This concept paper focuses on integrating the Hydraulic Infinite Linear Actuator - Multi Rod (HILA-MR) technology into Variable Camber Continuous Trailing Edge Flap (VCCTEF) systems for Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft. HILA-MR is a novel actuator design enabling precise control of multiple flap segments in a VCCTEF via shared pistons. The HILA-MR/VCCTEF system demonstrates significantly lower power requirements compared to traditional simple flap systems and promotes a more optimal use of force and speed potential of hydraulic actuation throughout the flight envelope, reducing power requirements and contributing to overall efficiency and lower fuel burn. The system offers potential for drag reduction, improved efficiency, and reduced weight and volume for actuation and secondary power components in BWB aircraft. The aim of this paper is to give a comprehensive presentation of the HILA-MR system in a VCCTEF application, evaluate different aspects, design issues and benchmark the technology against present solutions.   

The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems in the design of new aeronautical products impacts not only the project architecture regarding the hardware and software but also inserts new layers of complexity into Systems Engineering methods to evaluate the entire product life cycle. More specifically related to the end users within the scope of the study, the pilots, the inclusion of AI Systems also impacts the human factors aspects addressed in Systems Engineering methods, as well as the human-machine interaction. Issues such as information ambiguities, lack of pilot situational awareness and system understanding can be presented in various flight events and are concerns of the aeronautical industry and certification authorities. Human-AI Teaming (HAT) concepts are the basis of understanding how the flight crew can use AI systems in aviation, enabling them to achieve their full potential. As such, this paper reviews the main AI Systems research in aviation and their relationship with human factors and systems engineering. It discusses the main outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for human-AI systems integration. The research shows that there has been a considerable increase in the study in the last decade, most focused on machine learning applications that could be used not only in the flight deck assisting the pilot but also as a ground or real-time analysis of the workload and situational awareness. It is discussed how these AI Systems could be even more implemented in aviation in a specific context of flight operations, utilizing current patterns, for example, from the flight manuals, that could feed data regarding AI Systems, and therefore being part of the assistance of the flight crew.

The introduction of large language models in the form of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, marked the beginningof the widespread democratization of artificial intelligence. This is spawning a entirely new area of researchinto application of this technology. This paper presents a novel approach to generate configuration rules, anddesign concepts using ChatGPT. The objective is to demonstrate how large language models models can aidin automating the engineering design process. In this paper the configuration of aircraft hybrid propulsionsystems is studied as an example. It is shown how a system configuration can be generated and presentedin the form of UML component diagrams. Large Language Models usually have an element of randomnessinserted in their response. This makes them inherently non-deterministic, and the result is not always correct.Therefore, statistical properties are studied such that the probability of getting a correct result can be estimated,and prompts can be tweaked to provide the best result. This is particularly useful when a prompt is separatedinto a general part that can be reused for similar tasks, and one specific part.It is also shown how these models can used in consecutive step to formulate a simulation model and executeit within the framework of ChatGPT-4, or be exported to more dedicated simulation models for more advancedsimulations. Also optimization can be included. The study shows promising results, and it shows that thereis an immense potential for AI in engineering system design, and we are just in the beginning of applying thistools.

Conceptual design of aircraft tailored for a specific role requires a holistic view to account for requirements atdifferent levels, from systems to sub-systems and their components. This is the case with aircraft designedfor firefighting, where they collaborate and communicate with other systems towards a common goal. Thiscollaborative and holistic perspective is what a System of System (SoS) analysis tries to achieve. To conduct aSoS analysis, the use of Agent-Based Modelling and Simulations (ABMSs) is widely adopted. A crucial aspectof this approach is the ability to capture emergent behaviours that arise from collaborative systems, whichare represented in the Agent-Based Simulation (ABS) by agents whose actions are traditionally governed bydecision trees. The present study introduces a novel methodology using ABMS where a Large Language Model(LLM) plays the role of a human in the loop. The purpose is to represent the decision-making of an IncidentCommander (IC) by allowing a LLM to play this role within a wildfire situation. The IC will follow operationalguidelines and guide the agents’ behaviour in order to provide them with more degrees of freedom and removethe constraints associated with traditional behaviour trees. This approach not only aids in simulating realisticoperational scenarios but also generates valuable insights for Aircraft Conceptual Design (ACD), enabling thederivation of specific design requirements based on simulation outcomes.

The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) has shown considerable promise in various fields,including engineering system design, due to their capabilities as few-shot or even single-shot learners. Thispaper investigates the integration of LLMs in the architectural design of fluid power systems for constructionmachinery. The primary contribution is the development of a methodology that transforms textual inputs intoformal architectural definitions, utilizing micro-templates within prompts to enhance output repeatability andconsistency. In an additional step LLMs can generate Python code that generates the system architecture, fromuser input, in a more narrow put more reliable design space. The iterative refinement process facilitated by LLMsallows for the expansion and optimization of design spaces. This can have a great impact on the early stages ofengineering design by automating the generation of system architectures.

