Active Wing Extension with Controllable Airflow Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aviation industry faces challenges in increasing aircraft efficiency and reducing fossil fuel consumption due to the high costs and limitations of installing traditional winglets and wing extensions, which require reengineering and certification, and can reduce the usable life of the wing by adding structural stress and weight.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of active airflow modification systems with controllable airflow modification devices (CAMDs) that can adjust in response to flight conditions, reducing wing loads and fatigue, and are designed to be fixedly attachable to existing wings without the need for extensive structural reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional winglets or wing extensions are installed to increase aircraft efficiency, then drag is reduced and lift is improved, but the wing requires substantial structural reinforcement which increases weight and reduces usable life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the wing extension movable rather than fixed. The extension can be deployed only when needed (e.g., during takeoff or landing phases when additional lift is beneficial) and retracted during cruise to minimize structural loads. This dynamic configuration allows the aircraft to gain efficiency benefits when required without subjecting the wing to continuous additional stress, thereby extending the wing's usable life.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing extension is divided into separable components that can be independently controlled. The extension includes a deployable portion and a root portion that can be independently managed, allowing the system to provide lift enhancement only when needed while minimizing structural reinforcement requirements. This segmentation enables the extension to be added to the wing without requiring substantial permanent structural reinforcement.
2Loss of energy
If traditional winglets or wing extensions are installed to improve aircraft efficiency, then drag is reduced, but the cost to install increases due to reengineering and certification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The wing extension system is designed with universal applicability through standardized mounting mechanisms and control systems that can be adapted to different aircraft models. The extension incorporates multi-functional capabilities including lift enhancement, drag reduction, and potential future integration with flight control systems. This universality reduces reengineering requirements and simplifies certification processes compared to model-specific custom designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic nature of the extension system allows it to be integrated with existing aircraft control systems rather than requiring separate reengineering and certification processes. The extension can be controlled through existing flight computers and sensors, reducing the need for new certification pathways and lowering overall installation costs.
3Strength
If fixed winglets or wing extensions are used, then structural reinforcement is required to handle increased loads, but the weight of reinforcement detracts from efficiency gains
Solution Approach 1:
The wing extension is designed to be dynamically deployable rather than permanently fixed, allowing the aircraft to handle increased loads only when the extension is deployed. During cruise operations, the extension can be retracted to minimize weight and structural requirements. This dynamic approach enables the aircraft to achieve the necessary strength capacity when needed without carrying the permanent weight of reinforced structures throughout all flight phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses aerodynamic forces generated by the extension itself to counteract the weight of any necessary structural reinforcement. When the extension is deployed, it generates lift and aerodynamic pressure that can offset the weight of structural components, effectively reducing the net weight penalty associated with reinforcement requirements.
4Stability of the object's composition
If fixed winglets or wing extensions are used, then they provide consistent structural support, but they are unable to adapt to changes in in-flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The wing extension incorporates dynamic control mechanisms that allow it to adjust its configuration in response to changing flight conditions. The extension can be deployed, retracted, or positioned at different angles based on factors such as airspeed, altitude, and atmospheric conditions. This dynamic adaptability maintains structural stability when needed while allowing the system to optimize performance across varying operational environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor flight conditions and automatically adjust the wing extension's configuration accordingly. Sensors detect parameters such as airspeed, altitude, and structural loads, and this information feeds back to the control system to modify the extension's position or deployment status. This feedback loop enables the extension to adapt to changing flight conditions while maintaining structural stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances aircraft efficiency and performance by reducing drag and increasing lift without the drawbacks of traditional winglets, such as added stress and fatigue, thereby decreasing certification costs and extending the service life of the wing and aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
Multiple controllable airflow modification devices (CAMDs) have been developed that may be used in active wing extensions for improving the efficiency, performance, and/or aesthetics of an aircraft
Implementation Method 2
The CAMDs may be adjusted by rotating a control surface to reduce a wing load of a wing of the aircraft by moving a center of pressure of the wing
Data Source
AI summary
An active wing extension includes a body portion substantially parallel to a wing of an aircraft, as if it were an extension of the wing. The body portion is attachable to an aircraft wing and includes multiple controllable airflow modification devices coupled thereto. By virtue of having multiple controllable airflow modification devices, the wing extension is capable of adjusting control surfaces of the multiple controllable airflow modification devices in response to in-flight conditions, to reduce wing loads, improve wing fatigue characteristics, increase range, and/or increase efficiency.