Ryan Gibbons
This Is interesting Technology...
Takis
What's old is new again. The Wright brothers used wing warping as a control surface: http://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/warp.html
This is the same principle.
Bryan Haslett
I sure would like to get a peek at the actual technology. Maybe a computerized cutaway showing the internal geometry?
From the article my limited brain cannot determine what is really going on.
From a rotary wing standpoint it would be fabulous to be able to dynamically tune each rotor for the instantaneous aerodynamic requirements at any given moment. Unfortunately I don't see it being able to morph a rotors shape, let's say, 264 times per minute (approximate rpm of a BlackHawk system). Also, can it withstand the tremendous forces due to the centrifugal loads? Around 40 tons at the blade root!
Even if it was nothing more than the trailing edge flaps used for balancing the whole rotor, it would certainly improve the ability to keep the system tracked and balanced.
It's a shame that as a society we don't learn from the past but I'm glad that in individual disciplines they can and do.
On with the future.
Gadgeteer
Uh, Takis, did you watch the video? They mentioned the Wright brothers connection right at the beginning. It's not like they're trying to hide it.
Don Duncan
Is the "fixed wing" design now morphing into a "control wing"? I hope so. I have waited for the control wing since I became aware of it in 1995.
Also, the aerodynamics of a car could change as speed changed. But how long will it take the manufactures to contact Flexsys? If I was Flexsys, I would contact them.
Lewis M. Dickens III
Contrary to popular opinion there are still some very intelligent and creative people here in Michigan.
Don't forget Nils Joel Skrubb who created the Packard Merlin by redesigning completely to American Standards a fine design from England. Some say it won the big war.
Bill
lavaman
now if I can get an economy version for my microlight and my prop,,,wow what a concept
SpeedBird2014
This looks like a very viable and safe way to enhance efficiency and speed. The ability to retrofit this FlexSystems to existing aircraft is certainly market appealing on a global scope.
It appears by institutes you have associated yourself with this will "Fly High"...pun intended. I see this creative technology especially valuable initially in the GA, Turbo Prop market as well as business jets. Six (6%) helps a lot and 12% is another game changer. When you couple the FlexSystem Technology with NexGen engines even in the smaller aircraft markets...with some of the new materials and aerodynamic tweaks...20% -23% fuel savings is very possible. Superb Job!
moreover
Apparently car aerodynamics would also benefit greatly. I remember seeing (perhaps here) examples of DIY aero retrofits where people closed all the various door, hood, and trunk gaps to achieve noticeably better mileage - of course at the expense of having an easy to open door :) A flexible cover would solve that, at least for the joint sides.
Ian McIntosh
Certainly not novel, they tested these wings on F111s last century. http://www.ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19920012951_1992012951.pdf They called it a "Mission Adaptive Wing" then.... http://www.v-like-vintage.net/uploads/images/Cropped700/00099275.jpg