Abstract: A spacecraft (10), comprising a body (12), a solar array (30) with a support panel (32) which is connected to the body, and a thermal radiator (50) that is connected to the body and which includes a radiator substrate (52) that is thermally coupled to the body via at least one heat link (64). The solar array and thermal radiator are configured to be transitioned from a stowed state wherein the support panel and the radiator substrate are held fixed in an overlapping arrangement along and near the body, to a deployed state wherein the solar array is unfolded with the support panel positioned at a distance from the body and the radiator substrate is folded away from the body and the solar array. Preferably, the solar array and thermal radiator are flexible, to allow them to be kept in an overlapping and temporarily bent shape in the stowed state.

Abstract: Specified is a lightning protection layer for an aircraft. The lightning protection layer has a first stratum and a second stratum. The second stratum is coupled to the first stratum along a connecting surface. The first stratum has a metal foil and the second stratum has carbon allotropes. It is thus made possible that damage to a structure of the aircraft by lightning strike is reduced.

Abstract: The invention refers to a quick released system for coupling (1) and drogue (2) assembly comprises a crown coupling connector (4) suitable for being fixed to the coupling (1) and comprising cavities (14); a plurality of balls (3) housed in the cavities (14) with an emerging part and radially movable; a crown drogue connector (5) suitable for being fixed to the drogue (2), configured to engage and disengage the coupling connector (4) and comprising first recesses (26); and a crown locking ring (6) rotatable between a locked and a released position and comprising second recesses (31). The second recesses (31) are arranged in correspondence with the first recesses (26) when the system is in a released position and, the locking ring (6) in contact with the balls (3) and the first recesses (26) engaged with the emerging part of the balls (3) when the system is in a locked position.

Abstract: A welding tool for joining at least two workpieces at a joining region by friction stir welding includes a tool pin arranged along one axis of the welding tool, for applying frictional heat to the workpieces. The welding tool also includes a shoulder surrounding the tool pin, for separating the joining region from the surrounding area. The shoulder is moveable essentially parallel to the axis of the welding tool.

Abstract: In order to provide a simplified inspection of an aircraft for the pilot, an aircraft inspection system is provided which includes at least one movable inspection unit, a position detection arrangement, and at least one data transfer interface. The at least one moveable inspection unit is moveable relative to an aircraft to be inspected. The at least one movable inspection unit includes at least one sensor for detecting a characteristic value, for verifying a characteristic and/or for determining a defect of an aircraft. The movable inspection unit is configured to generate monitoring data. When a defect or a characteristic value is detected, the position detection arrangement detects position data of the movable inspection unit in relation to the aircraft to be inspected, and assigns the position data to the monitoring data. The data transfer interface provides the position data with the assigned monitoring data as inspection data.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting and localizing laser beam sources, includes a beam-sensitive detector which is arranged in the image field of an imaging optic, an electric image processing device which is connected to the detector, and an optical diffraction element which is arranged in the beam path. The diffraction properties of the optical diffraction element are such that incident laser light on different wavelength bands produce diffraction patterns with different shapes, and the electronic image processing device is designed such that it can detect and evaluate the different forms of the diffraction pattern.

Abstract: A laying head for a fibre placement device, in particular for fibre placement according to the AFP method, includes a placing roller which is permeable to laser light, at least in part, a laser light feed unit which is arranged in an inner space of the placing roller and a sensor which is designed and arranged to receive laser light reflected from a component on which the placing roller places a fibre band.

Abstract: Space craft comprising a body, at least one pair of supporting arms, a first device mounted on a first supporting arm and a second device mounted on a second supporting arm. The first arm is rotatably mounted on the body of the craft about an axis of rotation. The second arm is fixed to the body, and in which craft of the first device and the second device at least one is offset from the axis of rotation of the first arm. The pair of supporting arms further comprises a hollow module for the rotatable mounting of the first arm on the body. The mounting module comprising an opening through which the axis of rotation and the second supporting arm pass.

Abstract: An aircraft fuselage structure is disclosed herein and includes an outer skin, with circumferential ribs, such that a recess is provided for receiving a wing torsion box in the outer skin, and the ribs are interrupted in the region of the recess. An object of the disclosure includes providing an aircraft fuselage structure designed such that the wing torsion box is able to extend at least partially through the upper region of the fuselage, without the stability of the fuselage being significantly reduced. This can include providing first longitudinal members which are adjacent to the recess and which extend along the longitudinal edges beyond the entire length thereof. End regions of the first longitudinal members are connected to ribs which extend circumferentially at intervals from the transverse edges of the recess along the outer skin over the vertical longitudinal central plane.

Abstract: A phase angle can be measured between an analog signal and a reference signal by converting the analog signal to digital samples in a residue number system (RNS) analog-to-digital converter (ADC), based on a RNS scheme. The phase angle can be measured directly from the RNS values output by the RNS ADC, or the RNS values can be converted to a binary scheme, such as straight binary, offset binary or two's complement, before calculating the phase angle measurement.

