A wing member (14b) for an air vehicle (10), said wing member comprising a core section (20) defining its longitudinal axis and having upper and lower surfaces, at least one of said surfaces comprising apparatus (22) selectively configurable between at least two positions, wherein in a fully extended position, at least portions of said apparatus extend outwardly from said respective surface so as to increase the effective cross-sectional area of said wing member and define an effective aerofoil in respect thereof.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure is provided. The structure includes an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and encapsulating at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid exerting an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure. A method of retrofitting a structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure, the structure comprising an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and having at least one interior volume is also provided. The method includes sealing the elongate body to encapsulate the at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid; associating at least one valve with the at least one interior volume; and modifying interior fluid content via the at least one valve to produce an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure.

A shape-morphing ultralight structure using materials that dramatically increase the efficiency of load-bearing aerostructures that includes a programmable material system applied as a large-scale, ultralight, and conformable (shape-morphing) aeroelastic structure. The use of a modular, lattice-based, ultralight material results in stiffness and density typical of an elastomer. This, combined with a building block-based manufacturing and configuration strategy, enables the rapid realization of new adaptive structures and mechanisms. The heterogeneous design with programmable anisotropy allows for enhanced elastic and global shape deformation in response to external loading, making it useful for tuned fluid-structure interaction. The present invention demonstrates an example application experiment using two building block types for the primary structure of a 4.27 m wingspan aircraft with spatially programed elastic shape morphing to increase aerodynamic efficiency.

A morphing airfoil system includes an airfoil having a bulkhead structured to form a leading edge of the airfoil. A first spool is rotatably coupled to the bulkhead, and a second spool is rotatably coupled to the bulkhead opposite the first spool. An airfoil skin has a first end secured to the first spool, a second end secured to the second spool, and a portion extending between the first and second spools to form an exterior surface of the airfoil. The airfoil skin is structured to be windable around the first and second spools such that a configuration of the airfoil is controllable by rotating at least one of the first spool and the second spool so as to wind a portion of the airfoil skin around, or unwind a portion of the airfoil skin from, the at least one of the first spool and the second spool.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure is provided. The structure includes an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and encapsulating at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid exerting an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure. A method of retrofitting a structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure, the structure comprising an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and having at least one interior volume is also provided. The method includes sealing the elongate body to encapsulate the at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid; associating at least one valve with the at least one interior volume; and modifying interior fluid content via the at least one valve to produce an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure.

Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Systems, methods, and apparatus may actively adjust the position and/or configuration of one or more propeller blades of a propulsion mechanism to generate different sounds and/or lifting forces from the propulsion mechanism.

A fluid control system includes a deformable surface that covers a body in at least a first and second direction. The first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. The deformable surface includes a bottom side that faces the body and a top side that is opposite the bottom side. The fluid control system also includes at least one deformer between the deformable surface and the body. The at least one deformer is configured to modify a boundary layer of a fluid that is flowing over the deformable surface by selectively deforming the top side of the surface.

Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Systems, methods, and apparatus may actively adjust the position and/or configuration of one or more propeller blades of a propulsion mechanism to generate different sounds and/or lifting forces from the propulsion mechanism.

Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Systems, methods, and apparatus may actively adjust the position and/or configuration of one or more propeller blades of a propulsion mechanism to generate different sounds and/or lifting forces from the propulsion mechanism.

An aircraft flight surface deicing system includes an electromagnetic field generator and a deicing boot configured for attachment to an aircraft flight surface. The boot includes: one or more inflation regions including a first inflation region; one or more magnetic fluid reservoirs in fluid communication with the first inflation region, the one or more fluid reservoirs including a first fluid reservoir; a magnetic fluid contained in a combination of the first inflation regions and the one or more magnetic fluid reservoirs. In a first state, the magnetic fluid is contained in the first fluid reservoir and, in a deicing state, the electromagnetic field generator generates one or more fields that cause the magnetic fluid to exit the first fluid reservoir and travels along a length of the inflation region.