Bastian Schaefer: A 3D-printed jumbo jet?

TL;DR

This content explores the concept of creating a vision for the future of aviation and how technology and design can lead to more sustainable and innovative aircraft.

Transcript

What do we know about the future? Difficult question, simple answer: nothing. We cannot predict the future. We only can create a vision of the future, how it might be, a vision which reveals disruptive ideas, which is inspiring, and this is the most important reason which breaks the chains of common thinking. There are a lot of people who created t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔮 Disruptive visions of the future are inspiring and break the chains of common thinking, but they do not always come true.
• 🌍 Sustainability is a key concern for the future of aviation and should incorporate social, environmental, and economic values.
• 👥 The main customers of the future include old and young individuals, the rising power of women, and future anthropometrics which account for changes in body size and space needs.
• 💡 Combining customer needs with technological advancements, such as man-machine interfaces and integrating health promotion, will shape the future of air travel.
• 🌞 Bringing more natural light into airplanes is a design challenge that can be addressed through innovative solutions, even if they involve eliminating windows.
• 📱 The airplane of the future will have its own consciousness and will communicate directly with passengers in their environment.
• 🌿 New materials, such as those derived from synthetic biology, will play a crucial role in the future of aircraft design and structure.
• ⚖️ By implementing new design rules and utilizing technologies like 3D printing, the weight of aircraft can be significantly reduced, lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can we predict the future?

No, we cannot predict the future. The speaker explains that while we can create visions of the future, like the early 20th-century vision of an ocean plane, these visions often do not come true. Instead, we can only create a vision of how the future might be.

Q: What is the main focus of Airbus' vision for the future of aviation?

Airbus' vision for the future of aviation is centered around sustainability. They aim to incorporate social, environmental, and economic values into their designs and create a more sustainable future for aviation.

Q: Who are the main customers of the future?

The main customers of the future include people of all age groups, with a specific focus on the elderly and the rising power of women. These future customers have different needs and require more space inside the aircraft, particularly as our anthropometrics change over time.

Q: How does Airbus plan to address the needs of its future customers?

Airbus plans to address the needs of its future customers through active health promotion, treating individuals as unique, and ensuring productivity throughout the entire travel chain. They also aim to integrate the latest man-machine interface and use technology to create a more personalized and efficient travel experience.

Q: How does Airbus plan to incorporate technology into the airplanes of the future?

Airbus believes that the airplanes of the future will have their own consciousness, more like a living organism than just a collection of complex technology. They envision direct communication between the airplane and passengers, and the integration of data and communication software. Additionally, they plan to explore new materials, such as those derived from synthetic biology, to enhance aircraft design and structure.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The future cannot be predicted, but a vision of the future can be created to inspire new and disruptive ideas.

• Airbus has created a vision for a more sustainable future of aviation, incorporating social, environmental, and economic values.

• The airplane of the future may have adapted seats for different passengers, social areas, and a bionic structure covered by a transparent biopolymer membrane.