Microactuators, smart materials and MEMS
Microactuators for flight control
New concepts for micro-activated flight control are investigated for
operation in both subsonic and supersonic flight regimes. A successful
concept can provide an inexpensive flight control device with high
frequency response and many control redundancies, and it can reduce
size, weight, drag forces and energy consumption of the control system.
Extensive preliminary work has indicated a delta wing of 3 mm base by 4 mm
height, which can be deployed and activated at a location on the ogive
of the projectile or at the beginning of its cylindrical afterbody can
generate side forces of magnitude about 4 percent of the drag. During
transient deployment of these micro activated delta wings the forces
generated are expected to be higher than in a static operation and
therefore they are more suitable for terminal flight path correction.
