Airbus Is Using Software to Make Digital Twins of Its Aircraft
Manufacturing giant is incorporating digital twin software across all divisions to improve quality and safety, speed design and production, and lower costs.
Airbus uses advanced software to create digital twins of aircraft, production flows, and maintenance cycles. [Courtesy: Airbus]
Key Takeaways:
Airbus is extensively deploying "digital twins"—dynamic, virtual replicas of its aircraft—across all phases of design, production, flight, and maintenance to transform its operations.
This technology involves creating 3D models fed by real-time data, allowing engineers to simulate performance, reduce the need for physical prototypes, and accelerate product development.
Digital twins are also used to optimize manufacturing processes, transform assembly lines, and enable predictive maintenance for its in-service fleet, leveraging data from over 12,000 connected aircraft.
Airbus has extended its partnership with Dassault Systèmes to integrate digital twinning for all future aircraft programs, supporting goals like increased efficiency, safety, and decarbonization.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.