Research Projects
RUAG Aviation strives to improve its technical capabilities by conducting internal research projects as well as by cooperating with other industrial companies, research institutions, governmental agencies and European Union research programs. A number of RUAG Aviation internal research projects are focused on innovative technologies such as aircraft protection systems, material fatigue investigations, composite manufacturing techniques, unmanned aerial system development, aerodynamics and flight mechanics.
Current research projects
CITIUS
Together with the Swiss bobsleigh federation, the ETH Zürich and several other industrial partners, the common goal was established to create an all-new faster sleigh for the winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010 and the seasons thereafter. RUAG Aviation was in charge of manufacturing the rigid but lightweight carbon fiber monocoque and conducting wind tunnel tests to minimize drag effects.
Jet Man
«Jet Man» Yves Rossy has thrown himself into a complete new field of recreational activity. Equipped with a wing, four engines and a recovery parachute, he was able to cross the channel from Calais to Dover. In addition, he possesses enough control authority to perform stunning aerobatics. RUAG Aviation is supporting Yves Rossy with the dimensioning of his wing and conducting experimental investigations in the large wind tunnel.
Neuron
The focuses of RUAG activites in the nEUROn program are in the development of the pantograph for the right weapon bay and in the flight vehicle aerodynamic characteristics. The Weapon-to-Bay Interface (WBI) work package encompasses the design, full scale development and manufacture of the system dedicated to provide in-flight carriage and release, as well as on-ground payload mount and dismount functionality. Several wind tunnel campaigns and numerical analysis were performed in RUAG‘s facility to develop and validate the external shape.
Zerotracer
With room for two people, a top speed of 250 km/h from 183 hp and a range of 350 km the Zerotracer combines driving pleasure with economy. The electric motorcycle seals its pilots against the weather and consumes at a constant 80 km/h only 7 kWh. The aerodynamic fairing, which has been tested at the RUAG Wind Tunnel, does not only allow a low consumption, it also allows an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h within just 4.5 seconds. Manufactured in Switzerland, the electric motorcycle combines the technology of F1 and an IndyCar. Thanks to Kevlar it is also surprisingly light and is therefore one of the first motorcycles with an alternative energy motor to participate in the race, "around the world in 80 days". wwww.zero-race.com/
