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July 18, 2006
A Bird-like Plane
Scientists have gone back to the drawing board to solve how we can replicate nature's mechanism of flight. We understand the dynamics but haven't been able to build the actual wings. Our standard box of materials - gears, shafts, and flaps end up becoming too complex and heavy, not to mention energy hungry to operate.
If we observe everything that flies, they share one characteristic; they flap their wings. So part of designing a new methodology of flight is rethinking the materials which in turn leads you down a new path of flight mechanisms and construction.
The fruition of this research revolves around a new material called ionic polymeric metal composite or IPMC. The synthetic material is capable of deforming in an electric field and returning to its original shape when the field is removed. The material is lightweight, flexible, and far less complex than current wing designs. Since the kinetic motion comes from a magnetic field as opposed to a combustion engine, far less energy is required to flap the wings. All you would have to do is sustain a small magnetic field and rapidly turn it off to generate a propulsive force from the flapping wings. Dynamically alternating the field between the wings, and you can have a plane that turns on a dime. HOW COOL!
Posted by tranism at 5:33 PM | Permalink
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