'Bat wings' respond to a gust of wind

摘要

Bat wing-like membranes that change their shape in response to prevailing wind conditions have been tested in-flight, taking them a step closer to use in micro air vehicles (MAVs)- The membranes have no mechanical parts and alter their shape in response to the forces acting on them, making them more efficient and easier to maintain than traditional rigid wings. The membrane wings are being developed through a combination of experimental research at Southampton University and computational modelling at Imperial College, with funding from EPSRC and the United States Air Force European Office of Aerospace Research and Development.