The idea of a plane that can change shape mid-flight might sound like a character from the latest Transformers blockbuster, but it’s become a reality thanks to NASA .
Working with researchers from MIT, NASA has created a new type of airplane wing, that can change shape to control the plane's fight.
The innovative wing incorporates a mix of stiff and flexible components, which make it possible to deform the whole wing.
Each component is bolted to the next to form an open, lightweight lattice framework, resulting in a wing that’s much lighter and energy efficient than conventional designs.
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For example, the new wing has a density of 5.6kg per cubic metre, while rubber has a density of about 1,500kg per cubic metre.
The wing can change shape based on the stage of flight, with different configurations for takeoff, landing, cruising and manoeuvring.
Nicholas Cramer, co-author of the study, said: “We’re able to gain efficiency by matching the shape to the loads at different angles of attack.
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“We’re able to produce the exact same behaviour you would do actively, but we did it passively.”
The current prototype is around five metres long - around the size of the wing on a real single-seater plane.
And while it was hand-assembled by researchers, NASA says that wings could be built by basic robots in the future.
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Daniel Campbell, a researcher at Aurora Flight Sciences,who was not involved in this research, said: “The research shows promise for reducing cost and increasing the performance for large, light weight, stiff structures.
“Most promising near-term applications are structural applications for airships and space-based structures, such as antennas."
