Structurally Embedded Power and Signal Cabling for Air Vehicles

During the Phase II Program, Aurora will design and fabricate a large-scale article demonstrating the embedded signal cabling technology developed during the Phase I Program. Design and manufacturing principals and materials for the proposed embedded signal cabling technology will be finalized during the program. Test articles will be designed and fabricated using the developed principles and subsequently tested in a building block approach to develop the property relationships of the embedded system. Testing will consist of evaluating the embedment of conductive media and other portions of the developed embedded power system in both static and dynamic loading and temperature ranges. Recurring labor and qualitative manufacturing data will be collected during manufacture of the full-scale article which will be used to evaluate cost and developed manufacturing processes compared to traditional approaches. BENEFIT: The need for structurally embedded signal cabling is primarily being driven by the U.S. defense industry for future aircraft development programs. The technology developed as a result of this program would find applications in both military and commercial aircraft applications. Aurora will work to develop this technology and transition any processes or techniques developed during the course of this program to the military and commercial sectors. Application of this technology to Department of Defense programs will help to allow reduced platform weight, decrease maintenance costs and provide the airframe designer with increased design possibilities. Aurora will market the design and manufacturing techniques developed during this program as a tool in the acquisition and development of new aircraft programs in both the military and commercial sectors. It is expected that the early market will include Department of Defense contractors and specifically programs focused on the development of advanced composite aircraft structures.