Streamlined Product Codes

Used to work with the GMA in our Innovation efforts.  Not in the business anymore,  but work ongoing is worth understanding as it interacts and communicates with consumers.

Watching a Good Idea on Streamlined Product Code Date Labels Become a Reality
By: Jim Flannery, Senior Executive Vice President, GMA and Mark Baum, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, FMI

There is an undeniable satisfaction that comes with seeing a really good idea move from the realm of the imagined and into the concrete world of reality.  The grocery industry’s Product Code Date Labeling initiative – with its goal of helping consumers better understand and use produce date labels – is beginning to elicit that glow of gratification.

The problem? A myriad of different product date labels has left consumers confused on what to do with products in their homes. These package labels seek to provide important information about usage of products. However, product labels currently include a wide range of phrases such as Sell By, Best Before, Expires On, Use By, Best By, and Enjoy By. This varying phrases can confuse consumers and lead to disposal of food and products that are still fine to eat or use. .....  " 

Commercial Supersonic Jet Engines

In The Bike Shop:

" ... Going supersonic
Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation Business and General Aviation and Integrated Systems, kicked off EBACE on Sunday by announcing a partnership with Aerion Corporation to evaluate the final configuration for three engines that will power their AS2 supersonic jet.

Billionaire’s Dream of Supersonic Luxury Jet Gets Assist From GE – Bloomberg ... Billionaire Robert Bass’s dream of building a private supersonic jet is poised to get a boost from one of the world’s top engine makers: General Electric Co.

Aerion Corp. is in talks with GE to power what could be the first nonmilitary plane to fly faster than the speed of sound since Concorde flights were halted in 2003, according to a statement Monday by the Bass-backed aircraft start-up.

The discussions represent a step toward resolving a major obstacle to Aerion’s plan for a jet that could shave three hours off trans-Atlantic trips — and shorten flights across the Pacific by six. Aerion, which already has a committed buyer for its AS2 plane, has been working with the engine manufacturers to meet noise restrictions and fly economically at speeds both slower and faster than the sound barrier.  ... " 

Real Time Aviation Data Analytics

More and more data is being gathered and acted upon in real time. Here is a nice example where students are participating, from the SAScom Blog.  With video.

Students visualize aircraft data in real time using SAS  0
By Katie Howard on SAS Voices May 8, 2017 Data Visualization 

What do you get when you combine analytics, aviation and the Internet of Things? A learning experience that leaves everyone flying high! .... "

Quietly Supersonic

Remember seeing the Concorde over London a number of times, and then over West Chester Ohio for the last time.  Would be nice to see the capability again.   Quietly too.  Why not?

Comeback Kid: The Next Sound-Barrier-Busting Passenger Jet Could Be Quietly Supersonic
by The Bike Shop  

The Concorde was the first and last supersonic jet in passenger service. But that claim comes with a caveat. 

The plane could accelerate above the speed of sound only over the ocean. The prospect of noisy sonic booms caused by the plane crossing the sound barrier forced pilots to hold back the throttle above towns and cities after takeoff and before touchdown. “This speed limit actually made the plane much less efficient,” says Karl Wisniewski, director of advanced programs at GE Aviation. “It was designed to fly fast.” 

The last Concorde landed in 2003, but NASA and a team of aerospace companies that includes Lockheed Martin and GE Aviation are not finished with supersonic passenger flight. They are developing a supersonic concept plane that could quietly break the sound barrier without setting off a sonic boom and rattling everyone on the ground. ..... " 

On GE Aviation Digital

By David Joyce in the GE Bikeshop:

" ... Industry Need
In aviation, operating the finest engines, components and systems made anywhere in the world can be improved—by the use of data and analytics.  A generation ago, a GE Aviation engineer would have been on the cutting edge of technology using small sets of data gathered after each flight to enhance the performance of our equipment in service.  This was the limitation of the technology at the time, and the inherent limitation in learning. Today, digital connectivity is removing that barrier.

