Rotary-Fixed Wing Morphing Aircraft for Flight-Mode Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft designs face limitations in achieving optimal aerodynamic performance across various flight conditions due to single fixed wing or rotary wing configurations, leading to stability issues, control difficulties, and restricted maximum flight speed, especially during harsh environments and water-air transitions.
Innovation Solution
A rotary wing-fixed wing convertible morphing aircraft with morphing wing structures that can rotate and adjust angles, combined with a tail-thrust propeller and trailing edge flaps, allowing conversion between rotary and fixed wing configurations for adaptable flight modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single fixed wing configuration is adopted, then the aircraft structure is simple, but the aerodynamic performance is limited in various flight conditions and maximum flight speed is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by designing morphing wings that can dynamically change their configuration between fixed-wing and rotary-wing modes. The wings incorporate adjustable tilting angles and rotatable structures that allow the aircraft to adapt its aerodynamic characteristics during flight, enabling high-speed forward flight in fixed-wing mode and hover/low-speed maneuvering in rotary-wing mode, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and maximum flight speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the geometric parameters of the wings through morphing mechanisms. The wings can change their effective area, aspect ratio, and orientation by adjusting the tilting angle and rotation position, allowing optimal aerodynamic performance across different flight conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single rotary wing configuration is adopted, then the structure is simple and implementation is easy, but control difficulty increases and stability is poor during medium transition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the morphing wings to serve multiple functions: they act as lift-generating surfaces in fixed-wing mode, as rotating propellers in rotary-wing mode, and as control surfaces during transition. This multi-functionality allows the same structural elements to provide both propulsion and stability control across all flight phases, reducing overall structure complexity while improving stability during medium transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the morphing wing control system that continuously adjusts the wing configuration based on flight conditions. Sensors detect aircraft attitude, speed, and phase of flight, and the control system automatically adjusts the morphing wing parameters to maintain optimal stability, particularly during the critical medium transition phase between rotary and fixed-wing modes.
3Stability of the object's composition
If control surfaces are deviated greatly to stabilize the aircraft in harsh flight environments, then stability is improved, but optimal aerodynamic characteristics cannot be achieved and forward speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the control surfaces dynamic through the morphing wing mechanism. Instead of using fixed control surfaces that require large deviations for stability, the morphing wings can actively adjust their geometry, area, and orientation in real-time. This allows the aircraft to maintain stability through graceful aerodynamic adaptations rather than aggressive control surface deflections, preserving optimal aerodynamic characteristics and enabling higher forward speeds.
4Ease of manufacture
If multi-rotary wing layout is adopted to avoid water-air crossing difficulties, then configuration design is simplified, but control difficulty increases and maximum flight speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing morphing wings that can transition between rotary and fixed configurations, allowing the aircraft to achieve high-speed forward flight in fixed-wing mode while maintaining the ability to hover and maneuver in rotary-wing mode. This dynamic reconfiguration capability eliminates the need for permanent multi-rotary wing layouts, reducing control complexity while enabling unrestricted forward speed.
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
Enhances aerodynamic performance, stability, and maneuverability by enabling self-adaptation to flight environments, reducing control difficulty, and achieving high-speed flight and maneuvering control through dual-use morphing wings and propeller systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least two morphing wing structures arranged on the fuselage, where each of the at least two morphing wing structures includes at least two morphing wings, and is rotatable around a central line of the fuselage
Implementation Method 2
includes a morphing wing body and at least one trailing edge flap which is located at a tail of the morphing wing body and is rotatable relative to the morphing wing body
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a rotary wing-fixed wing convertible morphing aircraft including a fuselage, and at least two morphing wing structures arranged on the fuselage. A tail of the fuselage is provided with a tail-thrust propeller, and each of the at least two morphing wings has an adjustable tilting angle, and includes a morphing wing body and at least one trailing edge flap which is located at a tail of the morphing wing body and is rotatable relative to the morphing wing body. The rotary wing-fixed wing convertible morphing aircraft is in a fixed wing configuration layout, or a rotary wing configuration layout.