Adaptive compliant wing and rotor system

An arrangement for producing a variation in the contours of a first compliant surface, the arrangement comprising:

• a first compliant frame having,
• a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and
• a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface,
• the respective first and second outer surfaces being arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces, wherein the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of said first compliant frame;
• a second compliant frame having,
• a respective first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and
• a respective second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface,
• the respective tint and second outer surfaces being arranged in substantially distal opposition to one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces, wherein the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer surfaces of said second compliant frame;
• a first linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled resiliently at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and resiliently at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of said first compliant frame;
• a second linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being coupled resiliently at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and resiliently at a second end thereof to the second inner surface, of said second compliant frame;
• a first frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element of the first compliant flame to a support element;
• a second frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element of the second compliant frame to a support element;
• a drive element coupled to the second resiliently variable frame element of each of the first and second compliant frames;
• and
• an actuator for applying a force to said drive element with respect to the support element, whereby application of the force by said actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first compliant surfaces of the first and second compliant frames.

An arrangement for producing a variation in she contours of first and second compliant surfaces, the arrangement comprising:

• a compliant frame having,
• a first resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding first outer surface and a first inner surface, and
• a second resiliently variable frame element having a corresponding second outer surface and a second inner surface,
• the first and second outer surfaces being arranged in substantially distal opposition so one another and in communication with respectively associated ones of the first and second compliant surfaces, wherein the variation in the contours of the first and second compliant surfaces are responsive to variation in the contours of the first and second outer, surfaces of said compliant frame;
• a linkage element having a predetermined resilience characteristic and being resiliently coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface and resiliently at a second end thereof to the second inner surface;
• a frame coupler for coupling the first resiliently variable frame element so a support element;
• and
• an actuator for applying a force to the second resiliently variable frame element wish respect so the support element, whereby application of the force by said actuator results in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces.