Abstract:
A fixed wing drone comprises an air channel embedded therein. The air channel has an upstream an air inlet. A microcontroller mounted within the drone is configured to control navigation of the drone. An air scoop having a section positioned adjacent the inlet to the air channel is adjustable between a first position to capture and divert air into the inlet and thereby to air channel and a second position to block air flow into the air inlet. The air scoop is positioned to divert air flow into the air channel and to the gas sensor during forward flight of the drone. In one embodiment, the fixed wing drone comprises an aircraft having a fuselage and at least two wings. In another embodiment, the fixed wing drone has a flying wing construction, that is, is a tailless design.
Abstract:
A wing leading-edge device (2, 42) is proposed, which comprises a slat body (4, 42) having a front side (6) with a forward skin (8) and a back side (10) with a rearward skin (12), and at least a drive arrangement (14) having at least one lug (18, 20) and a slat track (16), wherein the back side (10) extends between an upper spanwise edge (26) of the forward skin (8) and a lower spanwise edge (28) of the forward skin (8), wherein the back side (10) is defined by a continuously curved profile contour for receiving a fixed leading edge (32), wherein the at least one lug (18, 20) is at least partially arranged between the back side (10) and the front side (6), and wherein the slat track (16) is coupled with the at least one lug (18, 20). The connection points to the slat body (4, 42) are shifted far forward to improve the load introduction and reduce moments acting on the drive mechanism.
Abstract:
Eine Anordnung zur Minderung des aerodynamischen Lärms an einem Zusatzflügel (1; 11) eines Flugzeugs, der an einen Hauptflügel (2) angelenkt und unter Freigabe eines Spaltbereichs (9) zwischen dem Hauptflügel (2) und dem Zusatzflügel (1 ) ausfahrbar ist, umfassend eine Trennfläche (6; 7), die bei ausgefahrenem Zusatzflügel (1 ; 11 ) in den Spaltbereich (9) verlagerbar ist und sich zumindest teilweise entlang einer Trennstromlinie (13) zwischen einem Wirbelströmungsgebiet (12) und einer Spaltströmung (10) der im Spaltbereich (9) zwischen Zusatzflügel (1 ; 11 ) und Hauptflügel (2) strömenden Luft erstreckt. Erfindungsgemäß ist die Trennfläche (6; 7) eine n-stabile Fläche, die mittels Aktuatoreinrichtung (3; 3a, 3b; 4; 4a, 4b; 5; 5a, 5b) zwischen mindestens einem der stabilen Zustände und mindestens einem weiteren Zustand verlagerbar ist.
Abstract:
Apparatus for obstructing air flow through an aperture in an aircraft wing where a movable anti-icing duct extends through the aperture are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus comprises a base member (40) configured to be secured to the duct and a first seal member (42) configured to obstruct air flow through the aperture. The first seal member comprises a proximal portion (42A) connected to the base member and a distal portion (42B) configured to movably contact an inner surface of a skin of the wing. The use of such apparatus may reduce the amount of leakage flow from the high pressure lower wing surface to the low pressure upper wing surface through the aperture and thereby reduce the loss of lift associated with such leakage flow.
Abstract:
Eine fortschrittliche Flügelhinterkante am Flügel eines Flugzeugs, mit einem Flügel (1), einer an der Hinterkante des Flügels (l) angeordneten, in Spannweitenrichtung verlaufenden, auf unterschiedliche Ausschläge einstellbaren Klappe (4) , einer an der Oberseite zwischen dem Flügel (1) und der Klappe (4) angeordneten schwenkbar beweglichen Abdichtklappe (7) und eine an der Unterseite zwischen dem, Flügel (1) und der Klappe (4) angeordneten schwenkbar beweglichen Belüftungsklappe (5). Erfndungsgemäß ist es vorgesehen, dass die Klappe (4) sowohl über positive Klappenausschläge nach unten als auch negative Klappenausschläge nach oben einstellbar ist, wobei für eine Nutzung der Klappe (4) als Steuerklappe mit Einstellungen der Klappe zwischen negativen und kleinen positiven Klappenausschlägen das Flügelprofil an der Oberseite durch die Abdichtklappe (7) und an der Unterseite durch die Belüftungsklappe (5) geschlossen ist und für eine Nutzung der Klappe (4) als auftriebserhöhende Klappe mit Einstellungen der Klappe (4) zwischen kleinen positiven und großen positiven Klappenausschlägen die Belüftungsklappe (5) eine Strömung von der Unterseite des Flügels (1) zur Oberseite der Klappe (4) freigibt und die Abdichtklappe (7) zur Freigabe eines Abstroms von der Oberseite der Klappe (4) um einen vorgegebenen Spalt entfernt wird.
