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Dynamical systems, such as aircraft, are increasingly being adapted to achieve higher levels of performance. The continuing maturation of materials technology allows many systems to consider changing shape, or morphing, to increase performance. The concept of morphing is relatively straightforward in that internal elements reconfigure themselves such that the system can be significantly altered during operation.
Several major programs have investigated the concept of morphing. The performance of aircraft has been a topic of particular emphasis for several organizations such as NASA and DARPA. Studies have clearly shown that many performance metrics, such as fuel efficiency, can be improved by changing the shape of the aircraft based on the speed and altitude of the flight. In this sense, morphing is considered an enabling technology for achieving mission capability.
Morphing is actually a concept presented by nature. Many biological systems undergo dramatic shape changes to help them survive. Birds are an especially relevant source of information for morphing. Obviously birds flap their wings during flight but they also undergo several types of morphing. One type of morphing is rotating the wing at the elbow and shoulder. Another type of morphing is flexing the muscles to change the orientation of the feathers. As such, morphing is actually a biologically-inspired technology.
The research is conducted using small and micro air vehicles (MAV) which are characterized by a wing span less than 2 feet. These vehicles are lightweight, durable, inexpensive, and easily transported so they are ideal for testbeds. Most importantly, a MAV has similar size and airspeed as a bird; consequently, morphing used by birds is naturally suited for a MAV.
Mission
The Center for Morphing Control is a research collaboration
among faculty at the University of Florida. The Center provides
a common foundation to bring together researchers with expertise
from several disciplines. The initial team includes investigators
from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The funding for the research comes
from a variety of organizations and covers a broad range of
applications.
The mission of the Center is to investigate issues related
to control of a morphing system. Specifically, the Center
studies the dynamical effects related to morphing.
- modeling the time-varying dynamics during morphing
- designing nonlinear controllers to utilize morphing
- constructing experimental testbeds to demonstrate morphing
Highlights
The team performed a demonstration for the United States House of Representatives in the Rayburn Building in Washington, D.C. on February 23, 2007. They were selected to participate at a reception to welcome the new Congress and express support for funding within science and technology. This reception was held in the afternoon hours prior to the State of the Union address. At the reception, the team met with lawmakers and staffers along with military and government officials. They brought several morphing aircraft for hand-held demonstrations and even flew some scaled replicas in a Congressional chamber.