Shape-changing UAV morphs autonomously
NextGen Aeronautics has completed the first autonomous flights of a morphing unmanned air vehicle. The 135kg (300lb), twin-jet MFX-2 technology demonstrator is capable of independently varying wing area and sweep using an articulating structure and flexible skin. Area can change by 40%, span by 73% and aspect ratio by 177%. In five flights in California, the MFX-2 morphed from one configuration to another in about 10s, with the turn-radius ratio between extreme configurations exceeding 2:1, the company says. The use of morphing for manoeuvring is being investigated by Torrance-based NextGen under a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract.
nextgenaero.com
Urban closes on VTOL Mule power choice
Israel's Urban Aeronautics is close to selecting an engine for its Mule ducted-fan combat resupply and medevac unmanned air vehicle prototype, planned to fly at the end of 2008. The 5.8m (19ft)-long, 2.2m-wide vertical take-off and landing UAV will have a maximum take-off weight of 1,100kg (2,400lb) and be capable of lifting a 400kg payload. Powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C30 or Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft, the autonomous Mule will have a maximum speed of 80-100kt (150-185km/h) using a system of louvres and vanes to direct thrust from tandem ducted fans. The VTOL UAV will have an 8,000ft altitude and 2-4h endurance.
urbanaero.com
Pollux to follow Castor's balloon plunge
Italian aerospace research centre CIRA plans to drop-test its second Unmanned Space Vehicle (USV), called Pollux, between January and March 2008. Analysis of the February 2007 flight of the first USV, Castor, showed the transonic drop test achieved 80% of its goals, CIRA says, validating the aerodynamic design and reliability of the automatic guidance, navigation and control system. Dropped from 25km altitude by a stratospheric balloon over Sardinia, Pollux will reach Mach 1.2, versus M1.07 for Castor, then manoeuvre to decelerate to M0.2 and deploy a parachute for a splashdown recovery. The USV project is demonstrating technology for resuable space vehicles.
cira.it
AI software will mine safety data
Artificial-intelligence software able to interrogate gigabytes of recorded flight data to reveal safety-related patterns in aircraft operations is to be developed by UK flight data monitoring service provider Flight Data Services (FDS) and the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) with a grant from the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. "We know that hidden in the raw data are clues that will allow airlines to fly more safely, but the information is very difficult to extract. With this grant the IIR can bring a specialist mathematician into the team to tackle this difficult problem," says FDS managing director Dave Jesse.
flightdataservices.com
NASA technology exchange conference to encourage dialogue
Sustainable and affordable human and robotic lunar operations and outpost technology will be the focus of the NASA exploration systems mission directorate's technology exchange conference, being held from 14-15 November in Galveston, Texas. The goal of the conference is to open a dialogue between NASA, industry, academia, the US Department of Defense and other government agencies on capabilities, needs and potential technologies for expanded space exploration.
exploration.nasa.gov
Source: Flight International
