Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*Star, Booth D35) is forging ahead on a number projects ranging from automated inspection processes to additive manufacturing, in concert with public and private partnerships. Many of these advancements are on display during the Singapore Airshow, including a Rolls-Royce Trent fan blade coated with boron nitride via robots, which ensures consistency and quality. Rolls-Royce, A*Star, and Singapore Aero Engine Services built a $69 million smart manufacturing joint lab to explore a range of automated manufacturing approaches.
Another A*Star partner, the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, has developed a soft magnet for electric motors through additive manufacturing and materials discovery technologies. These magnets are designed to ensure mechanical and magnetic strength required for aircraft electric engine use. Other additive developments include fuel line holders for engines and materials not previously producible for space launches. Programs touch upon thermal imaging for MRO use and devices that continuously detect structural defects in airplanes and talk-to-text capabilities for air traffic control use, among others.