Mass is one of the most critical factors in the performance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It has a direct impact on flight duration and payload capacity. It is therefore no coincidence that carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components are often used to keep the drones’ empty weight as low as possible.
EmpowerAX is a scientific collaboration among various companies initiated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to advance the use of continuous carbon fibers in 3D printing.
Among other applications, the initiative focuses on the field of UAVs, where the combination of flexibility from 3D printing and strength from continuous carbon fibers enables the development of highly optimized systems.
Embedded in lightweight plastics, locally placed continuous carbon fibers provide the necessary strength where loads occur. This allows for savings in material costs and the realization of highly optimized ultralightweight designs.
Within EmpowerAX, stakeholders from various fields collaborate. In addition to companies researching materials, developing additive manufacturing processes, and examining end-use applications, we at Finite Air are developing the Custom Design Factory engineering platform to bring the design of these systems to life. This enables the Custom Design Factory to create designs not only for traditional but also for advanced production processes.
