Shape Changing Plane In Development

Eh-Wire writes "The University of Florida has a short article on the "morphing wing" drone they are developing for a small aircraft that can swoop through parking garages, dive into alleys and land on balconies. Close-up video of seagulls in flight was the inspiration for the design of the drone. A still image of the drone shows an aircraft that looks surprisingly gull-like. A video shows the "wing morphing" in action on a static mounted drone. There is also a link to quite a few more videos in the article but it's not real obvious. Some guys get all the phun jobs!"

Comments

The wing shape isn't new...

[Assmasher]

MAW (Mission Adaptive Wing) designs have been tested since the sixties at least (probably earlier.) Still cool though.

Re:The wing shape isn't new...

[LWATCDR]

Actually all modern wings change shape in flight. Between flap and movable leading edges all change the airfoil of the wing to a degree. The Mission Adaptive Wing was a more extreme version of this.

Re:The wing shape isn't new...

[Analogy Man]

The 90 degree projection you reference can also be seen on a Boeing 747-400 or an Airbus A320. The principle is to increase the effective span of the wing. The higher pressure air on the lower surface of the wing wants to get to the lower pressure area on top of the wing. If you are clever about it the increased lift (or decreased lift induced drag depending on how you want to do your bookkeeping) is more than the increased skin friction and weight of additional structure.

By changing shape you may be talking about the mechanisms that change the angle of attack of the rotors as they spin, as the blade travels back, it experiences lower relative airspeed if the helicopter is moving forward. In some instances this is accomlished at the hub, but it could also be done by generating a twist in the blade.

Re:The wing shape isn't new...

[TinyManCan]

This too is an old idea. Basically when dealing with any sort of foil (such as a wing or rotor) you can't really use the last two or three feet effectively, as the low pressure air from the top slips around the end of the wing instead of over it. Putting some sort of vertical or 90 degree winglet on the end traps the air so that is must flow over the wing surface as designed.

By placing the end pieces on the wing you are effectively adding two or three feet to the length of the wind, and only taking a small increase in friction. Good times all around.

Coralized link to Mpeg

[Guano_Jim]

Here's the video

Coralized, so hopefully people will be able to view it.

I'm not sure if the file goes over Coral's size limit.

full mirrors available of videos

[winkydink]

Here.

A plane that flaps its wings. Hunh.

Materials are the problem,

[CyberLord Seven]

not lack of access to a designer. Where do you find a material with the compressive strength of bone and low density? How do you replace the tensional strength and flexiblity of muscle?
If I had any of that $h17 I could build some HELLACIOUS ROBOTS and conquer...ummm, spread democracy throughout the world.

The wing warping patent battles

[PapayaSF]

As old as powered flight. The Wright Brothers patented a wing warping system that was used on the Wright Flier, which was of course, the first powered heavier than air craft to successfuly fly.

Very true, and Slashdot readers might be interested to know that wing warping was the subject of a huge patent battle between the Wrights and Glenn Curtiss. See here and here. The consensus is that the patent fight significantly inhibited US aircraft development at the time.