Smart Aircraft Wings Constructed via Reconfigurable Metamaterials

Traditional airplane wings operate via an intricate system, including rigid control surfaces, motors, cables, and
hydraulics. Wings can deform, e.g., slide and tilt rigid control surfaces, to control airflow passing over them.
Though with high reliability, traditional wings are heavy. A lighter alternative is smart wings constructed via
morphable materials, such as shape memory alloys/polymers or morphable meta-materials. Assembled from
morphable meta-materials, smart wings can change shapes to control the plane’s flight and significantly boost
aircraft production, flight, and maintenance efficiency. However, associated research on the morphing actuating
of meta-materials has lagged behind, holding meta-materials from wider industrial applications. This MITACS
GRA project will develop smart aircraft wings constructed via reconfigurable smart meta-materials.

Faculty Supervisor:

Hang Xu

Student:

Partner:

Politecnico di Torino

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

Concordia University

Program: