IT as a Service or Product: Development and Existence of Information Technologies in Aerospace Industry

IT AS A PRODUCT OR SERVICEDevelopment and existence ofInformation Technologies in

Aerospace industry

Authors: Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan

Course: Information and communications management

Instructors: Fabian Pittke, Vladimir Stantchev

Date of submission: 30.01.2012

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Table of ContentsAbstract.......................................................3Introduction...................................................4

History........................................................4Birth of an aircraft “Design”..................................5

Mathematical model “Development and Testing”...................6Navigation.....................................................7

Efficiency (Operations)........................................7Maintenance....................................................8

Training.......................................................8FLY-BY-WIRE....................................................9

Command and Control..........................................9Automatic Stability Systems..................................9

Super Maneuverability.......................................10Safety......................................................10

Weight saving...............................................11Advantages of information systems on aircraft.................11

Comparison Example............................................12Conclusion....................................................15

Sources.......................................................16

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Abstract

In the following research paper, We aim to present

readers with a theoretical and practical perspective of the

IT(Information Technologies) as a product or service used

in the Aerocraft industry, development of measures with

practical relevance for the Aerospace industry

understanding and give them a deeper understanding of the

causes and effects of the policies and experiences behind

it and of future trends that will shape the connection of

IT and Aircrafts. We will form our hypothesis around and

hope to prove that Information Technology Plays a positive

roll in making aerospace Industry more economical and

efficient.

Our research question is Does IT helps and provides

more safety and efficiency to people, industry and the

environment? We will begin stating a short overview of the

IT and Aircraft industry, history and the basics of them.

Information will be gathered from mainly books and internet

sources. We will analyze information systems some years

before and now, comparison between new and old industry and

the practical transfer from science to work, will consider

in depth by stating the assumptions and concepts of these

theoretical and practical and then using these try to see

the future of IT in Aircraft industry.Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Findings include but are not limited to comparing

specific theoretical perspectives and critiquing them to

see how they contributed to the industry and to see what

are the expected changes and new mindsets of future

airplanes.

By using these different historical perspectives and

connecting them to the practical experiencies, we are able

to see how the information technologies has influenced old

systems and created new ways of managing different types of

aircraft in one of the biggest industries of the world.

Introduction

IT plays a very important part in our lives and we

cannot imagine living with out it. IT has not only made our

lives more easy but also economical by making other

industries like Aerospace industry more efficient and

kinder to the environment. The history of aircrafts show

that just several years ago it was very hard to control an

aircraft, but the science was developed and the indutry was

growing. Nowadays we have airplanes working with just a

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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joystick and it is the consequence of the fast growing and

developing information systems connected with an airplane.

History

In 1962 start of Moon landing mission marked the

merger of IT and aerospace technologies In 1969 NASA used

IT and sent a human being to the moon.In 1972 the first

military aircraft use fly by wire (information System) to

control flight.In 1977 the Space Shuttle used an all-

digital fly-by-wire system to control flight.In 1984 Airbus

Industries A320 became the first airliner to fly with an

all-digital fly-by-wire control system .In 1990s the Boeing

777 was also the first commercial aircraft to be designed

entirely by computer. In 2005 the Dassault Falcon 7X became

the first business jet with fly-by-wire controls.

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/jpatota/writing/

SpaceExploration.html (last visted 20-1-12)

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html (last

visted 20-1-12)

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Birth of an aircraft “Design”

Information systems are no longer simply used for

presentation, visualization techniques only but have moved

to the front of the product-development process.

In 1990s the Boeing 777 was the first commercial

aircraft to be designed entirely by computer .The Boeing

777 Division used CATIA (computer-aided, three-dimensional

interactive application) and ELFINI (Finite Element

Analysis System).These Systems helped them to put wiring

design, toilets, improve efficiency my making the design

more efficient and avoiding extra stuff not required saving

hundreds of man hours.

http://bits.me.berkeley.edu/me39c/Spring97/Projects/b777/

catia.html

(last visited 28-10-11)

The system was also used for Interior design to help

reduce the amount of floor space. Use of information

systems result in Improvement of quality of work ,reduced

changes and errors, and less rework, resulting in lower

development price.

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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One more example of this information system used to

design aircraft is f-22. Before even the aircraft was build

designers were able to calculate weather the Aim-9 missile

will be able to fit inside internal bay of f-22. This

process

saved

100s of

hour of

work

alone.

And

when

project

was

completed the Aim-9 was able to fit in side the internal

bay as predicted by the computer.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JGrZlIGGEVg/Sj6ai5WyyhI/

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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AAAAAAAAAPY/Z7KU2EUxHGs/s400/CATIA+Wine+Ubuntu+Linux.png

(image source)

Advantages of CATIA (computer-aided, three-dimensional

interactive application)

Increased productivity

Shorter Time from Design to Manufacturing

Lower cost

Better Design

Greater Accuracy

Improved Engineering

Higher Standardization of design

www.edstechnologies.com/download/ history - catia .pdf

( last visted 22-1-12)

Mathematical model “Development and Testing”

Scientists use computers to

solve math and science problems.

