Centennial College was invited to present at the SAE A-5 Aerospace Landing Gear Systems Committee on September 13th. SAE International is a global association of over 128,000 engineers and technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. They are the oldest and largest organization for engineers in the aerospace and ground vehicle sectors, and are a leader in defining standards and recommended practices for these industries worldwide - including the design, construction, and characteristics for motor vehicle components. SAE International's aerospace standards are recognized globally to help ensure the safety, quality and effectiveness of products and services within the aerospace industry.
Last week, the Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services (ARIES) department represented Centennial College at the SAE A-5 Aerospace Landing Gear Systems Committee conference. The A-5 committee addresses all facets of aerospace landing gears— design, test, maintenance, and in-service experience. The committee's Autumn 2022 Worldwide Industry Meeting was held in downtown Toronto, where engineers and technical experts from all major aerospace companies, manufacturers and suppliers worldwide gathered to discuss industry-wide technical challenges, develop standards for them, and outline industry best practices. Dr. Blaise, Director of Applied Research and Innovation, and Milad Hoorzad, Project Coordinator of Applied Research and Innovation, presented to the 300-member committee on the activities at the college's Landing Gear Innovation Lab.
The committee members learned about Centennial College's new Downsview Campus – the Bombardier Centre for Aerospace and Aviation, a $72M investment for a new 138,000 sq. ft campus opened in 2019 dedicated to aerospace and aviation programs. Eric and Milad also shared the various research projects conducted at the $2.3M Landing Gear Innovation Lab, a recent addition to the campus developed in partnership with industry leader Safran Landing Systems. Since the laboratory was established, 115 Centennial student researchers and 9 principal investigators have worked on 24 projects across multiple disciplines with the goal of deploying the next generation of landing gear for energy-efficient aircraft, with a focus on landing gear electrification. Examples of projects include designing test rigs to validate landing gear systems, developing lightweight and self-lubricating polymeric materials to increase the systems' endurance, researching thermal wax actuators and steering sensors, as well as validating the use of energy harvesting technologies that convert mechanical energy to electrical for landing gear applications. Through these projects, the Landing Gear Innovation Lab has collaborated with diverse industry partners such as Safran Landing Systems, Bombardier Aerospace, Marsh Brothers Aviation, Aeroflux, Shimco, Lynch Fluid Controls, Horstman, and more. The presentation also highlighted Centennial's membership within the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) and the research made possible through the network, such as a project with Bombardier to reduce the weight of various parts using additive manufacturing (3D Printing).
The Centennial College Landing Gear Innovation Lab was also one of the two destinations that the Committee could choose to tour on the afternoon of the third and last day of the conference. Eric and Milad showed a dozen eager members around the 6,500 sq. ft laboratory, including its Bombardier Challenger 300 and CRJ-200 landing gear test rigs, aerospace-grade Hydraulic Power Unit, linear actuator test rig, and environmental chamber system with aerospace-specific temperature and humidity ranges.
Centennial College is proud to be a continued leader in the aerospace and aviation industry, with student researchers at the core of our applied research activity. Showcasing the research being done at the Landing Gear Innovation Lab to an international audience and the industry leader in standards development further exemplifies the significance and impact of the work at the college.