Dassault Systemes announced that Raphe mPhibr has adopted its 3DEXPERIENCE platform to transform how aircraft systems are conceived, validated and built, substantially reducing the design cycle. Unmanned aircraft systems are emerging in light of growing applications in defense, homeland security, agriculture, logistics and infrastructure monitoring, and are expected to reach an estimated 6.5 million units in 2030. To contribute to India's goal of becoming self-reliant in aerospace and defense, Raphe mPhibr needed a new approach to integrate technology and advanced scientific principles into its design process for the engineering of next-generation UAVs with superior strength-to-weight performance and increased payload capacity.
From metals to composites and electronics, Raphe mPhibr designs and builds everything under one roof. Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform significantly reduced its product development cycle while integrating physics and design for manufacturing within the design phase. One of the most compelling use cases for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform at Raphe mPhibr was during the development of its engine.
Traditionally a multi-year effort, the engine development process was shortened to just three months. The platform empowered the team to redesign parts optimized for 3D manufacturing. Raphe mPhibr successfully created complex composite parts through an integrated design and simulation workflow.
It reduced the weight of its 4kW 2-stroke engine, which outperforms systems seven times its weight, by 700 grams (1.54 pounds), and made a strategic shift toward 3D-centric design thinking that led to more intuitive and efficient part development. The platform also enabled the team to push the boundaries of engineering by design high-performance aerodynamic surfaces.
