US 9,227,721 B1 · Variable camber continuous aerodynamic control surfaces and methods for active wing shaping control

Abstract

An aerodynamic control apparatus for an air vehicle improves various aerodynamic performance metrics by employing multiple spanwise flap segments that jointly form a continuous or a piecewise continuous trailing edge to minimize drag induced by lift or vortices. At least one of the multiple spanwise flap segments includes a variable camber flap subsystem having multiple chordwise flap segments that may be independently actuated. Some embodiments also employ a continuous leading edge slat system that includes multiple spanwise slat segments, each of which has one or more chordwise slat segment. A method and an apparatus for implementing active control of a wing shape are also described and include the determination of desired lift distribution to determine the improved aerodynamic deflection of the wings. Flap deflections are determined and control signals are generated to actively control the wing shape to approximate the desired deflection.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for implementing control of a wing shape comprising:

identifying or determining a lift distribution for an air vehicle having at least one wing;
determining a deflection of the at least one wing of the air vehicle based at least in part upon the lift distribution;
determining one or more deflections of multiple chordwise flap segments based at least in part upon the deflection of the at least one wing;
allowing for a bending shape change, a twisting shape change, and a camber shape change of the at least one wing using the multiple chordwise flap segments that form individual spanwise flap sections by transmitting one or more flap control signals from a controller to the multiple chordwise flap segments and spanwise flap sections to approximate the wing shape of the at least one wing to the deflection of the at least one wing;
identifying or determining one or more aeroelastic modes for modal suppression;
and
determining a deflection of the at least one wing of the air vehicle based at least in part upon the aeroelastic modes.

4 more elements

An apparatus for implementing active control of a wing shape comprising:

at least one controller that is to:
identify or determine a lift distribution for an air vehicle having at least one wing;
determine a deflection of the at least one wing of the air vehicle based at least in part upon the lift distribution;
determine one or more deflections of multiple chordwise flap segments and spanwise flap sections based at least in part upon the deflection of the at least one wing;
allow for a bending shape change, a twisting shape change, and a camber shape change of the at least one wing using the multiple flap segments by transmission of one or more flap control signals from the controller to the multiple chordwise flap segments and the spanwise flap sections to approximate the wing shape of the at least one wing to the deflection of the at least one wing;
identify or determine one or more aeroelastic modes for modal suppression;
and
determine a deflection of the at least one wing of the air vehicle based at least in part on the aeroelastic modes.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable camber continuous aerodynamic control surfaces and methods for active wing shaping control

Life of this patent

Variable camber continuous aerodynamic control surfaces and methods for active wing shaping control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18