A key aim of the project is to increase aerodynamic performance while reducing noise at the same time.” “It is worth noting that existing systems attempting drag reduction produce an increase in noise, and vice-versa. “We are setting up multi-disciplinary teams to study materials that can best improve aerodynamic efficiency,” says Braza. Nonetheless the project team is confident that substantial increases in aerodynamic performance can be achieved – drag reduction and lift increase during take-off and cruise speeds, as well as lift increase and noise reduction during landing. With more than two years to go, SMS still has development work to complete before trials can begin. “Of course, birds never fly at cruising speeds, so the SMS project is only partly bio-inspired.” Ready for lift-off “This behaviour mimics the performance of bird feathers in flight,” adds Braza. These alloys ‘remember’ their original shape, and when deformed can return to their pre-deformed shape. Slight variations in pressure picked up by the sensors are transmitted to a deformable high-lift flap on the wing.Ĭhanges in shape are achieved by shape memory alloys that are embedded within the lifting structure. The fibre-optic sensors being pioneered by the three-year project, which began in May 2017, form part of a system known as ‘hybrid electroactive morphing’. Adapting the shape and vibratory behaviour of a plane’s wings in real time has the same effect.” Fly like a bird This allows these birds to swoop down on prey silently and efficiently by increasing lift and decreasing drag. Their internal sensory systems capture pressure fluctuations, which are instantaneously analysed and used through their multiple-scale wings, ailerons and feathers system, to optimise aerodynamic performance in real time. “This is how birds of prey operate in flight. “One thing that makes the SMS project unique is the degree to which the sensory system being developed is linked to real-time activation,” explains Marianna Braza, director of research at CNRS and the project’s coordinator at the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse in France. Embedded electroactive sensory systems for example could be installed in wind turbines, cars and ship propellers. The smart technology being pioneered by SMS could also open up new possibilities and applications in other sectors. By demonstrating these efficiencies in simulations of an Airbus A320 wing in flight, the project hopes to contribute towards a new era in wing design, capable of achieving at least a 1 % reduction in fuel consumption and around 0.5 % in CO 2 emissions on its own. Modifying wing shape to achieve maximum aerodynamic performance could help airline operators cut fuel costs and reduce emissions. The adaptation will also help to reduce noise and vibration, increasing passenger comfort and safety, the project states. The EU-funded SMS project is installing next-generation fibre optic-based sensors that take pressure measurements in real time during flight, enabling wings to adapt to changing conditions in the sky.
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