Future aircraft will contain active flow control technology with the objective to improve the flow over the surface of wings, and so to decrease the fuel consumption.
Large benefits are expected from the installation of pulsed jet actuators in Fowler flaps at the rear side. These actuators require transport of pressurised air and electricity from the fixed wing box to the movable flap.
In co-operation with GKN Fokker and Twente University a flexible arm has been developed that can be used for the transition of robust flexible cables (for providing power and control data to actuators as well as transmitting sensor data) and tubing (for providing air pressure to fluidic actuators) between the fixed part of the aircraft and the movable part. This wing movable transition is demonstrated as part of the Integrated Active Component Demonstrator.
This demonstrator has also been used to verify installation of compact cabling, and an Electro-Mechanical Actuator for driving the flap.
The research has been carried out in the context of EU’s Clean Sky programme, theme ‘Advances in Wings, Aerodynamics and Flight Dynamics’, subject ‘Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft’.
Post time: Jun-12-2017