Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NASA, have published their concept of “digital morphing” wing in the journal Smart Materials and Structures.
About:
Features:
The digital morphing wing is a radical kind of airplane wing that can change shape to control the plane’s flight by automatically responding to changes in the wing’s aerodynamic loading conditions.
The wing is made deformable by incorporating a mix of stiff and flexible components in its structure. These tiny sub-assemblies are bolted together to form an open, lightweight lattice framework.
Difference with conventional wings:
Conventional wings require separate movable surfaces to control the roll and pitch of the plane.
The new assembly system, on the other hand, makes it possible to deform the whole wing, or parts of it. This could provide a much better approximation than a conventional wing of the best configuration for each stage.
Significance: The wing is much lighter, and thus much more energy-efficient, than those with conventional designs. The new approach to wing construction could afford greater flexibility in the design and manufacturing of future aircraft.
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