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2004 NASA/DoD Conference on Evolvable Hardware (EH'04)
Solid State Aircraft Concept Overview
Seattle, Washington, USA
June 24-June 26
ISBN: 0-7695-2145-2
Anthony Colozza, OAI/Northland Scientific, Inc.
Mohsen Shahinpoor, University of New Mexico
Phillip Jenkins, Ohio Aerospace Institute
Curtis Smith, Ohio Aerospace Institute
Kakkattukuzhy Isaac, University of Missouri-Rolla
Teryn DalBello, University of Toledo
Due to recent advances in polymers, photovoltaics, and batteries a unique type of aircraft may be feasible. This is a "solid-state" aircraft, with no conventional mechanical moving parts. Airfoil, propulsion, energy production, energy storage and control are combined in an integrated structure.
The key material of this concept is an ionic polymeric-metal composite (IPMC) that provides source of control and propulsion. This material has the unique capability of deforming in an electric field and returning to its original shape when the field is removed. Combining the IPMC with thin-film batteries and thin-film photovoltaics provides both energy source and storage in the same structure.
The characteristics of the materials enables flapping motion of the wing to be utilized to generate the main propulsive force. Analysis shows that a number of design configurations can be produced to enable flight over a range of latitudes on Earth, Venus and possibly Mars.
Citation:
Anthony Colozza, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Phillip Jenkins, Curtis Smith, Kakkattukuzhy Isaac, Teryn DalBello, "Solid State Aircraft Concept Overview," eh, pp.318, 2004 NASA/DoD Conference on Evolvable Hardware (EH'04), 2004
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