Model Airplanes

Moon landing mission: AUDI AG supports the German Team at Google Lunar XPRIZE

Audi is taking off for the moon – together with the Part-Time Scientists team. The group of German engineers are working within the framework of the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition to transport an unmanned rover onto Earth’s natural satellite. Audi is supporting the Part-Time Scientists with its know-how in several fields of technology – from quattro drive and lightweight construction to electric mobility and piloted driving. The moon rover will be named the “Audi lunar quattro.”

“The concept of a privately financed mission to the moon is fascinating,” says Luca de Meo, Audi Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “And innovative ideas need supporters that promote them. We want to send a signal with our involvement with the Part-Time Scientists and also motivate other partners to contribute their know-how.” Luca de Meo is presenting the partnership today at the international innovation forum Cannes Innovation Days.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development: “We are pleased to support the project with our know-how in lightweight technology, electronics and robotics.”

The goal: a 500 meter drive on the lunar surface
The US$ 30 million plus Google Lunar XPRIZE is a competition to challenge and inspire engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. To win the Google Lunar XPRIZE, a privately funded team must successfully place a robot on the moon’s surface that explores at least 500 meters and transmits high-definition video and

Article source: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/09/27/audi-lunar-quattro-moon-rover-video-official/

A new wing shape from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Langley Researcher Center—which may be outfitted on a future Mars airplane—was recently tested in a wind tunnel, allowing researchers to answer some questions regarding the boomerang wing scheme.

“The wing is very stable and well behaved,” said Al Bowers, NASA Armstrong’s chief scientist and the program manager for Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Lower Drag (Prandtl-d). “Some of this we already knew, but there were parts that were a little surprising, like how the wing maintains control even when it is completely stalled. These things are hard to know from intuition, it’s only having the data in hand that tells us about the real behavior.”

While wind tunnel tests, according to Bowers, provide a realistic glimpse of flight behavior, the data is created piecemeal. Nonlinear behaviors are observable, which can coalesce to show the larger characteristics of flight. However, the data can’t be validated until compared to real flight data.

Next, “we’re going to assemble a simulation database of the wind from this (wind tunnel data),” Bowers said. “Then we will be able to assemble a full six-degree-of-freedom simulation to fly.”

Behind the wing is the partnership between the Armstrong Flight Research Center, based in California, and Langley Research Center, based in Virginia. Earlier this year, the partnership moved forward when Langley received funding to build a wind tunnel model.  

The six-foot span wind tunnel model—made from composite materials, including polycarbonate—was based on work from the 1930s.

Questions remain regarding the aerodynamic pressures

Article source: http://www.rdmag.com/articles/2015/09/nasa-tests-new-wing-shape-mars-planes

According to an article published in The Wall Street Journal, Apple Inc. (AAPL – Analyst Report) is likely to etch a new chapter in automobile history by accelerating efforts to develop an electric car, reportedly setting an ambitious ‘target shipping date’ for 2019. Although the company spokespersons have refused to comment on the grapevine, speculations are rife that the project, code-named Titan, has received a green light to triple its headcount from its current tally of 600 to meet the deadline.

With ingenious products that are based more on functionality and usability, Apple creates technological innovations that customers least expect, focuses on its unique selling points to build need and scales up production before competitors can react. This has historically enabled the company to gain a competitive advantage over its peers and create a niche market for its products. (Read: 3 Stocks That Followed Blue Ocean Strategy: What’s in Store?)

Consequently, when such awe-inspiring news hit the market, it is bound to create ripples in the industry, fanning widespread fears about probable hostile takeovers to ease vertical integration and ruffling the feathers of other auto manufacturers.

Apple Car Its Targets

Among the established players in the electric car segment that are likely to face the heat with the advent of Apple Car, Tesla Motors, Inc. (TSLA – Analyst Report) tops the list. This automobile manufacturer sells battery-charged electric cars across the globe and has managed to acquire substantial market share with innovative designs and features. Its

Article source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/190976/4-stocks-apple-could-buy-for-its-flight-of-fantasy-car

Summary

Trades at $9.15, 1.2x its $7.70 book, despite cumulative EPS of just $0.60 since 2010. If things go perfectly for CPI, it’s fairly valued.

CPI assembles structural aircraft parts – a competitive labor intensive business – out of high cost Long Island, NY.

An extremely fragile business model with skewed risk/reward. Earns moderate profits when all goes smoothly, punctuated by huge losses when contracts are modified due to percent completion accounting.

Lost $2.98 GAAP in 2014, wiping out all 2011-2013 earnings, when funding for a jet wing program it was supplying was cut from DoD budgets. Recurrence would give ~50% downside.

Overvalued because gullible investors and analysts call that “one-time” and “non-cash” without realizing that such shocks are as fundamental to CPI as credit losses are to a bank.

CPI Aerostructures’ (NYSEMKT:CVU) 2Q14 operating loss of $45m more than obliterated what it had earned in the prior three years. Here’s the impact from an annual perspective.

(click to enlarge)

What happened is a pretty interesting story.

CPI is a manufacturing middleman, a supply chain manager, and assembler of structural components for airplanes. It makes wings, not engines, using nuts and bolts and sheet metal and cables purchased

Article source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/3533006-short-cpi-aerostructures-gullible-non-gaapers-pay-up-for-broken-biz

Tokyo – Japanese companies are clamouring to secure a niche in the development of drones – small, unmanned aircraft capable of automated flight.

Regulations have been tightened since a drone was landed atop the prime minister’s office in April, but these aircraft are still expected to make great contributions in a wide variety of industries, from construction to agriculture, and the market shows no sign of slowing.

It will take more than just better-quality drones, however, for Japanese companies to catch up to their Chinese counterparts. More than anything, it will be crucial for Japan to create a safe flying environment for the devices.

In August, Sony established Aerosense, a new robotics development venture. Aerosense develops both helicopter and airplane-type drones that are manufactured in Japan. It will start leasing helicopter-type drones in the first half of 2016, and hopes to generate 10 billion yen (about $83 628 000) in sales by fiscal 2020.

Aerosense’s drones are expected to serve a variety of purposes, including surveys and progress checks of construction and

Article source: http://www.iol.co.za/business/international/japanese-firms-look-to-drone-market-1.1921005