Abstract:
A vehicle having a main body (504), a primary airfoil (503) coupled to the main body, a gas generator (501) coupled to the main body and producing a gas stream, a conduit (505) fluidly coupled to the generator, an ejector (502) fluidly coupled to the conduit and embedded in the primary airfoil, the ejector comprising an outlet structure out of which the gas stream flows at a predetermined adjustable velocity and a secondary airfoil (506) having a leading edge (507) and located directly downstream of the outlet structure such that the gas stream from the ejector flows over the leading edge of the secondary airfoil.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a ceramic component is disclosed. The method may comprise: 1) forming a polymer template having a shape that is an inverse of a shape of the ceramic component, 2) placing the polymer template in a mold; 3) injecting the polymer template with a ceramic slurry, 4) firing the ceramic slurry at a temperature to produce a green body, and 5) sintering the green body at an elevated temperature to provide the ceramic component.
Abstract:
An airfoil is disclosed. The airfoil may comprise a leading edge, a body portion and a trailing edge formed from a high-modulus plating. The body portion of the airfoil may be formed from a material having a lower elastic modulus than the high-modulus plating. The high-modulus plating may improve the stiffness of the trailing edge, allowing for thinner trailing edges with improved fatigue life to be formed.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a ceramic component is disclosed. The method may comprise: 1) forming a polymer template having a shape that is an inverse of a shape of the ceramic component, 2) placing the polymer template in a mold; 3) injecting the polymer template with a ceramic slurry, 4) firing the ceramic slurry at a temperature to produce a green body, and 5) sintering the green body at an elevated temperature to provide the ceramic component.
Abstract:
Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.
Abstract:
An aircraft (10) includes a fuselage (12) having a longitudinal axis (20), a wing assembly(24), and a fuselage positioning mechanism (50) operatively connecting the fuselage to the wing assembly. The fuselage positioning mechanism is operable to move the fuselage relative to the wing assembly in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis between a fuselage maximum forward position and a fuselage maximum aft position. When preparing the aircraft for flight, a position of a center of gravity of the aircraft relative to a center of lift is determined. The fuselage can be moved relative to the wing assembly to bring the center of gravity within an allowable range of distances from the center of lift to balance the aircraft for flight. The fuselage positioning mechanism can be automated to allow adjustment of the fuselage position during the flight of the aircraft.
Abstract:
A propulsion system for a vehicle (700), the system including a primary airfoil (701) coupled to the vehicle, a first augmenting airfoil (702) coupled to the vehicle and positioned downstream of fluid flowing over the primary airfoil, the first augmenting airfoil comprising a first output structure and at least one first conduit coupled to the first output structure, the at least one first conduit configured to introduce to the first output structure a primary fluid produced by the vehicle, the first output structure comprising a first terminal end configured to provide egress for the introduced primary fluid toward the primary airfoil and out of the first augmenting airfoil and a secondary airfoil (1010) located directly downstream of the first augmenting airfoil such that the fluid flowing over the primary airfoil and the primary fluid from the first augmenting airfoil flows over the secondary airfoil.
Abstract:
A vehicle having a main body (504), a primary airfoil (503) coupled to the main body, a gas generator (501) coupled to the main body and producing a gas stream, a conduit (505) fluidly coupled to the generator, an ejector (502) fluidly coupled to the conduit and embedded in the primary airfoil, the ejector comprising an outlet structure out of which the gas stream flows at a predetermined adjustable velocity and a secondary airfoil (506) having a leading edge (507) and located directly downstream of the outlet structure such that the gas stream from the ejector flows over the leading edge of the secondary airfoil.
Abstract:
A vehicle having a main body (504), a primary airfoil (503) coupled to the main body, a gas generator (501) coupled to the main body and producing a gas stream, a conduit (505) fluidly coupled to the generator, an ejector (502) fluidly coupled to the conduit and embedded in the primary airfoil, the ejector comprising an outlet structure out of which the gas stream flows at a predetermined adjustable velocity and a secondary airfoil (506) having a leading edge (507) and located directly downstream of the outlet structure such that the gas stream from the ejector flows over the leading edge of the secondary airfoil.
Abstract:
An aerial vehicle (100) includes a fuselage (120), a wing (110), and a wing shift device (150). The wing shift device (150) is configured to be coupled to the fuselage (120). The wing shift device (150) comprises plurality of apertures (Fig. 2, 215, 305) for coupling the wing (110) to the aerial vehicle (100). The plurality of apertures (Fig. 2, 215, 305) are configured to permit the wing (110) to be shifted in a forward or aft direction along the fuselage (120) based on a center of gravity (160) of the aerial vehicle (100).