10 Startups That Could Make Aviation More Sustainable and Efficient
Lindsay Bjerregaard March 25, 2021
Credit: ATI Boeing Accelerator
The ATI Boeing Accelerator launched its second cohort of innovative startups in January 2021, and this time around the partnership between Boeing, the Aerospace Technology Institute and GKN Aerospace is focused heavily on improving sustainability within aviation. The accelerator chose 10 startups out of nearly 200 applicants for the three-month program, including some startups from outside the aerospace industry. Read on to find out more about how these startups are seeking to improve sustainability and efficiency across aviation, including within maintenance, during flights and throughout the supply chain.
The ATI Boeing Accelerator launched its second cohort of innovative startups in January 2021, and this time around the partnership between Boeing, the Aerospace Technology Institute and GKN Aerospace is focused heavily on improving sustainability within aviation. The accelerator chose 10 startups out of nearly 200 applicants for the three-month program, including some startups from outside the aerospace industry. Read on to find out more about how these startups are seeking to improve sustainability and efficiency across aviation, including within maintenance, during flights and throughout the supply chain.
HiiROC
Credit: Airbus
As aviation looks to hydrogen as the fuel of the future, HiiROC has turned its attention toward producing low-cost, emission-free hydrogen at an industrial scale. According to HiiROC, the synthetic aviation fuel market is valued at $160 billion, but current challenges such as high cost, high carbon dioxide emissions and problems with transport or storage are holding back its growth potential. HiiROC uses leading edge plasma technology to process and convert hydrocarbons in a way that is compact, modular and scalable. It is currently seeking strategic partners and investors to conduct pilot projects.
As aviation looks to hydrogen as the fuel of the future, HiiROC has turned its attention toward producing low-cost, emission-free hydrogen at an industrial scale. According to HiiROC, the synthetic aviation fuel market is valued at $160 billion, but current challenges such as high cost, high carbon dioxide emissions and problems with transport or storage are holding back its growth potential. HiiROC uses leading edge plasma technology to process and convert hydrocarbons in a way that is compact, modular and scalable. It is currently seeking strategic partners and investors to conduct pilot projects.
AireXpert
Credit: AireXpert
The AireXpert technology platform is focused on reducing delays and technical issues within commercial aviation, which it says costs the industry more than $9 billion in the U.S. alone. The software-as-a-service streamlines communications across an airline’s network during unscheduled maintenance events, providing what it calls a collaborative environment to manage distribution and flow of experiential and tribal knowledge. AireXpert’s platform is available to airlines on a monthly subscription basis that it says is typically based on the number of aircraft in their fleet, and it is currently working with several U.S. major airline groups.
The AireXpert technology platform is focused on reducing delays and technical issues within commercial aviation, which it says costs the industry more than $9 billion in the U.S. alone. The software-as-a-service streamlines communications across an airline’s network during unscheduled maintenance events, providing what it calls a collaborative environment to manage distribution and flow of experiential and tribal knowledge. AireXpert’s platform is available to airlines on a monthly subscription basis that it says is typically based on the number of aircraft in their fleet, and it is currently working with several U.S. major airline groups.
Datch
Credit: Datch
Datch’s real-time artificial intelligence (AI) platform has been designed to enable industrial workers to interact with their company’s technology systems using voice commands. It leverages AI and natural language processing so workers can speak naturally and the platform is able to capture observational data in real-time, converting it into reporting for tasks such as maintenance logs and safety reports. According to Datch, completing reports can take up to 20% of a worker’s day, so the platform greatly increases worker efficiency. In its case study with an aerospace component manufacturer, the platform reduced processes by 75%.
Datch’s real-time artificial intelligence (AI) platform has been designed to enable industrial workers to interact with their company’s technology systems using voice commands. It leverages AI and natural language processing so workers can speak naturally and the platform is able to capture observational data in real-time, converting it into reporting for tasks such as maintenance logs and safety reports. According to Datch, completing reports can take up to 20% of a worker’s day, so the platform greatly increases worker efficiency. In its case study with an aerospace component manufacturer, the platform reduced processes by 75%.
