Conflux Technology developing heat exchangers for Airbus’s hydrogen-electric aircraft project

Conflux Technology has revealed that it is part of Airbus’s ZEROe, with the Geelong-headquartered business contributing development of additively-manufactured heat exchangers for the hydrogen-electric aviation project. According to a statement from Conflux on Tuesday, its heat exchanger plays a critical role in thermal regulation within ZEROe’s fuel cell systems. The company said its exchanger was…

Conflux Joins Honeywell-led hybrid-powered aircraft R&D consortium

Additively manufactured heat exchanger specialist Conflux Technology has joined the Honeywell-led TheMa4HERA consortium, a project focussing on thermal management for hybrid-electric regional aircraft. According to a statement from Conflux this week, the clean aviation project TheMa4HERA (Thermal Management for Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft) aims to develop “advanced thermal management systems and architectures for next-generation hybrid-electric…

Space Machines Company opens Australia’s largest spacecraft manufacturing facility

Space Machines Company and the University of Technology Sydney announced on Tuesday the creation of Australia’s largest industrial-scale spacecraft manufacturing facility at UTS Tech Lab in Sydney. The Optimus Factory (OF-01) will feature an additional 800-square-metre spacecraft production space and house Australia’s largest satellite Assembly, Integration and Test cleanroom. The facility represents a co-investment from…

JCU engineers develop world-first bendable ceramic for aerospace applications

James Cook University engineers have created a groundbreaking bendable ceramic material that could revolutionise aerospace design, the university announced on Wednesday. The material, which can be 3D-printed and withstand more than 10,000 loading cycles without breaking, has attracted the attention of global aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin, which will partner with the JCU team over the…

MicroTau’s fuel-saving film to be tested in the US by Delta Air Lines

Sydney-based MicroTau, which is commercialising sharkskin-inspired riblet films designed to reduce both drag and fuel use for planes, will have its technology tested on Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 767 fleet. According to a statement from the US carrier on Wednesday (US time) MicroTau has been added to Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab innovation incubator. “[The program]…

Conflux Technology, AMSL Aero partner on long-range hydrogen EVTOL aircraft development

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) aircraft maker AMSL Aero and heat exchanger specialist Conflux Technology have shared details of a new partnership, the first phase of which saw Conflux develop hydrogen fuel cell cooling concepts for AMSL Aero’s Vertiia craft. In a statement on Wednesday, Conflux said they had developed “three innovative heat exchanger…

Li-S Energy partners with Kea Aerospace for multi-month UAV flights

Li-S Energy and Kea Aerospace signed a collaboration agreement on Tuesday at the Avalon International Airshow to integrate lithium sulfur battery technology into high altitude UAVs. The partnership aims to significantly enhance flight endurance and operational efficiency of Kea’s stratospheric aircraft, which operate between 55,000 and 65,000 feet. Kea’s solar-powered ATMOS aircraft functions as a…

Aurora Labs completes next-gen micro gas turbine for drone market

Aurora Labs has completed the design, build and test phase of its AU4 micro gas turbine engine, paving the way for commercialisation by mid-202. The 40 kilogram thrust engine, designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), leverages 3D printing technology to achieve significant advances in lightweighting, parts consolidation, fuel efficiency and simplified assembly. “Our mission is…