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.

Systems, equipment, and methods to deposit energy to modify and control air flow, lift, and drag, in relation to air vehicles, and methods for seeding flow instabilities at the leading edges of control surfaces, primarily through shockwave generation through deposition of laser energy at a distance.

An aircraft active flow control dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device may include a machinable ceramic dielectric support having an aerodynamic surface shaped to form an exposed flush part of an airfoil surface on an aircraft. The DBD device may include at least two electrodes configured to be oppositely charged and spaced apart from each other on the dielectric support.

A method, apparatus, and system for mitigating undesired effects of a vehicle traveling at a speed greater than a critical Mach number for the vehicle. Ultraviolet energy is generated using a plurality of ultraviolet energy sources associated with an interior structure of the vehicle that travels at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle. The ultraviolet energy is transported from the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources past an exterior of the vehicle around a selected location of the vehicle. A plasma is created around the selected location to mitigate the undesired effects of the vehicle traveling at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle.

A method, apparatus, and system for mitigating undesired effects of a vehicle traveling at a speed greater than a critical Mach number for the vehicle. Ultraviolet energy is generated using a plurality of ultraviolet energy sources associated with an interior structure of the vehicle that travels at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle. The ultraviolet energy is transported from the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources past an exterior of the vehicle around a selected location of the vehicle. A plasma is created around the selected location to mitigate the undesired effects of the vehicle traveling at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle.

A voltage application device of an embodiment applies a voltage between a first and second electrode disposed separately from each other in an airflow generation device, which is disposed on a rotation blade of a rotation apparatus, in which a rotation shaft of the rotation blade is held rotatably by a holding part. In the voltage application device of the embodiment, a voltage output unit outputs a voltage. Then, a sliding type transmission unit having electrodes disposed respectively on the rotation blade side and the holding part side of the rotation shaft transmits a voltage outputted from the voltage output unit from the holding part side to the rotation blade side. Then, a transformation unit disposed on the rotation blade side increases the voltage transmitted by the sliding type transmission unit and outputs the voltage to the airflow generation device.

A plasma-assisted synthetic jet device, an aircraft including a plasma-assisted synthetic jet device, and a method of improving aerodynamic properties are disclosed for providing air flow control at an aerodynamic structure by ionizing one or more gases exiting through an aperture of the synthetic jet device disposed in the aerodynamic structure.

An aircraft active flow control dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device may include a machinable ceramic dielectric support having an aerodynamic surface shaped to form an exposed flush part of an airfoil surface on an aircraft. The DBD device may include at least two electrodes configured to be oppositely charged and spaced apart from each other on the dielectric support.

A microelectronic module for influencing a flow of a fluid is provided. The module comprises at least one voltage converter for converting a provided first voltage into a higher, lower, or identical second voltage. The module also comprises at least one active flow-influencing element for influencing the direction and/or the speed of a fluid which is flowing around and/or over the flow-influencing element. At least the voltage converter and the active flow-influencing element are disposed on a thin-film, planar substrate. The influencing of the direction and/or the speed of the fluid is dependent on a hydrodynamic acceleration as a function of the second voltage provided by the voltage converter at the flow-influencing element.

A multilayered active surface is presented whose rugosity can be controlled by an applied electrical field. Varying the applied electrical field can control the rugosity of the surface which makes contact with a fluid, and thereby can affect instabilities of the boundary layer. A middle layer of the multilayered active surface can be made of a compliant electroactive material. In some cases, a pre-stretch in the middle layer can predefine a rugosity of the multilayered active surface without an applied electrical field, in which case an applied electrical field can further alter the rugosity in both amplitude and spatial periodicity and ultimately result to a smooth surface for a higher value of the applied electrical field. A top layer and a bottom layer are constructed using conductive material and uses as electrodes coupled to a voltage source to generate the electric field that controls the rugosity of the surface.