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NASA has tested a new shape-shifting wing technology, which integrates the control surfaces into the wing itself.
NASA's green aviation project is one step closer to developing technology that could make future airliners quieter and more fuel-efficient with the successful flight test of a wing surface that can change shape in flight. This past summer researchers replaced an airplane’s conventional aluminum flaps with advanced, shape-changing assemblies that form seamless bendable and twistable surfaces.
Basically, instead of the normal, segmented control surfaces we're all used to, this is a long twistable surface. The downside is difficult engineering and production cost. The upside is less space taken up (more fuel in the wing) and improved aerodynamics. The aerodynamic gains lead to less cost and is better for the environment (if that's your kind of thing).
I found a YouTube Promotional video from the company actually producing the wings. I'd love to see a video of the actual tests if anyone can find one.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by subs on Thursday April 30 2015, @02:36PM
The whole article is a bunch of marketing mumbo-jumbo throwing around figures fast and loose. They've essentially just removed the metal skin from the flap spars. Neat idea, but really all that that can offer is a marginally smoother airflow over the flap segment gaps. Anybody with a smidge of aviation knowledge knows that flaps are only used on short portions of the flight, yet they claim 3-5% fuel savings on a retrofit or around 10% on a clean-sheet design, in line with winglets, which are used 100% of the flight time and used to eliminate a significant aerodynamic drag source. Where did they come up with those numbers? From where the sun don't shine! Also, how this affects maintenance, when the entire flap actuating mechanism is hidden inside a single indivisible cover is anyone's guess. Their cute little Gulfstream test bed uses a single flap segment design, which is easy to make "seamless" even using traditional metal skin. Let's see them do it on a large wing and get those figures.
And their claim of 40% noise reduction is just pure and unrefined bullshit. The vast majority of the noise, in-cabin or out-, is from the engines, airflow over the skin of the fuselage and the landing gear (video [youtu.be]). In fact, unless you know exactly what to listen for, you won't be able to tell if the flaps are in or deployed on a modern airliner.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday April 30 2015, @06:44PM
In many planes, an excessive share of the in-cabin noise is actually from the HVAC.
(Score: 2) by subs on Friday May 01 2015, @01:45AM
Oh my, don't get me started on those overly loud recirc fans :) Fortunately, more modern airliners have mostly eliminated a large part of it. Recently I flew in a A380 and I gotta say, it *is* noticeably quieter than the 747-400 I flew in on the outbound leg.