A new type of wing quadruples the flight time of small drones

The research team has developed a new wing design, which simultaneously provides high flight efficiency and resistance to turbulence.

UAVs of various types are gradually reduced insizes, which makes them more functional and affordable. However, the problems of low aerodynamic efficiency, susceptibility to gusts of wind and turbulence persist. At the same time, efficiency and strength are inverse factors.

Scientists from Brown University and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausannepresented a prototype of a small (100 grams) drone with wings of a new type, which can fly continuously for almost 3 hours, which is four times higher than the performance of devices with standard wings.

They borrowed the essence of the idea of ​​a new design fromsmall birds and insects that use the controlled separation of the air flow on the front of the wing to increase resistance to turbulence from third-party objects.

The wing model they developed isa flat sheet of rectangular plywood, where the corners provoke the separation of the flow on the front. Above the front of the wing there is a zone of divided turbulent flow, and behind it there is a rounded valve hanging from the trailing edge, which pulls the stream down when air moving over the plate is accelerated to pass over the valve.

Moreover, the aspect ratio of the wing 1:6 not only compensates for the loss of aerodynamic efficiency from separation, but also allows you to make them strong enough to withstand yourself. The large thickness also allows batteries to be placed inside to discard the fuselage.

However, researchers note the difficultyfurther optimization of such a design, since modern modeling tools cannot cope with the complex aerodynamics of a wing with a separate flow.

The birds also inspired the designers of aerospace giant Airbus, which unveiled the concept last year airplane with feathers.

</p>