The German Aerospace Center team has tested a wing that changes shape during flight. Instead of conventional flaps and ailerons, a special flexible trailing edge is used, controlled by artificial intelligence. The tests have already been successfully conducted on the PROTEUS drone.
What’s important to understand?
- The HyTEM technology has been developed, featuring 10 actuators per wing that change the airfoil profile without gaps.
- The smooth surface reduces aerodynamic drag and optimizes lift.
- The wing operates as a single integrated system, increasing reliability and distributing loads evenly.
- Artificial intelligence controls the shape in real time, enabling compensation for potential damage.
- The morphAIR solution introduces a flexible trailing edge that replaces traditional control surfaces.
The Bottom Line
This solution allows UAVs to adapt to changing conditions mid-flight, reducing fuel consumption, improving safety, and maintaining stability even in the presence of damage.