Airbus - 2022 Universal Registration Document

1. Information on the Company’s Activities / 1.3 Other Corporate Activities

be handed over to the DDMS programme for industrialisation. In addition, projects are running to support modelling and simulation needs for future sustainable aircraft, including the use of hybrid AI techniques to support traditional computational approaches. In the field of aeroacoustics the team has developed a methodology for coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with Computational Aeroacoustic (CAA) methods. Finally, a collaborative project has been set up between CRT, Inria and Cerfacs in France to enhance our key capabilities in applied mathematics for modelling and simulation. The initiative called “CONCASE” includes research into hybrid modelling linked to HPC – a key enabler for the next generation of modelling and simulation. Communication technology: The team is trailblazing new communication system architectures and technologies enabling resilient, pervasive and secure connectivity for our airborne platforms. Major demonstrations of advanced technological capabilities were performed in the field of free-space Quantum Key-Distribution and Post-Quantum-Cryptography to provide a maximum level of security for our communication links. Other outstanding project results are paving the way for more autonomous flight operations with demonstrations on very highly-available communication links and a many-core processor implementation for highly-critical applications. New research initiatives to explore quantum networks and free-space power beaming for alternative energy sources were started. Quantum technology: Implications of quantum technologies for aerospace and defence are extensive and include important applications in the fields of computing, communication, and sensing. The objective is to explore this new emerging technology for our company and to prepare Airbus for the early adoption of its portfolio. In 2022 a new partnership was set-up with one of the leading quantum computing companies IonQ in the project QUASA (QUAntum enabled Services for Aerospace). Airbus will work with IonQ on specialised quantum algorithms to tackle combinatorial optimisation, where quantum computing could provide an enormous speed-up compared to classical approaches. The two companies will explore cargo loading optimisation as a benchmark use case and use one of the world’s most powerful quantum computers for demonstration in 2023. Blue sky research: Explores, validates and pushes more efficient early upstream technologies, which are new to Airbus, of strategic nature, high risk and high rewards, that will push the boundaries of aerospace and will lead to high business and societal impact. The activity is driven by three clusters: Future Energies (new ways to generate, convey and manage energy), Future Transportation (novel ways to transport people, goods and data), and Future Society (design for societal change). Key technologies that have been explored are Power Beaming (transfer energy over the air and space), the Metaverse and its applications across the aviation value chain, and Project 42, a model of societal reaction to future Airbus products. Airbus Demonstrators – Airbus UpNext Airbus UpNext is actively shaping the future of the aerospace industry as part of the Airbus innovation ecosystem by building demonstrators at speed and scale, in order to evaluate, mature and validate potential new products and services that embody radical technological breakthroughs.

In 2022 the team increased its presence in Spain with the launch of Airbus UpNext Spain, a wholly-owned innovation subsidiary. As announced in Farnborough in 2022, the team is working on a demonstrator called Auto’mate on autonomous air-to-air refuelling operations applying advancements in vision-based technology. Throughout 2022, Airbus UpNext progressed with the extra performance wing demonstrator project focused on accelerating and validating technologies that will improve and optimise wing aerodynamics and performance for any future aircraft. This scaled demonstrator will integrate and fly breakthrough wing technologies on a Cessna Citation VII business jet platform in representative flight conditions. The applications of the extra performance wing compatible with any propulsion solution and aircraft configuration would reduce CO 2 emissions, thus contributing significantly to Airbus’ decarbonisation roadmap. Another demonstrator in the pipe, VERTEX aims to simplify helicopter mission preparation and management, reduce helicopter pilot workload, and further increase in safety. The team has completed the software stack and will flight-test this solution in 2023. Supporting the Airbus sustainability ambition, Airbus UpNext demonstrated technology readiness on key hydrogen propulsion solutions, enabling the launch of the ZEROe demonstrator in 2022 to mature hydrogen combustion technology on an A380 flight test platform. The team is also investigating contrails formed via hydrogen direct-burn with the Blue Condor demonstrator using two glider aircraft. ASCEND, the “Advanced Superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental powertraiN Demonstrator” which investigates performance of electric propulsion systems using superconducting materials and cryogenic temperatures has produced the first physical components for testing. In this field, Airbus and CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) have signed a partnership to investigate the use of first generation cryo-cables for aircraft via a sub-scale demonstration. Acubed Launched in 2015, Acubed is Airbus’ Innovation Centre in Silicon Valley. A project-based organisation designed for speed and agility, its mission is to build the future of flight now, leverage world-class talent within the Silicon Valley ecosystem, and to partner with and provide value to many different Airbus teams. Acubed drives high-value, high-impact innovations by focusing on technical domains in which Silicon Valley enjoys a clear competitive advantage, including artificial intelligence, autonomy, data analytics, rapid prototyping and digital communications. Acubed’s agile, highly collaborative model ensures it injects lasting value and expertise into Airbus while keeping a finger on the pulse of emerging technologies that have the power to transform the aviation industry. Acubed’s current areas of exploration and maturation are closely aligned to Airbus’ strategic priorities and aim to help Airbus secure and maintain leading positions across nascent and established aerospace markets. Beyond its current portfolio, Acubed continues to explore new areas of research where it can develop additional value for Airbus and the industry.

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Airbus / Universal Registration Document 2022