrivalled level of efficiency.

The TECNAM P-Volt propulsion system and avionics, engineered to lift the world to sustainable energy along with the Clean Aviation roadmap, will be specifically targeted at commercial operations. All-electric motors, avionics, heating, air conditioning and state-of-the art de-ice/anti-ice systems, will provide fully sustainable and pollution-free transportation.

Dedicated battery technology will ensure full power availability for quick turnaround times between landing and take-off. The benefits of the propulsion system also extend to reducing the aircraft's operating costs and noise emissions for a more accessible and comfortable transportation system that will elevate the air travel operations worldwide to new heights.

TECNAM and Rolls-Royce are already in partnership with the H3PS project: a parallel hybrid electric version of the P2010 four-seater, pairing the electric motor from Rolls-Royce with a combustion engine from Rotax.

Paolo Pascale Langer, TECNAM CEO: "TECNAM is proud to announce the P-Volt design and development. We all need to commit our efforts towards systems that contribute to decarbonization. By combining efficiency and renewable energy into the futuristic propulsion system, we will not only reduce costs, but also grant a greener future to our passion for flying."

Rob Watson, Director, Rolls-Royce Electrical, said: "Rolls-Royce is committed to delivering the electrification of flight and to support the de-carbonisation of aviation. This new partnership with TECNAM will strengthen our existing relationship, further developing both companies' capabilities. We are delighted to work with all the partners on a programme that has the potential to develop the technology to make a significant leap in the commuter market."

 

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

  1. Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet's vital power needs.
  2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
  3. Annual underlying revenue was £15.45 billion in 2019, around half of which came from the provision of aftermarket services.
  4. In 2019, Rolls-Royce invested £1.46 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.