Virtual Lecture by the RAeS Singapore Branch & SIT-UofG RAeS Student Chapter

Darwinian Aeroplanes – Evolving to a future of Sustainable Aviation

Designing a new aircraft is always a challenge. Designing one that could, for at least four decades into the future, continuously meet ever-tightening requirements, readily adapt to a changing society, constantly incorporate advancing technologies, and endlessly stave off relentless competition, is a seemingly impossible endeavour. Yet, designing such an ‘evolvable’ aircraft is exactly what designers of the next ultra-green airliners will need to do. In this talk, I will discuss how industry and academia are trying to articulate the challenges posed by infusing evolvability into aircraft designs. I will subsequently provide an outline of some of the approaches developed to tackle these challenges – including some of my own attempts.

Date: Wed 1 Sep 2021
Time: 1700 hrs Singapore Time
Zoom Link:
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/94781421396?pwd=OHdNK3Vyem9LaC81YWxKV1pXa05zUT09

About the Speaker

Dr Albert S.J. van Heerden, Cranfield University

Albert van Heerden (Stevan, as he is better known) is a research fellow in the Centre for Propulsion Engineering and Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre, Cranfield University. Although highly interdisciplinary, his research is unified under three themes: conceptual aerospace vehicle design, the study of advanced airframe and propulsion systems, and the technical and economic assessment of novel aerospace technologies at vehicle level. The overarching goal of his work is to significantly advance and accelerate the development of sustainable and economic aerospace solutions. Stevan has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Cranfield University, an MS in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology, and a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria. Prior to his postgraduate studies, Stevan gained four years of industry experience, working as an aerodynamicist and control engineer in South Africa. As a research fellow, he also has several years of experience working closely with the major UK and European aerospace companies.