Industry Briefing
A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Collins Aerospace Secures Up to $472 Million Contract for Chinook Avionics Services
Collins Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the US Army, potentially worth up to $472 million, to provide engineering services for the CH-47 Chinook fleet. This contract highlights the ongoing commitment to enhance the capabilities of the Chinook helicopters. The significance of this contract lies in its potential to improve the avionics systems of the Chinook fleet, ensuring that these helicopters remain effective and reliable for military operations. Upgrading the avionics is crucial for maintaining operational readiness and adapting to modern technological advancements. Looking ahead, industry stakeholders will be monitoring the progress of the avionics upgrades and their impact on the performance of the Chinook helicopters. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
News
Collins Aerospace Launches U.K. Hub for Electric Thrust Reverser Development
Collins Aerospace has inaugurated a new engineering hub in Wolverhampton, U.K., aimed at accelerating the development of electric thrust reverser systems for next-gen aircraft. The Engineering Center of Excellence is now operational and features a modular test environment designed to simulate real-world conditions for evaluating aircraft components and systems, enhancing the design scalability for future applications. This initiative is significant as the aerospace industry shifts towards electric alternatives to hydraulic systems, which can reduce weight by 15% to 20% in nacelle actuation. The elecTRAS technology, which eliminates hydraulic interfaces, is expected to improve fuel efficiency and operational performance while simplifying maintenance. This aligns with the long-term electrification strategies of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Looking ahead, Collins Aerospace aims to streamline development by consolidating its elecTRAS systems engineering and nacelle actuation design teams at the new facility. The company’s technology is already in service on the Airbus A350 family, having logged over 15 million flight hours by 2025. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Transportation
Collins Aerospace Completes Altitude Testing of Enhanced Power and Cooling System for F-35
Collins Aerospace has successfully completed altitude testing of its Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) for the F-35 jet. This new system is designed to enhance the thermal capacity of the aircraft, enabling it to support future technology upgrades. The testing involved simulating various mission demands and altitude conditions to evaluate the system's performance. The significance of EPACS lies in its ability to meet the increasing thermal and power demands of modern aircraft electronics. As new sensors and mission systems are integrated into the F-35, they generate more heat and require additional electrical power. EPACS aims to provide the necessary thermal margin to accommodate these upgrades without exceeding the aircraft's thermal limits. Looking ahead, the successful altitude testing marks a critical milestone in the development of EPACS, increasing confidence in its performance under real-world conditions. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
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