Systems and method for active control of stationary vortices for aerodynamic structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for active control of vortices over a solid surface includes: generating vortices proximate to the solid surface; sensing locations of vortices by printed skin sensors; and maintaining the vortices in their fixed spanwise positions with respect to the solid surface by actuation of printed skin actuators.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an airfoil structure. The airfoil structure includes a plurality of airfoils, a support for supporting the airfoils, and a case for covering the airfoils. Each airfoil includes an airfoil body, and an airflow generator for producing induced airflow by generating plasma. The method includes a process of forming the airflow generator that includes a first electrode forming step of forming a first electrode on the airfoil body, a dielectric layer forming step of forming a dielectric layer on the airfoil body by forming ceramic powder into a film to cover the first electrode through room temperature impact consolidation, and a second electrode forming step of forming a second electrode on a surface of the dielectric layer, such that the second electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode, and an alternating-current voltage is applied to the second electrode.

A plasma plate is used to minimize drag of a fluid flow over an exposed surface. The plasma plate includes a series of plasma actuators positioned on the surface. Each plasma actuator is made of a dielectric separating a first electrode exposed to a fluid flow and a second electrode separated from the fluid flow under the dielectric. A pulsed direct current power supply provides a first voltage to the first electrode and a second voltage to the second electrode. The series of plasma actuators is operably connected to a bus which distribute powers and is positioned to minimize flow disturbances. The plasma actuators are arranged into a series of linear rows such that a velocity component is imparted to the fluid flow.

An assembly for arrangement to the surface of an aerodynamic profile comprises an array of actuators, which are designed as piezo actuators and plasma actuators.

An airflow separation detecting method includes: applying an alternating-current voltage having a predetermined voltage value to a plasma actuator, the plasma actuator being disposed on a part of a surface of an object; and detecting that separation, from the surface of the object, of an airflow flowing on the surface of the object is occurring, in a case where an absolute value of a temporal variation rate of an electric power consumption value of the plasma actuator or an absolute value of a temporal variation rate of a current value of the plasma actuator is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the temporal variation rate being a rate of variation relative to time, the electric power consumption value or the current value of the plasma actuator being measured under application of the alternating-current voltage having the predetermined voltage value to the plasma actuator.

An airflow adjusting apparatus includes two or more airflow generators and a controller. The airflow generators are arranged in first and second directions along a surface of an object. The airflow generators are configured to generate respective airflows in parallel directions parallel along the surface of the object. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The controller is configured to control outputs from the respective airflow generators independently of each other. The controller is configured to cause a total output from the airflow generators in a first group to be greater than a total output of the airflow generators in a second group. The airflow generators in the first and the second groups are arranged side by side in an airflow generation direction. The airflow generators in the second group are adjacent to those in the first group.

An airflow adjusting apparatus to be installed in a vehicle includes two or more outward airflow generators and a controller. The outward airflow generators are disposed side by side in a vehicle front-rear direction in vicinity of an outer edge in a vehicle widthwise direction on an upper surface of a vehicle body on a front side of a windshield. The outward airflow generators are each configured to form an outward airflow with respect to the vehicle body. The outward airflow flows in a direction that is toward an outer side in the vehicle widthwise direction and toward a rear side of the vehicle. The controller is configured to control the outward airflow generators.

An airflow adjusting apparatus includes an airflow generator, a state detector, and a controller. The airflow generator is configured to generate a control airflow to cause the control airflow to join an around-vehicle airflow formed around a vehicle body of a traveling vehicle. The airflow generator is configured to vary a flow direction of the control airflow with respect to a surface of the vehicle body. The state detector is configured to detect a state of the around-vehicle airflow. The controller is configured to vary the flow direction of the control airflow on the basis of the state of the around-vehicle airflow detected by the state detector.

An airflow adjusting apparatus to be installed in a vehicle includes an airflow generator and a controller. The airflow generator is provided on an inner surface of a wheel house or on a wheel. The wheel house provides a wheel containing section of a vehicle body. The wheel is contained in the wheel containing section. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow that flows from the wheel containing section toward outer side in a vehicle widthwise direction. The controller is configured to control the airflow generator.

Provided are: an adhesive sheet-shaped member for airflow, in an optimum form that can improve fuel efficiency and travel performance as a result of more effectively suppressing a large airflow separation phenomenon that becomes air resistance; and a travel vehicle using the same. A sheet-shaped member that is: provided thinly so as to prevent, as far as possible, the thickness thereof providing air resistance; adhered to a surface in contact with an airflow provided by a material that charges negative static electricity; formed in a long sheet shape in a flow direction of airflow, compared to the width direction of the airflow, so as to be adhered along the direction of the airflow; and provided using a material that charges a negative static electricity and has a different ease of static electrical charge than the surface in contact with the airflow.