Solid State Aircraft Animation

Due to the recent advancements in photovoltaics, batteries, and polymer materials, a unique type of unmanned aircraft may be feasible. This is an artist’s rendering of a “solid state” aircraft (SSA) with no moving parts. The unique structure combines aerodynamic lift, propulsion, energy collection, energy storage and control.  Thin-film solar arrays are used to collect sunlight and produce power that is stored in a thin-film lithium battery. This power is used to fly the aircraft by setting up an electromagnetic field (EMF) along the wing of the vehicle. The wing, made with ionic polymeric-metal composite (IPMC) synthetic muscles, bends in the presence of this EMF producing the desired flapping motion. This aircraft would fly in a similar fashion to a hawk or an eagle. It would glide for long distances and flap infrequently to regain altitude. The solid-state nature of the aircraft allows it to be very robust, extremely lightweight and capable of flight unlike any other present day air vehicle.

This video is for educational purposes only. For more information on solid state aircraft reference this pdf.

Entomopters: Unmanned Flying Martian Explorers

This animation illustrates the concept of how Entomopters, an unmanned air vehicle with a three-foot wing span, would reach and interact with the surface of Mars. With similar agility as an insect, the Entomopter is being developed through the support of NASA’s Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), as a potential way to fly within the Martian atmosphere. Robert Michelson, the inventor of the concept, explains the term, Entomopter, (entomo as in entomology and pteron meaning wing or a “winged insect machine) was born as an internal research and development program within the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Michelson has worked on an Earth-based Entomopter, while Anthony Colozza is the principal investigator for the Mars-based application.  Project collaborators at the University of Cambridge in England had been studying the wing flapping aerodynamics of the Hawk Moth (manduca sexta) for a quarter century.  The initial wing design for the Entomopter was based on that of the Hawk Moth because of its efficiency at slow flight.

 The Entomopter consists of a central fuselage which houses the propulsion system, fuel and all instrumentation. On top to the tubular fuselage are two sets of wings that oscillate 180° out of phase. These wings provide the flapping motion that generates the lift for the vehicle. Beneath the vehicle are spring loaded legs that absorb energy during landing, assist in takeoffs and stabilize the vehicle while on the ground. The most promising scenario is to utilize the Entomopter in conjunction with a rover. The rover would be capable of slowly moving over the Martian surface, while the Entomopters fly off to investigate areas inaccessible to the rover.

This video is for educational purposes only. (Credit: NIAC)

For more information about Entomopters, click here.