NASA Tests Shape Memory Alloy to Fold Aircraft Wings in Flight

The ability to fold wings in flight has been dependent on heavy and bulky conventional motors and hydraulic systems, which can be cumbersome to aircraft. As part of the Spanwise Adaptive Wing project, NASA  has successfully applied a lightweight shape memory alloy in flight that allows aircraft to fold their wings to different angles while in the air. The shape memory alloy is built into to an actuator on the aircraft, which plays a vital role for moving parts on the airplane, where it has the ability to fold the outer portion of an aircraft’s wings in flight without the strain of a heavy hydraulic system. Systems with this new technology may weigh up to 80 percent less than traditional systems. The shape memory alloy is triggered by temperature, and works by using thermal memory in a tube to move and function as an actuator. Upon being heated, the alloy would activate a twisting motion in the tubes, which ultimately moves the wing’s outer portion up or down.

Transcript

00:00:01 [sound of cart rolling] Crew Chief, let's go for left engine start BGT good [sound of jet engine] stabalized good...both sides Good to go, lock her up I need a go no go for take off Payload?...Payload's Go Aero Controls?...Aero Controls Go

00:01:24 Antenna?...Antenna's Go GSO?...GSO is Go Crew Chief?...Crew Chief is Go EP?...Go She's all yours OK, air speeds 16, 25 Full power, 30 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 Rudder doublet, maneuver 4 entering turn here left and right coupled

00:02:25 enable left actuator both enabled [mission chatter] 80 78 77 75 72, 70, 65 64, 60

00:03:01 58 55 50 [sound of engines winding down]