Aerospace R&D is at a turning point as technologies like electric actuation and software-driven testing outpace aging infrastructure. In Aerospace & Defense Technology, ACS experts Greg Larson and Darryn La Zar explain that aerospace automation has evolved from a strategic edge to an operational necessity to handle rising system complexity.
Key shifts include moving from hydraulic to electric actuation, requiring precise digital coordination. By using an abstraction model to decouple software from hardware, firms can swap components without costly revalidation. Additionally, digital twins are now vital, with 73% of firms using them to slash prototyping risks. To support sustainable fuels and new propulsion, manufacturers are adopting modular, containerized systems to allow for rapid facility scaling without total infrastructure overhauls.
