A future aircraft might morph its wings, use smart sensors and actuators and more accurately mimic nature's methods of flight. The concept could also transform the image of tomorrow's aircraft and create additional flight research projects for Dryden.
During a NASA budget briefing April 9, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin described the aircraft that will be one of the linchpins of the Agency's aerospace research for the next 20 years.
Using computer animation that showed an eagle in flight and an aircraft that also used bird-like movements in the flexing and morphing of its wings and other components, he explained how the new concept could work.
"NASA will open the door to a bold and revolutionary era by using technology to mimic nature. The seemingly effortless flight of birds provides the inspiration for new aircraft utilizing wings that reconfigure in flight. The vehicle changes - or morphs - from a low-speed configuration to one more suited for high speed," Goldin said.
Such a vehicle will be built of a wing construction that will employ fully integrated embedded "smart" materials and actuators that will empower the wings with an unprecedented level of aero-dynamic efficiencies and aircraft control.
The NASA Administrator continued to describe the aircraft as the computer animation illustrated the concepts.
"The wings sweep back and change shape for high speed drag reduction and low sonic boom. The engine inlets and nozzles morph as well. Small jets of air and feather-like control surfaces provide additional control forces for extreme maneuvers and added safety," he said.
This future aircraft will be able to respond to constantly varying conditions using its sensors as nerves in a bird's wing to measure pressure over the entire surface of the wing. The response to these measurements will direct actuators, which will function like muscles in a bird's wing and change shape to optimize conditions.
"To convert to the low-speed configuration, the wings unsweep and increase in thickness and span to improve efficiency," Goldin continued. "Instead of a vertical tail, the vehicle uses thrust vectoring. Adaptable wings are envisioned to have controllable, bone-like support structures covered by a flexible membrane with embedded muscle-like actuators. Embedded sensors provide health monitoring and control feedback."
As the vehicle morphs for landing, the wingtips split for tip vortex control and the wings lengthen for a shorter runway landing. A tail deploys providing noise shielding, increased lift and additional control," Goldin concluded.
The details of the technologies required to achieve the vision he outlined and the division of work were not covered in the briefing. However, it is expected to take about two decades to develop and capitalize on new breakthroughs in nano, bio and information technologies.
The technologies developed during the research of this new aerospace vehicle are potentially applicable to both civilian and military aircraft and are expected to have a number of benefits. Some of the benefits include reduced noise, increased fuel efficiency, improved ride quality, increased safety, better maneuverability, lower landing speeds, adaptation to shorter runways and extensive versatility.
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., will lead the effort and Dryden Center Director Kevin Petersen said it is likely that this Center will help validate technologies in flight experiments leading to flight research of the new aircraft.
For example, one control surface experiment known as the Active Aeroelastic Wing is studying the twisting motions of the wing for aircraft control on a dedicated F/A-18.
Dryden's past research on projects such as thrust vectoring, fully electronic actuators and smart controls are other potential areas where Dryden research might be utilized for the envisioned future aircraft.