Abstract: A fiber application tool for a fiber application process designed, in particular, as an AFP, has a fiber contact surface area, which has a fiber contact surface for applying and/or pressing the fibers onto a work surface. The tool further includes an activation device for activating an adhesive, matrix, resin, or binder material provided at the fibers by means of an activation radiation so that the fibers are tacked onto the work surface. The fiber contact surface area for the activation radiation may be transparent and that the activation device may be designed so to guide and/or deliver the activation radiation through the transparent fiber contact surface area to the fibers to be pressed by the fiber contact surface.

Abstract: An electrical drive system for an aircraft includes: at least one first and one second electrical direct voltage sources for supplying a direct voltage, and a first and a second electrical machine modules configured to convert electrical alternating voltage into mechanical movement and vice versa. The first and second modules are connected to a first and a second power inverters, respectively. The first and second inverters are connected in series and the first and the second direct voltage sources are connected in series to generate an overall direct voltage to which the inverters are connected. The power inverters each has one voltage measuring device for measuring the power inverter direct voltage present at the respective inverter and a power inverter control device for controlling the operation of the inverters in accordance with the power inverter direct voltage.

Abstract: A system for navigating an aircraft includes a first aircraft with a first communication unit and a second aircraft with a second communication unit. The first aircraft is adapted for determining coordinates of a position of a waypoint. The first communication unit is adapted to transmit the coordinates of the position of the waypoint to the second communication unit. The second aircraft is adapted to navigate to the position of the waypoint. Several waypoints can be provided in this manner such that a flight trajectory is established along which the second aircraft may follow the first aircraft. In addition, the second aircraft may be adapted to follow the first aircraft based on a received identification signal. In certain embodiments, the system can be used such that the second aircraft can follow the first aircraft in case of a failure of systems of the second aircraft.

Abstract: A wireless local messaging system includes a transmitter transmitting a local message to a navigation receiver configured to receive and process navigation messages from satellites of a global navigation satellite system on a given carrier frequency, each of the satellites transmitting the navigation messages with a satellite-individual PRN code. The transmitter transmits the local message in a local message signal on the given carrier frequency with a local PRN code that is not used by a satellite of the global navigation satellite system, and the receiver receives the local PRN code and processes the local message signal.

Abstract: A control circuit system for influencing at least one process variable includes a plurality of sensors which each detect at least one measurement variable, a plurality of actuators which each manipulate at least one control variable, wherein the sensors and actuators are each assigned electronic circuits for control, and at least one control mechanism which controls and/or coordinates each of the plurality of sensors and actuators by means of at least one control unit. The control circuit system is sub-divided into a plurality of sub-units which are each provided with at least one sensor, at least one actuator and at least one control unit, and for a plurality of the sub-units, in particular all of the sub-units, each to be set up to operate a control circuit system.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy, a method for producing a lightweight metal workpiece, a lightweight metal workpiece including the aluminum alloy, as well as the use of the aluminum alloy for producing high-strength lightweight metal workpieces by additive layer manufacturing (ALM) and/or spraying methods for load-optimized components, in particular in automobile manufacturing or in aviation and aerospace applications, plant engineering, medical technology, or as coating material for structural components are described herein.

Abstract: A detachable connecting arrangement for fitting launchable external loads to an aircraft, having a hook-like connecting element fitted to the external load and a holding element fitted to the aircraft for the hook-like connecting element. The hook-like connecting element includes a lower supporting surface and an upper supporting surface. The holding element has a first opposing supporting surface that interacts with the lower supporting surface, and a second, upper opposing supporting surface that interacts with the upper supporting surface. The lower supporting surface and the first opposing supporting surface are designed to support mass forces of the external load directed away from the aircraft, and the upper supporting surface and the upper opposing supporting surface are designed to support mass forces of the external load directed towards the aircraft.

Abstract: An isolation module between a vibration generating device, such as a satellite launcher, and a structure to be isolated, such as the structure carrying a satellite, comprising: at least two fastening parts, and a connecting means. The first fastening part, called the frame, comprises at least two parallel radial branches, and the second fastening part, called the support, comprises at least one radial branch extending between the two branches of the frame. The connecting means is made from an elastomer material and includes at least one pair of identical elastomer pads, being mounted in series between the frame and the support.

Abstract: Calcium is added to an aluminum-scandium alloy to produce an aluminum-scandium-calcium alloy by combining aluminum, scandium, and the calcium in a melt, where the common melt is then quenched at a high velocity.

Abstract: An automatic landing system contains a control device for providing positional data for controlling an aircraft, a first position or range measuring device for detecting first positional data of the aircraft, a second position or range measuring device for detecting second positional data of the aircraft, and a sensor device for detecting sensor data from which a direction in which a landmark is located and/or a distance of the landmark to the aircraft can be determined. The control device may be configured to generate, based on the first positional data, a first hypothesis for the direction and distance of the landmark and, based on the second positional data, a second hypothesis for the direction and distance of the landmark. Moreover, the control device may be configure to confirm or discard the first hypothesis and the second hypothesis, respectively, using the sensor data detected by the sensor device.