Signol
Credit: Signol
Signol is using behavioral science as a way to reduce airline greenhouse gas emissions by functioning “like a Fitbit for work.” It uses operational data from airlines to provide custom targets and profiles for each pilot so they can review their flight performance and its impact on the environment. The system uses a “gentle nudging approach” to motivate pilots to make more efficient decisions and enables them to provide feedback on why they made certain decisions during a flight. Signol tested its behavioral approach with 335 pilots at Virgin Atlantic, sending them feedback once a month. Within eight months, Signol says it saved the airline more than $6 million in fuel costs, saved 24,000 tons of carbon dioxide and captains reported being happier with their jobs. The startup is currently onboarding its first two airline customers.
Signol is using behavioral science as a way to reduce airline greenhouse gas emissions by functioning “like a Fitbit for work.” It uses operational data from airlines to provide custom targets and profiles for each pilot so they can review their flight performance and its impact on the environment. The system uses a “gentle nudging approach” to motivate pilots to make more efficient decisions and enables them to provide feedback on why they made certain decisions during a flight. Signol tested its behavioral approach with 335 pilots at Virgin Atlantic, sending them feedback once a month. Within eight months, Signol says it saved the airline more than $6 million in fuel costs, saved 24,000 tons of carbon dioxide and captains reported being happier with their jobs. The startup is currently onboarding its first two airline customers.
Phycobloom
Credit: W.carter/Wikimedia Commons
According to Phycobloom, the aviation industry burned more than 96 billion gallons of jet fuel pre-pandemic. However, it says producing that same amount of biofuel could be just as dangerous as fossil fuels, so finding an alternative that can scale sustainably is crucial. The startup is using synthetic biology to engineer algae for biofuels more productively. Its goal is to develop strains of algae that can be used to produce fuel on a commercial level, then license the algae strains so they can be grown around the world to serve local markets. It says its engineering process increases productivity, removes the need for expensive drying and processing, and can reduce the cost of the final product by as much as 70%.
According to Phycobloom, the aviation industry burned more than 96 billion gallons of jet fuel pre-pandemic. However, it says producing that same amount of biofuel could be just as dangerous as fossil fuels, so finding an alternative that can scale sustainably is crucial. The startup is using synthetic biology to engineer algae for biofuels more productively. Its goal is to develop strains of algae that can be used to produce fuel on a commercial level, then license the algae strains so they can be grown around the world to serve local markets. It says its engineering process increases productivity, removes the need for expensive drying and processing, and can reduce the cost of the final product by as much as 70%.
Productive Machines
Credit: Productive Machines
Productive Machines is aiming to maximize sustainability of machining processes within the supply chain by using software to reduce costs, eliminate waste and improve productivity. It says many manufacturers don’t have access to physics based simulation techniques for machining processes, instead opting for a trial and error approach that is inefficient. Productive Machines has created a digital twin-based learning platform that it says will help machine tools be able to learn from and optimize each other. In case studies with MASA Aerospace in Spain and Renault Cleon in France, it says both manufacturers experienced positive impacts.
Productive Machines is aiming to maximize sustainability of machining processes within the supply chain by using software to reduce costs, eliminate waste and improve productivity. It says many manufacturers don’t have access to physics based simulation techniques for machining processes, instead opting for a trial and error approach that is inefficient. Productive Machines has created a digital twin-based learning platform that it says will help machine tools be able to learn from and optimize each other. In case studies with MASA Aerospace in Spain and Renault Cleon in France, it says both manufacturers experienced positive impacts.
