Innovation technologies in ground vehicle engineering require strong interdisciplinary and intersectoral investigations with an international dimension. In this context the project EVE proposes sustainable approach based on intensive staff exchange that leads to collaborative research and training between universities and industrial organizations from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, South Africa, and the USA. The project includes basic and applied research, development design, experimentations, networking, and dissemination and exploitation activities. The research objectives are focused on the development of (i) experimental tyre database that can be used in the design of new chassis control systems and subjected to inclusion into Horizon 2020 pilot on Open Research Data, (ii) advanced models of ground vehicles and automotive subsystems for real-time applications, and (iii) novel integrated chassis control methods. It will lead to development and improvement of innovative vehicle components such as (i) an integrated chassis controller targeting simultaneous improvements in safety, energy efficiency and driving comfort, (ii) new hardware subsystems for brakes, active suspension and tyre pressure control for on-road and off-road mobility, and (iii) remote network-distributed vehicle testing technology for integrated chassis systems. The project targets will be achieved with intensive networking measures covering (i) knowledge transfer and experience sharing between participants from academic and non-academic sectors and (ii) professional advancement of the consortium members through intersectoral and international collaboration and secondments. The project EVE is fully consistent with the targets of H2020-MSCA-RISE programme and will provide excellent opportunities for personal career development of staff and will lead to creation of a strong European and international research group to create new hi-tech ground vehicle systems.

The development of Very High Bypass Ratio (VHBR) engines is a promising engine concept to fulfil the major milestones of the Sustainable and Green Engines (SAGE) programme. The significant environmental benefits of this new engine are synonymous with an increased speed and loading capabilities. In terms of engine performance and reliability, the design, sizing and capacities of the rolling element bearings, which are crucial components, can affect the whole engine architecture. The aim of the ARCTIC project is thus: “to develop and demonstrate various rolling bearing technologies that overcome the current design rules of aero-engine bearings and allow developing a VHBR engine”. The main activity is the development of a new corrosion resistant carburized steel grade with the associated surface technologies. Coupled with ceramic rolling elements, this novel material solution will demonstrate a 15% improvement in rolling contact stress capability and 25% increase in rotation speed if compared to the current baseline solutions and without any detrimental effect on reliability. In parallel, powder metallurgical steel grades will be also developed to assess the potential of this breakthrough technology that will act as building blocks for a 30% increase in contact stress capabilities. To demonstrate their enhanced performances, the proposed new bearing technologies will be tested in nominal and in degraded running conditions (from the elementary scale to the full- scale). In addition, across-the-board action will aim to develop a new contact model to fully justify the experimental outputs: the gained theoretical knowledge will enable the transfer and exploitation of projects results to the industrial field by providing analysis tools and new design rules. The ARCTIC consortium offers high-level engineering capabilities, performance test facilities and manufacturing units necessary to develop a European advanced bearing technology for future VHBR engines.

The development of Ultra High Propulsive Efficiency (UHPE) engine is a key factor to fulfil the main milestones of the engine ITD program: high environmental benefits of UHPE will be reached through a power gearbox decoupling fan and turbine speeds. Such innovation raises different technological challenges: the increase of the rotational speed and harsh lubrication conditions due to the centrifugal field. In terms of power gearbox performance and reliability, the design and lubrication of the rolling bearings, crucial components, can affect the gearbox and engine architectures. The scope of PROBATE is “to predict bearing behaviour (through dynamic, lubrication & thermal coupled modelling) and develop various planet rolling bearing technologies, overcoming current design rules of aero-engine bearings enabling the development of a UHPE engine”. Specific objectives are: - To develop a new numerical model able to predict heat generation and transfer in the planet bearing taking into account interactions between dynamics, lubricant and thermal behaviours - To develop an optimized profile ceramic roller, an optimized lubrication solution as well as their integration in the new planet bearing - To demonstrate -30% in power loss & oil flow and -15% of the bearing weight in comparison to the current baseline solution & increasing at the same time the reliability. To demonstrate their enhanced performances, the PROBATE new bearing technologies will firstly assessed through modelling and then tested with elementary and sub-scale testing. The gained knowledge will enable the transfer and exploitation of projects results to the industrial field by providing analysis tools and new design rules. SKF AERO-BV-ENGINE have well-known high-level engineering capabilities in the aerospace filed, performance test facilities and manufacturing units necessary to develop a new advanced bearing technology for future UHPE engine.

ICONIC aims to develop innovative physical and digital tools to achieve fundamental breakthroughs for the integrated control of wind farms, considering the whole physical system at farm, turbine, and component levels, in particular the complex aerodynamic interactions among turbines. ICONIC aims to increase farm-wide power production by 15-20% under optimal wind speeds and directions for typical wind farms suffering from wake effects, with a 3%-5% increase in annual energy production (AEP) considering all working conditions over the long term. It targets an LCOE reduction of at least 6% compared with the state-of-the-art control tools deployed in the current wind industry by improving farm-wide AEP and reducing operation & maintenance costs via leveraging the latest AI and digital technologies. Extensive validations for the integrated wind farm control solutions will be conducted via high-fidelity simulation models, experiments at a national-level wind tunnel, historical operational data at BP’s and C-Power’s wind farms, a unique collection of test rigs for critical turbine components at respective companies, and real-world wind farm field tests at C-Power. ICONIC’s integrated wind farm control system will contain (1) novel AI-based wind farm control system to unlock wind farms’ full potential; (2) novel data-enhanced wind turbine controllers to fulfil farm-level commands while balancing power generation and load mitigation; (3) an integration with digital twins (DTs) as extra support to improve control and reduce costs, which contains a first-ever farm-level DT for wind farm flow systems replicating detailed physical flow fields and an innovative turbine-level DT with critical component models for loading and lifetime estimations; (4) extensions of the solutions to future 20MW turbines. ICONIC will establish new knowledge and industrial leadership in key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, and deliver next-generation tools for wind farm operation.