Posted on 08/26/2005 9:48:50 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Small robotic spy-planes have been developed that use shape-shifting wings to switch from being stable gliders to ultra-manoeuvrable fliers.
The articulated wings – with a span of 60 centimetres – were inspired by the way seagulls alter their wing-shape during flight, says Rick Lind, an aerospace engineer at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, US.
The robot plane, or drone, has a joint halfway along the leading edge of both its wings. Actuators at this “elbow” joint and at the “shoulder” joint of each wing, where it connects to the fuselage, allow the wing structure to shift from an “M” to a “W” configuration, as viewed from the front or rear.
With the elbow lowered, the “W” configuration produces a highly manoeuvrable aerodynamic shape, says Lind. In contrast, the high elbow “M” shape is less manoeuvrable but highly stable, perfect for gliding and conserving battery power.
The change in flight performance comes partly from a shift in the aircraft’s centre of gravity, says Lind: “With the wing position higher than the centre of gravity it is stable like a pendulum.” Reversing this – the "W" position – produces low stability, like an inverted pendulum. See a movie of the craft showing off its different in-flight configurations, here (Mpeg format).
Rolling, rolling, rolling
It is unlikely that this design would scale up to larger planes because the strength required of the structures would make the wings too heavy, says Lind.
The airflow characteristics at the low speed small planes fly at are very different to those at high speed and not very well understood, he adds. That is one reason his team is investigating novel designs.
It is difficult to quantify how manoeuvrable the new drones are. But during flight tests they have been capable of performing three continuous 360° rolls in 1 second. F-16 fighter jets can carry out one roll per second but have safeguards to prevent more than this in case the pilot passes out through g-force effects. But even without these safeguards Lind, a former NASA engineer, doubts F-16 could match his drones’ performance.
The drones are being developed for use in an urban landscape. Lind sees his planes being used for surveillance and security purposes. They could carry sensors to the location of a suspected bioterrorism attack, for example.
The current prototype already has basic autopilot capabilities that allow it navigate through six different waypoints under its own control. But this is with the wings fixed in a single configuration. “The challenge now is to develop autopilot software that makes use of this enhanced agility,” says Lind.
Wow.
The must-have toy for Christmas 2007?
I woke up this morning thinking that someone ought to make a wing based upon the shape of an aerobie.
I've said it before and I completely believe it. The next generation of fighter "pilots" are currently being trained by Nintendo and the like. The days of a butt in an ejection seat are fast coming to an end. The designers of aircraft will soon be able to build aircraft that are not limited by the frailty of the human body.
To CK: Son, check this out.
Lol, I'd take one! I love the way it flies. Very bird like, very wobbly, but still flies great.
Much the same could be said about the next generation of soldiers as well (androids) .. OK, maybe the generation after next. =)
You left out the part that the crew is on the ground in (relative) safety.
Your comment about eyes on target reminded me of my days as an admin geek in a USAF flying squadron. It was funny hearing the instructors telling the students about various high G maneuvers and including the statement, "and when your eyesight comes back, he should be at 2 o'clock and slightly high."
The picture in my mind of an android is something bi-pedal and human-like. I think it may take a while yet to get to that point. However, your point is on target. We already are working on/with robotic contraptions to go into places considered inhospitable to the soldier.
I love it that we are finding ways to do things that don't endanger our troops. I fear that slippery slope where war becomes too antiseptic, though. War is supposed to be ugly and painful. That makes it its own deterrent. If we reach a point where we can fight a war that does not exact a high cost, are we not afraid that war becomes too easy a choice?
Yes please. And give them a double helping.
Let's just find a way to keep to ourselves some of the technological advantage we have built with these whiz-bang UAVs and robots and such. If we can keep this stuff away from our enemies now, we won't have to fight against it in the future.
These are the latest Transformers. More than meets the eye.
read later bump
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