MIME Technologies
Credit: MIME Technologies/Aiber
MIME Technologies has developed remote medical software to support inflight events and emergencies, which it says will reduce the cost of unnecessary diversions. According to the startup, a flight diversion can cost between £20,000-250,000 (approximately $27,450-343,000) per flight. It has developed Aiber, an on-board kit including a Bluetooth electrocardiogram (ECG) recorder, an ECG patch, and an iPad with software installed to help guide crew through administering first aid to passengers and to communicate on-scene data to aviation medical providers anywhere in the world. The software features a built-in chat function that allows crews to seek help without interference from noise and vibration, as well as AI reporting technology to automate incident reports for audit, insurance and crew training.
MIME Technologies has developed remote medical software to support inflight events and emergencies, which it says will reduce the cost of unnecessary diversions. According to the startup, a flight diversion can cost between £20,000-250,000 (approximately $27,450-343,000) per flight. It has developed Aiber, an on-board kit including a Bluetooth electrocardiogram (ECG) recorder, an ECG patch, and an iPad with software installed to help guide crew through administering first aid to passengers and to communicate on-scene data to aviation medical providers anywhere in the world. The software features a built-in chat function that allows crews to seek help without interference from noise and vibration, as well as AI reporting technology to automate incident reports for audit, insurance and crew training.
Ai Build
Credit: Ai Build
According to Ai Build, traditional 3D printing relies on process knowledge and technical operation of human labor, which can result in inconsistent production quality and inefficiencies. It has developed a software platform called AiSync that it says delivers the world’s fastest and most reliable large-scale additive manufacturing through smart algorithms and data. Unlike traditional 3D printing software that requires manual inputs, Ai Build says its software takes a design file from the user and generates highly optimized machine instructions for the highest quality production possible. Its software is currently being tested by six major companies within the aerospace and automotive industries, and Ai Build says users are reporting a 90% reduction in labor costs.
According to Ai Build, traditional 3D printing relies on process knowledge and technical operation of human labor, which can result in inconsistent production quality and inefficiencies. It has developed a software platform called AiSync that it says delivers the world’s fastest and most reliable large-scale additive manufacturing through smart algorithms and data. Unlike traditional 3D printing software that requires manual inputs, Ai Build says its software takes a design file from the user and generates highly optimized machine instructions for the highest quality production possible. Its software is currently being tested by six major companies within the aerospace and automotive industries, and Ai Build says users are reporting a 90% reduction in labor costs.
SensaWeb
Credit: SensaWeb
SensaWeb has developed a smart monitoring solution for radiation concerns during flight, such as aircraft and crew exposure to radiation or aircraft instruments reading erroneously due to cosmic radiation events. Its solution uses proprietary sensors and a scalable AI data analytics platform to deliver real-time information on radiation exposure, automatically identifying and alerting of potential risks. It says the solution will help customers in aerospace and defense respond to changing radiation conditions in real time.
SensaWeb has developed a smart monitoring solution for radiation concerns during flight, such as aircraft and crew exposure to radiation or aircraft instruments reading erroneously due to cosmic radiation events. Its solution uses proprietary sensors and a scalable AI data analytics platform to deliver real-time information on radiation exposure, automatically identifying and alerting of potential risks. It says the solution will help customers in aerospace and defense respond to changing radiation conditions in real time.
Makersite
Credit: Makersite
The research and development process for manufactured products is time-consuming and costly, so Makersite has developed a digital twin platform that is aimed at making the process more efficient. The platform uses third party data, AI and graph technologies to help design and improve manufactured products across multiple criteria, such as regulatory compliance, environmental impact, supply risk and cost of production. It says the platform can help teams collaboratively identify optimal mitigation strategies and new opportunities in real time to make better products faster.
The research and development process for manufactured products is time-consuming and costly, so Makersite has developed a digital twin platform that is aimed at making the process more efficient. The platform uses third party data, AI and graph technologies to help design and improve manufactured products across multiple criteria, such as regulatory compliance, environmental impact, supply risk and cost of production. It says the platform can help teams collaboratively identify optimal mitigation strategies and new opportunities in real time to make better products faster.
The ATI Boeing Accelerator’s second cohort of startups are seeking to improve sustainability and efficiency across aviation, including within maintenance, during flights and throughout the supply chain.
