A vortex generator arrangement comprising a section that defines an opening to a corresponding cavity, an aircraft airflow modification device disposed within the cavity, and at least one fluidic muscle actuator arrangement coupled to the airflow modification device.

A wing comprising a leading edge forming a caisson delimited by a wall and an electrically conductive skin forming a lower surface and an upper surface and pierced with holes. A pump is provided to suck the air present in the caisson and/or to inject air into the caisson. The wing includes a voltage generator. Each hole is equipped with an anti-clogging system which comprises an electrically conductive electrode, an electrically insulating body having a stem which lodges in the hole and which has a central orifice in which the electrode lodges. The outer face of the stem has at least one tooth, where each tooth protrudes from the outer face of the stem and extends over the height of the stem. The at least one tooth is distributed around the stem so as to create at least one channel.

Provided are flight control mechanisms, such as omnidirectional thrust mechanisms (OTMs), and methods of using such mechanisms. These mechanisms may be positioned in wings, tails, or other components of aircraft. A mechanism may comprise a center member and top and bottom panels. The center member may comprise two curved segments joint at a center edge. The top and bottom panels may be independently pivotable relative to the center member. At high speeds, the top panel and/or the bottom panel may be pivoted outward to change the lift, drag, roll, and/or other flight conditions. The mechanism may also include a gas nozzle to direct compressed gas to the center member. The center member and/or the top and bottom panels redirect this gas resulting in forces in one of four directions, which are used for controlling the aircraft at low speeds, down to hover.

Provided are flight control mechanisms, such as omnidirectional thrust mechanisms (OTMs), and methods of using such mechanisms. These mechanisms may be positioned in wings, tails, or other components of aircraft. A mechanism may comprise a center member and top and bottom panels. The center member may comprise two curved segments joint at a center edge. The top and bottom panels may be independently pivotable relative to the center member. At high speeds, the top panel and/or the bottom panel may be pivoted outward to change the lift, drag, roll, and/or other flight conditions. The mechanism may also include a gas nozzle to direct compressed gas to the center member. The center member and/or the top and bottom panels redirect this gas resulting in forces in one of four directions, which are used for controlling the aircraft at low speeds, down to hover.

A system for hybrid propulsion for an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine having a power shaft. A motor generator is operatively connected to the power shaft of the gas turbine engine and configured to produce electric power. An electric propulsion motor is configured to receive the electric power and be selectively driven at an operational speed independent of a rotational speed of the power shaft.

A boundary layer propulsor comprises a rotor and a plurality of first aerofoil blades. The rotor has an axis of rotation. The plurality of first aerofoil blades extends radially from the rotor and is arranged in a circumferential array around the axis of rotation. Each of the first aerofoil blades has, in a radially outward sequence, a radially proximal portion, a middle portion, and a radially distal portion. The radially proximal portion has a first cambered cross-section, the middle portion has a second uncambered cross-section, and the radially distal portion has a third cambered cross-section. The first cambered cross-section is cambered in an opposite sense to the third cambered cross-section.

This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.

An aircraft structure component for laminar flow, the aircraft structure component having an outer skin with an aerodynamic surface, wherein the aerodynamic surface has a leading edge portion and a downstream portion adjacently downstream from the leading edge portion, and wherein the downstream portion of the aerodynamic surface includes a paint layer that is not present in the leading edge portion, so that an edge line is formed between the leading edge portion and the downstream portion by the beginning paint layer. An object, to provide an aircraft structure component that allows for a reduced aerodynamic drag, is achieved in that the edge line has a ramp-shaped cross section, wherein the thickness of the paint layer increases from a starting point over a predetermined ramp length to a saturation point where the full thickness of the paint layer is reached.

A system for reducing thermal barrier of hypersonic aero vehicle is disclosed, wherein the obelisk shaped hypersonic aero vehicle is covered by combined multiple long and narrow plates. Across the plates, roller bearings are placed and spaced in short distance. The air frictions across the roller bearings of the hypersonic aero vehicle consecutively and the coefficient of friction is 0.002. The heat of the air friction is just normal and does not cause the thermal barrier and melting. The system improves the speed and reduces the energy consumption significantly.

The advantages of the system are: 1. reducing the thermal barrier with innovative structure; 2. solving the problem of thermal barrier which is common for conventional hypersonic aero vehicle.

An aircraft including a fuselage and an aft engine is provided. The fuselage extends from a forward end of the aircraft towards an aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine is mounted to the fuselage proximate the aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the aft engine, the fan including a plurality of fan blades. The aft engine also includes a nacelle surrounding the plurality of fan blades and defining an inlet. The inlet defines a non-axis symmetric shape with respect to the central axis of the aft engine to, e.g., allow for a maximum amount of airflow into the aft engine.