Aerospace & Defence 4.0

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a powerful trend in the Aerospace & Defense (A&D) industry. This industry has been one of the forerunners in the IIoT maturity spectrum, having implemented sensor technology and computerized automation for several years in the recent past. Successful A&D companies are constantly innovating and are increasingly upgrading their technological infrastructure using elements of IIoT such as edge computing, big data, predictive analytics, cloud and other applications. With the convergence of digitized machine parts and improved connectivity, IIoT is already gaining momentum across several departments of aerospace and defense manufacturing. Like its implementation in any other industry, the objective of IIoT in A&D industry also is in improving process and product efficiencies.

Military and commercial airlines are increasingly generating several terabytes of data every day, as more and more manufacturers are adding sensor technology to these machines. The data that is actually being put to use is all but a small fraction of the huge mountain of data that could be potential sources of additional revenues to the manufacturers. Aircraft health and maintenance, system and component performance, and crucial customer related data are all a part of this mix. And this is where IIoT plays a crucial role in helping manufacturers manage this large volume of data and identify newer service opportunities.

Some of the key benefits of IIoT for the aerospace and defence industry include –
•     Aircraft maintenance and health monitoring
•     Ability to tweak aircraft design and functionalities based on usage behavior
•     Real-time identification of quality issues
•     Quick and easy delivery of software updates
•     Improvement of operational efficiency
•     Enriched design and manufacturing environment
•     Easy tracking and traceability

Leading aircraft manufacturers that have already implemented IIoT in their factory operations are now realizing returns in the form of overall cost reduction, improved process efficiencies, improved product reliability, and enhanced customer experience through predictive maintenance of aircraft. Engine fuel efficiency and performance improvements such as noise and emission cancellation are some of the parameters that are being looked at by aircraft manufacturers. Further, these IIoT solutions are enabling additional revenue streams for OEMs, engine manufacturers, and airline operators alike. In fact, the opportunities are so many that the real challenge is more in identifying where to start implementing IIoT. A lot of airlines companies have already invested or planned their budgets for the near future IIoT implementations, which is why it becomes all the more important to understand what major market players are doing in the space.