Scientists are able to save

researchers a lot of time by

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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doing complicated airplane design calculations quickly and

accurately with help on information systems. The computer

creates a mathematical model of the airplane being

tested .A computer program calculates specific numerical

values at different points on the model. This results in

high accuracy of design.

http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/background/tools/ (last visited

01-11-11) Image

Computer programs(as shown in figure above) can be

used to estimate the temperature, speed, direction, and

density of the air around an airplane .For example computer

will calculate which parts will be taking extreme heats.

Engineers will put high heat resistance materials only on

the part where necessary saving a lot of precious kilos of

aircraft making it more economical and more maneuverable.

Ii the picture above the red represents hot air above 1000

degrees

Calculating all those numerical values by hand would

take a very long time and would include several human

errors. A computer can work on millions of equations at the

same time making very few mistakes.

http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/background/tools/ (last visited

01-11-11) (Text)

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Navigation

Using GPS systems in combination with onboard

information systems allows us to navigate aircraft with

accuracy of 2 METERS!!! Automatic routing makes aircraft

more efficient and does predication of weather and wind

speed ahead making it safer and economical. The GPS system

uses minimum 4 satlights orbiting above the earth and

onboard receiver to calculate its heading speed and

position. All the process is done in lighting Speed of

light.

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/

Evolution_of_Technology/navigation_tech/Tech33.htm ( last

visted 21-1-12)

Efficiency (Operations)

Information systems increase efficiency. Information

systems on board calculate how much airplane is loaded and

calculated how much engine power is needed during take off

and landing. Information systems also calculate air speed

and temperature giving engine precise amount of fuel to

maximize efficiency. Calculate and transfer fuel within

fuel tanks keeping aircrafts center of gravity in center

making aircraft more stable and economical. Use of this

technology makes Aircraft safe and within reach of common

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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men. For example Airbus a-380 uses 3.1 kilometer per 100 km

per passenger, which is more economical, then Toyota Prius.

http://www.theemiratesgroup.com/english/our-vision-values/

emirates-a380.aspx

Maintenance

Information system on aircraft is able to diagnose the

problem of the aircrafts with in minutes by just plugging

them into a laptop. Saving a lot of time and taking them

direct to the core problem point. Digital sensors all over

the aircraft tell what should be replaced and when. No need

to open whole engine to replace one part this saves time,

money and reduces human errors. The flight logs of some

airlines are also maintains digitally so when the aircraft

is due maintenance a email is send to the higher members of

management to ensure timely maintenance of the aircraft

keeping chances of human error to the minimum,

Training

The information technology has made it possible to

simulate flight on computer with photorealistic imaging.

This technology is called flight simulators (as you can see

in the image below)

Flight simulators duplicate accident environments,

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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which allows pilots to practice accidents and routine

flights so they can handle situations when they happen in

reality. It makes pilot more confident when they fly for

real and also saves hour of flight training, which is

expensive and burns a lot of fuel ,making environment more

cleaner by saving tons of fuel and million of carbon

dioxide.

http://aerotoons.com/

blog/wp-content/

uploads/2010/10/

article_modern_sims.jpg

(image souce)

FLY-BY-WIRE

Command and Control

Instead of hydraulics the aircrafts now a days use

advanced fly by wire systems to control flight. Fly by wire

system is a information system which takes command from the

pilot then converts it into binary form, process it and

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then tell the aircraft what to do. For example: - If pilot

want to turn the aircraft right, pilot has to tilt the

joystick of the aircraft right which send the signal to the

central computer which calculates and then turns the

aircraft right all this is performed within milliseconds.

Automatic Stability Systems

Most of the todays military aircraft are Unstable in

nature due to there unusual shapes making then almost

unable to fly. The reason to design aircraft in these shape

is to achieve stealth characteristics and making them very

agile. The information system on for such aircraft makes

impossible possible by adjusting aircraft control 100s of

time every millisecond which other wise is almost

impossible by humans to do. Such example can be seen in F-

117 which has very unusual shape and can not fly without

information systems adjusting its control 100s of time

every millisecond. As u can see F-117 has very uncommon

shape in the image below

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/aircraft-pictures/

2008/06/26/F-117large.jpg (image source)

Super Maneuverability

It is the core requirement to make most of military

aircraft as maneuverable as possible so they can perform

well on the battle fields .In order to achieve this

aircraft manufactures make aircraft unstable in nature so

very little energy is required to maneuver them. Making the

center of gravity of the aircraft very low so the nose is

pitched up words does this. Information systems make it

possible to control flight even the aircraft has very low

center of gravity and is very unstable. Adjusting controls

100s of times every millisecond again. For example F-16 is

one of the most maneuverable fighter available it has very

low center of gravity which lead to nose pitching upwards,

information system on board controls the angle of the

aircraft until pilot tells it to go up . When tells it to

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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go pitch high the aircraft responds very quickly making it

literally dance in the air.

