SciTransfer
COLOSSUS · Project

Integrated Design System for Next-Generation Aircraft, Operations, and Business Models

transportPrototypeTRL 3

Imagine designing a new car not just by looking at the engine, but by simultaneously planning the charging network and the subscription app you'll use to pay for it. This project does that for planes, linking the aircraft's build to how it's flown and how it makes money. It ensures the plane actually fits the real-world business goal before it's even built.

By the numbers
14
partners
7
countries involved
43%
industry ratio
6
total deliverables
The business problem

What needed solving

Aviation companies often design aircraft in isolation from the business models and operational realities they will face. This leads to products that are technically sound but commercially unviable or operationally inefficient.

The solution

What was built

A digital collaborative design system that links business models, system requirements, and aircraft subsystems. It includes specific conceptual studies for a hybrid seaplane and an eVTOL.

Audience

Who needs this

eVTOL aircraft manufacturersHybrid propulsion system developersAerial firefighting service operatorsIntermodal transport plannersAviation consultancy firms
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Urban Air Mobility
enterprise
Target: eVTOL Manufacturer

If you are an eVTOL manufacturer dealing with high development risks and uncertain market demand — this project developed a design method that links aircraft specs directly to business models. This ensures the final product is competitive and environmentally sustainable.

Emergency Services
mid-size
Target: Aerial Firefighting Operator

If you are a firefighting operator dealing with slow response times and outdated equipment — this project developed an integrated fast-response approach. It combines AI and automation to improve how wildfires are detected and fought.

Intermodal Logistics
any
Target: Regional Transport Provider

If you are a transport provider dealing with fragmented connections between sea, air, and land — this project developed a 4D-intermodal mobility concept. This helps in evaluating performance and life cycle footprints for better competitiveness.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What is the cost or price of implementing this system?

Based on available project data, there is no specific pricing or cost information provided for the resulting tools.

Can this be scaled to industrial production?

The project aims to provide a platform for the European aviation sector to develop breakthrough products, suggesting it is designed for industrial-scale application.

How is the IP and licensing handled?

The project states that developed methods and tools will be openly published to encourage use by research and industry.

How does this integrate with existing CAD/CAM tools?

The project goes beyond classic MDO or standard CAD/CAE/CAM tools by adding layers for business models and real-world dynamic interactions.

What is the timeline for deployment?

The project period runs from 2023-02-01 to 2026-04-30.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, featuring 14 partners from 7 countries. With a 43% industry ratio (6 companies, including 3 SMEs), there is a strong bridge between the 8 academic/research entities and the commercial market, ensuring the tools are grounded in industrial reality.

How to reach the team

Contact Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Germany

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Contact us to explore how this design methodology can optimize your aviation product roadmap.

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