Aeronautics and astronautics: Recent progress and future trends

Abstract

Aeronautics and astronautics are two closely related disciplines, sometimes found under the joint term aerospace, that have progressed at a formidable pace during the 20th century. Their impact on society is overwhelming. For example, the aeroplane, the core of aeronautics, has been identified as one of the three major inventions of that century. On its turn, satellites have paved the way for modern globalization. Major drivers leading this progress have changed from the classical motto ‘higher, further, faster’ to the current ‘more affordable, cleaner, quieter’, but safety has always been kept the undisputed number one. The underlying key factors for progress have been and still are excellence and co-operation. Both aeronautics and astronautics are multidisciplinary in nature and, accordingly, this review summarizes relevant advances and trends in pertinent fields: aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and so on. All these fields are still very healthy and the 21st century will witness again a new era of astonishing aerospace developments.

Unconventional tail configurations for transport aircraft

“…By the way, reductions on fuel consumption suppose savings on operating costs. Until now, some di¨erent strategies have been followed for carrying out this objective [5]. The engines, turbofan, and turboprop have been developed for reducing the fuel consumption itself.…”

A Consensus-Based Grouping Algorithm for Multi-agent Cooperative Task Allocation with Complex Requirements

“…UAVs are finding valuable usage in performing military tasks that fall into the categories of the dull, dirty and dangerous [1]. As research develops, the future of UAVs looks progressively towards civilian activities [2]. Common applications include surveillance of power lines or pipes [3], disaster monitoring [4] and search and rescue operations [5].…”

Target detection approach for UAVs via improved Pigeon-inspired Optimization and Edge Potential Function

“…Today, UAV has been exploited to perform special missions carrying some important equipment such as GPS, optic camera and various sensors [21]. While performing specific tasks, the UAV is an efficient tool because of its superior maneuverability and strong viability [14]. Furthermore, due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, the UAV technology plays a vital role in the technology field of the nation and is essential for improving the security of the society [7,8].…”