REVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IMPROVING AIR-CARGO CONTAINERS THE INTERNATIONAL CLEAN-SKY PROGRAM IS BEING PERFORMED BY THREE COMPANIES AND THREE UNIVERSITIES FROM GREECE, UK AND SPAIN. 

 

The program is designed to develop, manufacture and validate a new intelligent lightweight aircraft cargo container (ULD) with integrated functions for restrain, transportation, fire/smoke suppression, with sensing and wireless monitoring capabilities. To keep up with the technological advances of aircraft structures and systems the purpose of the new air-cargo containers are:

• Reduce ULD and aircraft weight
• Enhance container fire/smoke detection and suppression
• Eliminate permanent moving and locking hardware
• Enhance flight safety
• Loading/unloading logistics and maintenance

The future name for the new intelligent air-cargo containers INTELLICONT, comes from “Development and Manufacturing of Intelligent Lightweight Composite Aircraft Container”. 

The container will be a self-moving platform allowing the motion of the ULD inside and outside the aircraft.

Built with low-cost and low-energy sensors in the container to track status (ID, location, locking state) and detect critical events, fire/smoke, impacts and accidental misuse. The status of each container will be available to the pilots though a wireless communication network, such that problems would be detected and proper measures would be taken.

The ambition of the project is to provide a major break-through in the state of the art of current ULD technology and aircraft cargo operations. Substantial impact is anticipated on the CleanSky program, the reduction of aircraft payload and weight, safety, maintenance and lean aircraft operation processes.

INTELLICONT will be a game changer for the air-cargo industry with substantial broader impact on air-cargo handling operations.

The CleanSky program is set to run for 3 years.