The
National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA) is trying to invent a foldable
wing aircraft after being inspired from incredible nosedive of the
hawk when it folds its wings. NASA doesn’t want to have controlled
dives, but there are many other benefits to this unique design, such as
increasing the efficiency and capabilities of the aircraft.
NASA
name the design Spanwise Adaptive Wing (SAW). Until now, articulating
wings on aircraft was done to optimize parking area and to make them fit
into smaller hangars. the articulated wings also helps for easier
movement within the airport infrastructure.
But
NASA wants to use smaller and adjustable wing ends along with more
precise specifics articulation and control with the ability of
changing position dynamically to create the perfect balance between lift
and yaw control that is needed during different flight conditions.
One
use of this concept idea will be in supersonic aircraft. When the
aircraft is flying at very high speeds, it creates a lot of lift but
consequently, have lesser yaw control. By folding the ends of the wings
up or down, stability and yaw control will be enhanced, creating
more vertical surface to augment the rear tailfin. But this will not
happen at the expense of critical lift during the difficult takeoff and
landing because the wings are still capable of straightening to add the
lift surface to flight.
This
concept is now a reality courtesy advancements in the actuators
required to move the wings, which have been changed from the more
outdated and heavy hydraulic systems to more efficient and lighter
electric ones.
NASA’s Matt Moholt said on the concept,
“We
are revisiting folding-wing aircraft. Because new technologies that did
not exist in the 1960s allow actuation to be put in tighter wings, in
smaller volumes. This allows a much thinner wing and a thinner portion
of the wing to become articulable. Namely the tips of wings, which are
normally rigidly fixed.”
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