Electric aircraft developer Eviation has become the latest aerospace start-up company to use Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE digital design and engineering software to support all phases of its work to bring the new Alice aircraft into service. The Cloud-based platform, developed by Dassault to support its family of combat and business jets, is also being used by leading aerospace groups such as Airbus, Boeing, Bell, and Lockheed Martin, as well as by newcomers such as supersonic jet developer Boom, Joby Aviation, and the Solar Impulse team.
In the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, France’s Dassault has combined a suite of software to help manufacturers with every stage of the product lifecycle, from initial design to service entry and product support. These allow engineering and product development teams to work collaboratively on all stages of the design and engineering process, as well as to simulate how aircraft will perform in service in order to reduce development costs and optimize performance in ways such as reducing emissions and making maintenance more cost effective.
The 3DEXPERIENCE portfolio includes the latest version of long-established Catia design software, as well as Solidworks (providing training and support for engineering and design teams), Enovia (program planning), Delmia (connectivity between virtual and real-world operations), and Simulia (simulation).
Eviation is adopting the Dassault Systèmes software to support its very aggressive product development timetable for the nine-passenger fixed-wing Alice aircraft. This is due to make its first test flight in Arizona before the end of 2019, and the Israel-based company believes it can complete type certification under Federal Aviation Administration Part 23 rules by the end of 2021, followed by service entry with launch customer Cape Air in 2022.
“When we selected the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, we were an early-stage start-up with limited resources and time,” commented Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay. “We've developed our commercial-stage prototype faster than we imagined and have already signed our first customer in the U.S.”
Defense giant Lockheed Martin recently selected 3DEXPERIENCE platform to design its next-generation fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. Several of the company’s divisions will use the 3D design software, as well as its digital mock-up and product life cycle management capability.
Dassault’s software also has been adopted by automotive companies for developing new electric cars. Companies using 3DEXPERIENCE include Toyota and Spark Racing Technology.