Safety

Information systems on board modern aircraft have

safety cap. It means and aircraft know its structural

strength and it limits pilot doing maneuver which push

structural integrity of the aircraft beyond its limits. For

example pilot of Being 777 rolls the aircraft right

aircraft will roll right but to the limit of 78 degrees not

more then that because the aircraft knows that after 78

degree aircraft can roll completely resulting pilot and

information system losing control of the aircraft. Another

example is if the aircraft is over loaded then information

system will tell the pilot and would not allow pilot to

perform take off. Information systems on board with help of

radar also warn of the weather or storm allowing pilots to

fly above the storm or changing the rout. Information

systems also help to avoid air collations with another

aircraft by communicating with each other.

Weight saving

Information systems use wires or antennas to

communicate with other parts of the aircraft instead of oil

filled metal tubes, which were used in the aircraft before

the introduction of information systems in aircraft

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industries. This saves a lot of kilos making aircraft more

efficient saving fuel and environment. Oil filled tubes

where also very dangerous leak may result losing pressure

paralyzing the aircraft this leads of pilot losing complete

control of aircraft.

Advantages of information systems on aircraft

Information systems makes it possible for us to fly even

the fuel costs are rising Airbus a-380 uses 3.1 kilometer

per 100 km per passenger which is more economical then

Toyota Prius. This efficiency is achieved by:-

Designing a economical aircraft using Information

system (CATIA) or (computer-aided, three-dimensional

interactive application)

Using wires instead of metal tubes (Weight saving)

Keeping center of gravity the same with help of

information systems

Information systems providing only required amount of

fuel. No extra fuel is wasted

Cheaper to design:- Instead of hundreds of men working

on design and doing a lots of mistakes few men work in

teams using information systems

Making a lot of products possible which otherwise

impossible:- Information systems makes un-flyable

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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aircrafts flyable by adjusting controls 100s of time per

milliseconds example f-16, f-117, f-22, Mig-29, etc.

Cheaper to maintain:- Computer diagnose the problems

with help of sensors with in minutes which used to takes

hours or days and in some cases weeks during this period

aircraft used to be grounded. But now this saves time and

money to the airline which result in low fares

Safety: An -Information system makes aircraft safer by

not allowing pilot to perform maneuvers not safe for

aircraft.

Disadvantages of information systems

Only Disadvantage is:- Lack of direct control:-Information

system on board take command then process it and then

tells aircraft what to do how to do.

Comparison Example

Comparison Between

Boeing 707(Aircraft without Using in formation Technology)

Boeing 787 (aircraft with Information Technology)

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Boeing 707

Boeing 787

http://widebodyaircraft.nl/b787dream.jpg (Last visited 29-

1-12)

http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/707-1a.jpg (Last

visited 29-1-12)

Specification Boeing 787( Use of

information

systems)

Boeing707 (without

Using Information

Systems)

Crew 2 3

Fuel capacity 126,000l 60,900l

Range 15,200km 6820 km

Passengers 264 140

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/707family/product.html

(Last visited 29-1-12)

Boeing707 (without Using Information Systems)

140 Passengers need 60,900 liters of fuel to travel 6820 km

60,900/140= 435 liter of fuel per passenger 6820 km

435/6820=0.063 Liters per kilometer per passenger.

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Boeing 787 (Use of information systems)

264 Passengers need 126,000 liters of fuel to travel 15,200

km

15,200/264= 427 liter of fuel per passenger 15,200 km

427/15,200=0.028 Liters per kilometer per passenger

Boeing 707 Uses 0.063 Liters per kilometer per passenger.

Boeing 787 uses 0.028 Liters per kilometer per passenger

Fuel consumption chart: -

Boeing707 (without Using Information Systems) Boeing

787 (Use of information systems)

Source (self created)

This clearly shows that the aircraft which is designedHamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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completely by CATIA (computer-aided, three-dimensional

interactive application) and which uses information system

to manage its fuel efficacy uses less then half the fuel

then the aircraft without use of information systems.

Conclusion

Looking through all of these aspects of the industry

we see that Information Systems are used almost everywhere:

planning, designing, developing operating and maintaining

the aircraft. Using all that systems helps us to consume

less fuel resulting more greener aircrafts which is a big

environmental probal nowadays. The comparison between

Boeing 707(Aircraft without Using in formation Technology)

Boeing 787 (aircraft with Information Technology) showed us

that aircraft using information technology uses less then

half fuel then the aircraft without use of information

technology.

Considering history, development and all the factors

of the industry we surely say that YES, Information

Technology Plays a positive roll in making aerospace

Industry more economical, safer and efficient for people,

business, indutry and the environment.

Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©

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Hence we prove that our Hypotheses:- “Information

Technology Plays a positive roll in making aerospace

Industry more economical and efficient”, can be true and

factically and basically are based on real theories and

experinces which give us above mentioned results.

Sources

1. Abarbanel, Robert; William McNeely (1996). FlyThru the

Boeing 777. New York: ACM SIGGRAPH

2. Norris, Guy and Mark Wagner. Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

US: Zenith Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7603-2815-6

3. Spitzer, Cary R. The Avionics Handbook, CRC Press,

ISBN 0-8493-8348-X

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4. Yenne, Bill (2002). Inside Boeing: Building the 777.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-

1251-6

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Hamlet Hayrapetyan, Waqas Hasan Berlin, 2012 ©