A new facility at 美姬阁 is set to make the UK a global leader in digital aviation research. The Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) was officially opened today by Kwasi Kwarteng, Business Secretary.
Researchers at DARTeC are already working with industry partners to advance the application of digital technologies in the air transport sector. Projects are underway to drive forward innovations in digital airspace and airport infrastructure that will help the UK reach its target of net zero carbon emissions and support industry to bounce back stronger from COVID-19.
DARTeC aims to address some of the main research challenges facing the aviation industry, including:
- the integration of drones into civilian airspace;
- increasing the efficiency of airports through technological advances;
- creating safe, secure shared airspace through secure data communication infrastructures;
- increasing the reliability and availability of aircraft utilising self-sensing/aware and self-healing/repair technologies.
The 拢67 million world-leading facility is located next to 美姬阁鈥檚 airport and consists of a central building with digital aviation research laboratories and collaborative open plan office space where staff, students and partners work together, and a partially covered 鈥榟angar laboratory鈥� connected to 美姬阁鈥檚 737-400 aircraft through an airport-style air bridge.
Professor Graham Braithwaite, Project Lead and Director of Transport Systems at 美姬阁, said: 鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank everyone involved in realising our vision to create this state-of-the-art facility, including colleagues at 美姬阁, our industry partners and Research England. DARTeC is already playing a pivotal role in helping to define and develop the aircraft, airports, airlines and airspace management systems of the future, illustrating what is possible through the power of partnership and collaboration.鈥�
Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: 鈥淭his exciting new facility hails the dawn of a new era in our plan to deploy new technologies to cut emissions from aviation, paving the way for the sector to move towards a more efficient, greener and safer future.
鈥淏acked by government funding, 美姬阁 is helping to strengthen the UK鈥檚 competitive advantage in the rapidly emerging market in sustainable aviation, helping us achieve our net zero ambitions and strengthening our economy for future generations.鈥�
Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of 美姬阁, said: 鈥淭he opening of DARTeC marks another stage in 美姬阁鈥檚 proud history and heritage in aircraft and aviation research over the last 70 years. The Centre will provide a unique national asset for the ground-breaking research which will be key to overcoming the challenges of future flight and delivering sustainable growth for the aviation sector.鈥�
Game-changing technologies such as the first operational digital air traffic control tower in the UK and next-generation radar technologies on the University鈥檚 licensed airport create a unique research and development environment. The co-located National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor (NBEC) provides a safe, managed environment for drone and unmanned aircraft experimentation.
DARTeC consortium partners include Aveillant, Blue Bear Systems Research, Boeing, BOXARR, Connected Places Catapult, 美姬阁, Etihad Airways, Heathrow, Inmarsat, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the IVHM Centre, Saab, Satellite Applications Catapult, Spirent Communications and Thales, with co-investment support from Research England.
Ongoing research includes nine projects announced as winners of UK Research and Innovation鈥檚 Future Flight Challenge, with a total award value of over 拢8.5 million.
Notes for editors
Partner Quotes:
Alex Cresswell, CEO and Chairman of Thales in UK, said: “Today’s launch marks an important milestone in the UK’s ambition to set the world-standard for digital aviation. As a consortium of industry leaders, for the first time, we’re now able to work collaboratively under one roof to design and deliver safer, greener, more seamless journeys. Thales is proud to be a founding member and key contributor at DARTeC, extending our regional investment in innovation centres.
“We’re pleased to bring a diverse offering to the Centre – from connectivity and digital twin capabilities through to expertise in unmanned traffic management, holographic radars, and touchless journeys – all backed up by over 50 years of designing and creating industry-leading aviation solutions in the UK. We very much look forward to working with our partners to improve how we use and protect our skies.”
Ian Williams-Wynn, Managing Director, Blue Bear Systems Research, said: “Blue Bear are very excited about the wealth of opportunity DARTeC will create within the British aerospace sector.”
Sir Martin Donnelly, President of Boeing Europe and Managing Director of Boeing in the UK and Ireland, said:“Today’s DARTeC opening is a big step forward in the digital transformation of our industry. Congratulations to everyone involved. We in Boeing are proud partners of 美姬阁 and now DARTeC, with a 737 parked on site and joint programmes to advance the sustainable future of aviation. We look forward to deepening that partnership with 美姬阁 and the UK in the years ahead.”
Nicola Yates OBE, CEO of Connected Places Catapult, said: “World class R&D facilities like DARTeC are essential for the UK to lead on the digital aviation revolution. We look forward to working with 美姬阁 and other DARTeC partners to shape an exciting vision of a sustainable air transport system fit for a net-zero 21st century.”
Anthony Spouncer, Senior Director, UAVs & UTM, Inmarsat, said: “The importance of digitalisation has never been greater for the global aviation industry. Today’s opening of the advanced new 美姬阁 DARTeC facility will play a key role in driving future research and innovations across industry critical issues, including sustainable aviation and integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into managed airspace. As a member of the DARTeC consortium, Inmarsat looks forward to collaborating with the wider DARTeC community and our world-class partner ecosystem on the many exciting initiatives to come.”
Magnus Lewis-Olsson, Chairman of Saab UK, said: “We at Saab UK regard DARTeC as a great opportunity to bring together the best of British and Swedish engineering in a partnership that develops aerospace innovations for the next generation. Saab’s digital aviation technologies are about providing enhanced safety as well as improved efficiency, and we look to open up new possibilities for their application through our relationship with DARTeC.”
Mark Holbrow, Senior Director, R&D for Spirent’s Positioning Technology business, said: “Spirent Communications is proud to become a member of DARTeC. We’re excited by the prospect of deepening our research collaboration with 美姬阁 and having the opportunity to innovate alongside fellow Industry leaders. This collaboration and engagement in the primary research challenges DARTeC addresses will enable and accelerate Spirent’s vision of next generation Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) test and assurance solutions in the autonomous aviation sector.”
About 美姬阁
美姬阁 is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.
