Aircraft Winglet Attitude Controller for Drag Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft attitude changes due to mass reduction and distribution variations during flight, leading to increased drag and fuel consumption, as fuel is consumed and redistributed within the aircraft, necessitating effective control mechanisms to maintain optimal lift and drag conditions.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft attitude controller that actively controls the position of a winglet to adjust the angle of incidence, thereby managing the center of lift and reducing drag, without requiring a fuel ballast system, by obtaining and responding to real-time data on aircraft attitude, mass distribution, and fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If fuel is consumed during flight, then mass of the aircraft decreases, but attitude of the aircraft changes leading to increased drag
Solution Approach 1:
The winglet is designed to be dynamically adjustable relative to the wing portion, allowing its position and angle of incidence to be actively controlled during flight. This dynamic adjustment compensates for attitude changes caused by fuel consumption and mass redistribution, maintaining optimal aerodynamic performance and reducing drag throughout the flight profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the angle of incidence parameter of the winglet by adjusting its position relative to the wing portion. This parameter change allows the winglet to adapt to varying flight conditions and attitude changes, optimizing lift distribution and minimizing drag as the aircraft's mass and center of gravity shift during flight.
2Ease of operation
If fuel is redistributed within the aircraft, then centre of gravity changes, but attitude control requires complex ballast systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the attitude control function from the traditional fuel ballast system and relocates it to the winglet positioning mechanism. By taking out the ballast system entirely and using the winglet's adjustable position to control attitude, the system eliminates complex pumps, pipes, and control infrastructure while achieving the same attitude management objective.
Solution Approach 2:
The winglet positioning system is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the attitude of the aircraft and the angle of incidence of the winglet for drag reduction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ballast systems, simplifying the overall device while maintaining effective attitude control capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If winglet position is actively controlled, then attitude control precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives attitude information and translates it into winglet position commands. This intermediary control system processes the relationship between attitude changes and required winglet adjustments, providing precise attitude control through a relatively simple control architecture that avoids overly complex direct control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft attitude controller configured to obtain information representative of an attitude of an aircraft is disclosed. On the basis of the information, the attitude controller is configured to control the attitude of the aircraft by actively controlling a position of a winglet at a distal end of a wing portion of a wing of the aircraft, relative to the wing portion, thereby to control an angle of incidence of the winglet.