Conceptual Research Corp
![[Conceptual Research Corp.]](titletextcrc.gif)
![[CRC Projects]](crcprojects.jpg) |
Conceptual Research Corporation (CRC) is an aerospace design and research company with a primary focus
on the conceptual design of aircraft and spacecraft. CRC can develop a vehicle concept
to your requirements, analyze and optimize it, and then bring it
to reality through a multi-company partnership. CRC also provides engineering design reviews, methods
development, and training in aerospace vehicle design, and markets the
RDS-Professional aircraft design software. CRC is led by industry veteran
Dr. Daniel P. Raymer, well-known aircraft designer and author of
the leading aircraft design textbook.
CRC services include:
Conceptual Research Corporation is located and incorporated in the State of California, in the
Los Angeles area near LAX. In addition to its own office space, CRC operates as a virtual company using
partner subcontract companies and experienced consultants to accomplish the customer's objectives in
a timely and innovative fashion.
Click here or on the picture to see some typical CRC projects.
For further information or to request a quote for services, contact
Conceptual Research Corporation
PO Box 5429, Playa del Rey, CA 90296 USA
Phone: 310 577-3773 FAX: 818 743-7483
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Aircraft Conceptual Design, Analysis, and Optimization
Spacecraft/Launch Vehicle Design, Analysis, and Optimization
The main business of Conceptual Research Corporation is the conceptual design, analysis, and optimization
of aerospace vehicles. These include jet, prop, and rocket-powered concepts, and of all classes of vehicle including
military, commercial, general aviation, lighter-than-air, UAV, VTOL, launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles,
and others. While innovative design solutions are
always considered (we love them - see above!), CRC also believes that sometimes the best engineering answer is a well-designed
"normal" configuration. You the customer will make the final decision as to which design approach best meets your needs.
CRC works with the
customer to define system requirements, then develops one or more concepts, conducts analysis, performs optimizations,
and presents design reports and briefings. Projects can range from "quick-look" feasibility studies to a substantial
effort by a CRC virtual company team including CFD, structural design, FEM, subsystems design, production design,
and whatever else it takes to get the design to the desired level of maturity - including flight, if funding is available!
CRC can simply do a design study for you and then "walk away." Or, it can become intimately involved in your design effort,
interacting with your program management and engineering staff at any desired level ranging from consultation, to
an active design involvement, to acting as overall program manager and "doing it all". In this case CRC will bring
together and manage an appropriate subcontractor team for the project.
Technology Studies: Feasability and Applicability
Often a person or company will invent a new aerospace technology or concept, but not really know how to assess it or determine its
benefits - the essential first step towards obtaining funding and support. In the end, any aerospace technology
must "earn its way" on to some future flight vehicle or it isn't worth the time and
expense to mature it.
CRC can help by reviewing the new idea, assessing it versus existing technologies, and identifying
likely applications. Then CRC will design one or more notional vehicle concepts and perform trade studies to determine the benefits
of the idea. CRC will also prepare a technology maturation plan to bring the idea to an acceptable
Technology Readiness Level. For a better idea of CRC's approach in such studies, see Dr. Raymer's
Advice to Inventors.
"Red Team" Design Reviews
An important part of the aerospace design process is the "Red Team" review, where the entire design is formally presented
to a knowledgeable person or team who will ask the hard questions, challenge every assumption, and give the entire project
a "good scrubbing." Even if no problems are uncovered, the preparation for an upcoming Red Team will have motivated
the design team to a better effort. In the past, the Red Team review was often done by the company's Vice President of Engineering who was selected
for that position at least partly on a proven ability to do a good Red Team. Today, VP's need a different skill set to
maneuver through the tangled webs of politics and customer relations, so it is sometimes wise to turn to an outsider.
CRC provides such Red Team design reviews, giving a confidential outside review of your design concept with focus on
risk reduction and design optimization. Usually these are performed on-site by CRC President
Dr. Daniel P. Raymer. Other subject experts may be brought in if appropriate.
For example, in May 1997 a two-day Red Team was conducted for Samsung Aerospace and the Korean Aeronautical Development Agency of the design concept for the
KTX-2 Supersonic Trainer project, now in production as the
T-50 Golden Eagle.
Samsung personnel presented briefings on design features and analysis
results and methods, and responded to questions by Dr. Raymer. The upper photograph at left shows the configuration at that time, the lower image is the
T-50 aircraft today. The nature of the questions and the content of the Red Team Final Report are, of course, confidential to the customer. Let it be said that the KTX-2 project at that time was found
to have been executed with a high degree of professionalism, creativity, and good engineering judgment, and that the design was credible, low risk, and
visually attractive. The report offered recommendations for further trade studies, risk reductions, and design enhancements.
Design Methodologies Review and Consultation
CRC performs methodology audits to ensure that your design team is using state-of-the art methods and tools in its design activities.
Dr. Daniel P. Raymer, President of CRC, has extensive experience in the development and use of advanced
design tools including CAD, computational design analysis (CFD, FEM), simulation, and design optimization. Raymer will review your tools,
discuss methods with key employees, and construct process flow charts; as-is, and recommended. Following the audit, CRC can
help implement any recommendations and can train your staff as well.
Aircraft Modification Design and Analysis
As described here, CRC's first project was a preliminary design study of a aircraft modification, namely
the use of an L-1011 to carry and launch the OSC Pegasus booster. CRC can perform modification studies, preparing conceptual layouts and
doing the "before" and "after" analysis to determine the benefits of the proposed change. Typical examples include re-engining, addition
of winglets, and aerodynamic cleanup. When appropriate, CRC will bring subcontract companies into the project, such as
Analytic Methods Inc. who have supported CRC on a number of studies.
Aviation Expert Witness Services
While not a normal part of our business, CRC can provide expert witnesses and consultants for legal actions involving
aircraft, aviation, and spacecraft. CRC President Dr. Daniel P. Raymer
offers a unique combination of broad technical expertice plus presentation skills honed
in over 30 years of aviation-related speaches and short course presentations.
Dr. Raymer recently served as expert witness/consultant in support of an
aircraft design company in a lawsuit against a previous project teammate
over an issue of intellectual property. Raymer reviewed all the technical
data and wrote position papers which were provided to the Judge and his
technical Special Master. Raymer sat next to the lead lawyer during
testimony and cross-examination, passing notes with technical questions
to ask of the other side's engineers and expert witness (a well-known
retired Vice President of a major aerospace firm). At one point the lead
lawyer told Raymer, "Thank goodness you've arrived - we knew we
had the facts on our side but you've been able to pull the team together
by bridging the gap between us lawyers and the engineers with
all their technical talk." In the end, the technical
judgment validated the positions that Dr. Raymer supported.
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