Month: May 2017

Active flow control for boundary layers
Aerodynamics and wind energy, Aviation

Active flow control for boundary layers

Author: Henry Tol, PhD Candidate Aerospace Engineering, TU Delft Article published in Leonardo Times Magazine, Edition of January 2017. Turbulence and the transition to turbulence are recognized as unsolved problems in physics. Likewise, control theorists have hardly ever come across a problem this challenging. The goal of active flow control is to cross these interdisciplinary boundaries by considering the relevant flow physics when designing the control algorithms. Motivation The ability to control fluid flows to any desired state has great consequences for many applications. Imagine future aircraft where the traditional control surfaces (elevator, rudder, etc.) are replaced with flow control devices, which can accelerate the flow over the wings to generate lift and control m...
“Een hightech topbedrijf met een sociaal randje”
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“Een hightech topbedrijf met een sociaal randje”

Werktuigbouwkundige Marcel Goldschmeding aan de slag als campuspromotor voor ASML Op het moment dat we Marcel spreken, focust hij zich op zijn master systems & control (TU Delft). Een sterk inhoudelijke master die er om bekend staat ‘lastig’ te zijn. Maar dat vormt geen probleem, integendeel zelfs. Marcel: “Ik had zin in de uitdaging, dat motiveert me juist!” Zijn studieactiviteiten combineert hij met het werken als campus promoter voor ASML. Marcel: “Via mijn bestuursjaar bij de studievereniging van werktuigbouwkunde kwam ik in contact met een oud-bestuurslid die campus promoter was voor ASML. Ik was geïnteresseerd in de mogelijkheden van een Scholarship bij ASML, dus we hebben daar toen enkele keren over gesproken. Toen hij stopte met zijn werk als campus promoter, heeft hij mi...
China’s C919 Completes Its Maiden Flight
Aviation, News, Operations

China’s C919 Completes Its Maiden Flight

Today, China’s C919 completed its maiden flight, bringing China one step closer to realising their long-standing dreams of having their own home-grown commercial aircraft. The narrow-body aircraft was in the air for 90 minutes before it returned safely to the Pudong airport in Shanghai. Prior to the flight, state television announced that it would be flown at an altitude of 3000 meters and achieve a speed of 300kmph. The flight was cheered on by thousands including dignitaries and enthusiasts.   China has hoped to build its own commercial airplanes since the 1970s when Chairman Mao Zedong’s wife, Jiang Qing, backed a project. The C919 was announced by China nearly a decade ago in May 2008, when they set up the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). It was initially in...
Aurora unveils eVTOL aircraft
Aviation, News, Operations, Propulsion

Aurora unveils eVTOL aircraft

Uber has declared that by 2020 they plan to have a network of ‘flying cars’ in Dallas and Dubai. The new service will be called Uber Air. With Uber Air people will be able to order flying taxis in the same way users of the current Uber app can order car rides. This sounds fantastic and happening so soon! However, during the Uber Elevate summit of April 25-27  2017 in Texas Uber’s chief product officer Jeff Holden admitted that Uber is rushing the Uber Air initiative. Uber Air will consist of electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Although these eVTOL aircraft seem to be a promising concept, the technologies needed are not yet fully developed. The eVTOL aircraft are envisioned to be fully electric with zero-emissions, autonomous and near-silent. It looks like this vision...