Future Technologies and Innovation Potential

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List of researchers

Motivation

An important pre-requisite for the study of aviation systems of the future is the understanding of future technological options and their physical boundaries. The analysis of future technologies allows us to create integrated and logically sound concepts and to define their research and development strategies. Accurate knowledge of the potential, relevance and plausibility of future technologies is therefore essential to Bauhaus Luftfahrt.

Technology is, by definition, the "knowledge of a technique". Future technologies are therefore "knowledge of techniques with potential applications in the future". A "technology radar", which provides early findings on possible and surprising innovation potential, focuses on identifying design-driving or "disruptive" developments. Those developments will change the appearance of a whole system and/or replace evolutionary innovation paths.

Task

The aim of Bauhaus Luftfahrt is to identify and analyse significant innovative potential of aircraft systems for the future, based on current scientific findings and technological possibilities. The idea is

• to establish the method of a "technology radar";

• to assess promising research and development paths using metrics, physical boundaries and key relationships;

• to compile an information compendium on selected future technologies.

Approach

Despite vast literature in the area and numerous proprietary processes, there exists no definitive recipe for a successful analysis of future technologies. The formalisation of physics-based analyses in processes and IT algorithms is not the decisive factor of success. Bauhaus Luftfahrt has therefore chosen its own method for the analysis of future technologies: rather than a rigorous process, its method requires an interdisciplinary culture and a high level of expertise at the interface between industry and science. Potential effects of new findings are discussed individually together with users and decision-makers and the "technology radar’s" filter for future signals is recalibrated to specific problems. This enables the aviation industry to remain at the forefront of essential innovations in a dynamic global environment.