The increasing interest in System-of-Systems (SoS) for engineering applications are introducing new challenges that must be overcome at an early design stage. One of these is the integration of different tools that can be used to make predictions about a system under development and how these together can be used to predict SoS performances by comparison of parameter spaces.The purpose of this paper is therefore to illustrate how different SoS architectures can be modeled, simulated, and evaluated throughout different scenarios by different teams of researchers following a common workflow.An ontology is used as an overarching knowledge base where information about entities, such as scenario details, can be extracted and used for the setup of Agentbased Simulations(ABS) through a tool integration software acting as master that controls the correct execution of the defined workflow.The tool integration software also enables additional modelling capabilities, such as a Design of Experiments (DOE) definition for design space explorations, an Optimizer with different algorithms, user-defined Python scripts, etc. 

New technologies and innovations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the aeronautics industry are essential. The morphing wing concept is an excellent method to increase aircraft performance and reduce fuel consumption and may now become re-applied using a new actuation technology. Nevertheless, for the moment, several showstoppers inhibit the commercial introduction of morphing systems. A morphing wing design's structural skeleton, actuator and sensor network are characterized by an extensive and multi-branched network of actuators and sensors and many mechanical and electrical components that reduce reliability, availability, flight safety and maintainability. It also dramatically impacts weight, volume, complexity and costs. Therefore, less complex and more robust solutions are desired for the morphing wing technology to become a realistic alternative for the aeronautics industry.  Future morphing wing systems in aircraft can be improved significantly by utilizing a new type of hydraulic linear actuator invention, the Hydraulic Infinite Linear Actuator with Multiple Rods (HILA MR). A single HILA MR actuator has the potential to replace the whole actuator and sensor network in a morphing wing, enabling substantial rationalization in several ways and facilitating certification and commercial introduction.  Furthermore, compared to conventional actuating technologies, a HILA MR architecture allows for controlling the morphing structure using reduced mass and volume, enabling a power consumption reduction. With HILA MR, the mechanical actuation of the control surfaces may be embedded into the aircraft's fuselage in a bio-mimicking fashion similar to the human hand, where the muscles that control the fingers of the hand are located in the forearm. Light Dyneema fibre cables with high tensile strength are used to distribute actuator motions in the fuselage to the control surface, similar to how they are used in cable robots. In addition, the location of the actuator facilitates a slender wing design.  The HILA MR technology enables a novel way to generate and distribute linear mechanical movement for flight control and wing morphing. It mimics the characteristics of hydraulic servo cylinders, but the piston actuates several multiple rods in a switching fashion, using clamping elements. The HILA technology acts according to a timing-controlled shifting of operating modes between continuous and discrete incremental actuator positioning steps. Each rod actuates one part of the wings morphing mechanical structure. The application of this technology in aviation is also characterized by the following: a reduced number of servo valves, well-known clamping technology used for both stepping and locking functionality, a reduced number of position feedback sensors and a local hydraulic system in the fuselage or situated in the wing box with a small oil reservoir volume.  This paper aims to evaluate different aspects and design issues of the HILA MR system in a morphing wing application (actuator, sensor, control system and structural skeleton) and compare the technology against present electromechanical solutions. In addition, a simplified morphing wing system simulation model based on HILA MR is presented. Results from initial simulations show that the concept is attainable and will have the required response timings. 

This chapter proposes a reflection on the cognitive process used by designers when building a solution during design activities. The assumption is that diversity in cognition is critical to the design process. As a result, multisensory, or multimodal experiences should be incorporated into design teams more so than interdisciplinary ones. These claims are founded on a body of research that describes how designers solve problems and how our minds interpret the outside environment via sensory perception. It is important to consider the cognitive requirements of multisensory experiences in the conceptual phase of design. It is a challenge to move forward the knowledge in the design field by including people with diverse cognitive perspectives not to test a solution, but during the design process that creates an entire new system. The only way to achieve that is to embrace diversity in design schools together with the way design education is delivered.

In system design and product development there is an inherent conflict between refining a concept further or expanding, or even changing concept, as more knowledge about the design is obtained. Here, this is addressed from a mathematical point based on the framework of design information entropy.In this paper it is argued that refinement should only be done to a certain degree within a design space. If the information entropy is to be increased further, it is better to expand the design space. It is shown how this can be done by releasing more design parameters into the design space, and thereby expand it. It is shown that the optimal solution as a function of information entropy makes transitions to expand the design space along a Pareto front. An important assumption is that the influence of design parameters follows a negative power law, i.e., is consistent with the Pareto principle. This assumption is supported with a couple of example.