Abstract:
Aerospace vehicle yaw generating systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a yaw generating system that can include an aerospace vehicle having a fuselage (101) with a first portion (111) and a second portion (112) . The system can further include a movable control surface (142a, 142b) coupled to the fuselage and extending generally in a horizontal plane . The control surface can be movable to a deflected position in which the control surface can be positioned to create a flow pattern proximate to the fuselage when the aerospace vehicle is located in a flow field. The flow pattern can be positioned to create a pressure differential between the first portion (111) of the fuselage and the second portion (112) of the fuselage. The first and second portions can be located so that the pressure differential produces a yawing moment (Rmr) on the aerospace vehicle .
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the lift characteristics of an aircraft with a high lift device (2) that is movably attachable to a wing element (1) and that comprises at least one slot covering device (3; 4), wherein the at least one slot covering device (3; 4), is movably attachable to the wing element (1). The slot covering device (3; 4) is designed to regulate the size of a slot (7) between the wing element (1) and the high lift device (2).
Abstract:
A personal flight apparatus with vertical take-off and landing conceived as a biplane apparatus constituted by two distinct parts articulated there between, the first distinct part consisting of the cockpit (1), which is hinged to the second part of the latter, which is formed of the wings assembly (6),the cockpit 1 being attached to the wings assembly (6) by two hinges (3) fixed in the upright central vertical supports (7) of the wings, and in this way the cockpit having a limited swing possibility inside of the wings support structure which in turn they are provided with four propellers (9), of ducted type and driven by electric engines (20) disposed two on the top wing and two on the bottom wing, thus forming a kind of quadcopter, the duct (10) of each propeller being provided on the inlet lip with an annular ejection slit (11), and the electrical energy required to operate the apparatus is provided by the batteries (14) placed under the pilot's seat which through the speed regulators transmit the electric energy to the engines, the entire operation of the apparatus being managed by means of a flight computer (17) disposed in the central part of the upper wing of the biplane, and the taking off being made with the wings and the engines vertically oriented, the flight apparatus being laid on the ground by means of a landing gear (15) fixed in the wing extremities, the flight apparatus taking off as a quadcopter, and the transition to the cruise flight is made by reducing the angle of incidence of the wings, this angle decreasing naturally due to the increased resistance to advancement of the wings concurrently with the speed of translation of the flight apparatus, and in the meantime the cockpit (1) remains in a vertical position due to its lower center of gravity and due to the joints (3) which allow it to rotate relative to the wings assembly (6) and the landing is made similarly to a quadcopter, slowing down the speed leading to increasing the incidence angle of the wings until they return to the vertical plane required for landing.
Abstract:
The present invention is concerned with actuating aircraft components to tailor their configuration to achieve improved performance in one or more flight phases. In general terms, the invention provides a method and system for actuating an aircraft component comprising an actuating material in which an actual deformation change undergone by the actuating material in response to an activation input signal is determined by analysis of an output signal generated by the actuating material in response to the actual deformation. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of actuating an aircraft component, at least a portion of the aircraft component comprising an actuating material which undergoes deformation in response to the application of an electrical signal thereto, and which generates an electrical signal in response to a deformation of the actuating material, the method comprising the steps of: applying an activation input signal to the actuating material of the aircraft component, the activation input signal corresponding to a desired deformation of the actuating material, the actuating material of the aircraft component undergoing an actual deformation in response to the activation input signal; and generating an output signal representative of the actual deformation of the actuating material.
Abstract:
A system and method for generating lift provided by a multi-element aircraft wing are provided. The system includes a main wing element, a slat interconnected to the main wing element, and a flap interconnected to the main wing element. The system also includes at least one port defined in at least one of the slat, main wing element, and flap. In addition, the system includes at least one fluidic device operable to regulate fluid flow into and out of the at least one port to control boundary layer flow over at least one of the slat, main wing element, and flap.