Page 92 - Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

The New Objective in Aeronautics: A Wing that Changes
Shape According to Prevailing Conditions

As they fly, birds can use their wings in the most efficient way possi-
ble, automatically changing to deal with factors like temperature and
wind. Currently, companies engaged in airplane technology are actively
seeking to develop designs that make use of these features.
NASA, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force have designed a flexible wing,
made of glass fibers, that can change its shape according to data from a
computer inside the plane. This computer will also be able to process da-
ta from measuring equipment regarding flight conditions such as tem-
perature, wind force, etc. 64
Airbus, another firm working in this field, is trying to build adaptive
wings that can change shape according to prevailing
conditions, in order to reduce fuel con-
sumption as much as possible. 65
In short, birds’ wing struc-
tures are literally a marvel
of design. For many
years, their match-
less ability in fly-
ing has been a
Birds’ wing struc- source of
tures are a marvel of de-
sign. By their masterful use of
the exact same wing structure, a
bird can manage to fly in heat or cold, in
windy or still conditions. This feature attracted
scientists’ attention and led them to try to produce
a wing that could change shape according to changing
conditions. The picture shows a cross-section of a wing
designed with that purpose in mind.

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