Electronics firm Rockwell Collins is developing a 3D cockpit display that could one day help pilots of supersonic aircraft to reduce or eliminate sonic booms, the incredible shockwave bangs that occur when supersonic aircraft beat the sound barrier. While sonic booms and other issues caused the Concorde to be permanently grounded some years ago, supersonic aircraft are expected to return to the reckoning in the future.
Indeed there's no doubt that supersonic aircraft will play a key role in the future of civilian air travel, but the issue of sonic booms will need to be addressed. These sonic boom displays could make it possible to fly supersonic aircraft at their full potential even when flying at relatively low altitudes, helping bring the best out of them and speeding up air travel.
What's Driving This Trend
- Sonic Boom Reduction
- The development of sonic boom displays in the cockpit could lead to the reduction or elimination of sonic booms caused by supersonic aircraft.
- Supersonic Aircraft Innovation
- Supersonic aircraft are expected to make a comeback in the future, and the development of sonic boom displays presents an opportunity for innovation in the aviation industry.
- 3D Cockpit Displays
- Rockwell Collins' development of a 3D cockpit display for supersonic aircraft shows a trend towards the use of advanced technologies in aviation.
Who This Affects Most
- Aviation
- The aviation industry can benefit from the development of sonic boom reduction technology as it may open up new possibilities for supersonic civilian air travel.
- Electronics
- Electronics firms such as Rockwell Collins have the opportunity to drive innovation in the aviation industry by developing advanced technology, like the 3D cockpit display.
- Aerospace Engineering
- The development of sonic boom displays for supersonic aircraft highlights a need for innovation in the field of aerospace engineering to address the issues surrounding the use of high-speed aircraft.