 Our Solution
 Our ability to harness large streams of data from aviation products provides incredible insights and real operational value for our customers.  Together, we are unlocking opportunities to generate greater productivity beyond our traditional services, creating industry standards for cloud computing and strengthening our collaboration as we work on solving their toughest challenges.   We are creating a new digital skill set focused on our customers’ competitiveness, speed and efficiency while differentiating our products, services and relationships. ... " 

Aviation Week Opens its Vault

My recent increased interest in technical aviation history sees this:
" ... To celebrate its 100th year in publication, Aviation Week magazine opened up its vault. Every cover, every article, every photo and every ad published from its collection (Aug. 1, 1916- present) are available for the public to view digitally. Included is a treasure chest of GE Aviation history.  ... " 

Update:  Extracts of some GE Related articles from Aviation Week archive.

Powering Aircraft Systems

From the Bike Shop:   Smart Power:

" .... In addition to optimizing performance, efficiency and reliability in aircraft power systems, “GE Aviation is taking on a greater degree of system integration responsibility,” says Joe Krisciunas, engineering executive, GE Aviation – Electric Power Systems. “As aircraft become increasingly more electric, airframe manufacturers are looking to us to develop the entire electrical system from conception through modeling and simulation, to validation, qualification testing and eventually, certification.”

To build these complete end-to-end electrical power systems, GE Aviation created advanced manufacturing, simulation and physical integration facilities in Dayton, Ohio, and Cheltenham, England. The two virtually linked locations can design and test an entire aircraft electrical power generation and distribution system in the lab before it ever reaches the OEM’s factory floor. ... " 

Very interesting stories, facts, statistics and technologies feeding the aircraft systems of the future.

Making and Flying Complex Devices

A new jet engine takes a certification flight. Article in GE's Bikeshop.  My new experiences show how complex the development, delivery and use of a jet engines can be.   New kinds of analytics and data management are essential.   As they say, to get up in the air and to your destination, and safely down again. 

Additive Manufacturing at GE Aviation

 In GE Aviation's Bike Shop Blog:

" ... TIME magazine noted that GE Aviation is producing the interior of its fuel nozzles for the new CFM LEAP engine by using additive manufacturing.  It results in reduced component weight and better fuel efficiency while providing for a more durable part.

 With additive manufacturing, the LEAP fuel nozzle interior can be made as one part in a laser machine.   The same part produced conventionally would require brazing and welding together about 20 different parts.

 When you think of innovations that are changing our world, you tend to immediately think of Silicon Valley,” Luckerson said. “This GE innovation is happening in the heart of the United States, in Ohio.” .... "

GE Thermal Innovation Lab

GE opens lab to improve combat aircraft thermal management

GE Aviation has opened a $13 million Vehicle Energy Systems Integration Lab (VESIL), at its Evendale, Ohio facility, to improve thermal management capabilities for advanced combat aircraft applications, including GE’s adaptive cycle engine program in development for current and future Department of Defense fighter jets. ... 

The University of Cincinnati (UC) and the University of Cincinnati Research Institute (UCRI) provided $1.1M in additional equipment as part of a $5M Research and Development Center Attraction Program (RDCAP) grant to UC from the State of Ohio. GE and UC are collaborating on thermal management learning opportunities for UC engineering students. ....  "  

Innovations in Engines for Aviation

As I learn more about GE Aviation, More innovation in Big Scale Manufacturing.   In their innovation blog:

GE Reports: Just Like The Wright Flyer, GE’s Turboprop Business Was Born In A Bike Shop ... GE unveiled a new advanced turboprop engine yesterday that produces 10 percent more power than its peers and burns 20 percent less fuel. ... " 

GE Aviation and the Industrial Internet

I was just introduced to:

GE Aviation
GE Aviation is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft, and ship propulsion applications. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. ..... "

GE Aviation Blog  (Includes areas like the Industrial Internet, covered in my posts here.  Plus much more.  You can subscribe to updates )

The Bike Shop
In honor of the Wright Brothers’ workshops in Dayton, Ohio, where they conducted their aeronautical research and development, The Bike Shop is our place to share stories and engage with you as we continue to invent the future of flight. ... " 

Industrial Internet Consortium

Innov8 for Health Competition

I see that the results of the Innov8 for health competition,  held yesterday at  the GE Aviation Learning Center, has posted the results in their blog.  I got to see only a small part of the interaction but the interaction looked very good.