Keyword: Aerodynamics

Briefs: Aerospace
Following nature's example, Lufthansa Technik and BASF have jointly developed the functional surface film AeroSHARK for commercial aircraft.
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Briefs: Propulsion
Acoustic optimization for anti-phase asymmetric rotor.
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Briefs: Aerospace
Gust load alleviation is an increasing concern for the design of fixed-wing aircraft with ultra-high aspect wings.
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Articles: Design

This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.

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Briefs: Aerospace
The new algorithm could enable fast, nimble drones for time-critical operations such as search and rescue.
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NASA Spinoff: Data Acquisition
A NASA microphone that detects unseen air turbulence is lofted to high heights aboard a stratospheric glider.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Early flutter detection will help in the development of safer and more eco-friendly aircraft turbines.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
The system uses infrasonic acoustics for weather monitoring and for drone or UAV activity.
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Briefs: Energy
Injection of air at the trailing edge of a winglet further reduces drag.
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Briefs: Aerospace
This model can be used to design better aircraft without having to wait months for supercomputer calculations.
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Briefs: Energy
Taking a cue from birds and insects, the wing design helps drones fly more efficiently and makes them more robust to atmospheric turbulence.
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Briefs: Aerospace
This diffuser provides double the pumping efficiency in one-quarter the space.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
This trailing edge flap device reduces noise without compromising cruise efficiency or landing lift and stall characteristics.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
These actuators provide active flow control for airfoil surfaces and supersonic inlets of wing-borne vehicles.
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Briefs: Materials
This framework can be used by commercial and military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Briefs: Aerospace
A new method of estimating the optimal trailing aircraft position in a formation increases fuel savings.
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Briefs: Propulsion
This retractable de-orbit device facilitates targeted re-entry, attitude and orbital control, and collision avoidance.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Stronger and flexible, polyimide aerogels provide insulation and structural support.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Flying animals both power and control flight by flapping their wings. This enables small natural flyers such as insects to hover close to a flower but also to rapidly escape danger. Animal flight has...

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Briefs: AR/AI
Neural Lander Uses AI to Land Drones Smoothly

Landing multi-rotor drones smoothly is difficult. Complex turbulence is created by the airflow from each rotor bouncing off the ground during a descent. This turbulence is not well understood nor is it easy to compensate for, particularly for autonomous drones. That is why takeoff and landing are...

Briefs: Aerospace

NASA’s Langley Research Center has developed a new aircraft design with the engine nacelle over the wing, improving engine ground clearance and freeing landing gear design. While...

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Briefs: Data Acquisition

When engineers want to test the aerodynamic properties of the newly designed shape of a car, airplane, or other object, they would normally model the flow of air...

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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

NASA Langley Research Center scientists have developed a microphone that detects infrasound, i.e., acoustic waves ranging from 20-Hz frequencies down to DC. Infrasound is emitted in a number of...

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Briefs: Aerospace

The ability to fly at supersonic speed without producing unsettling sonic booms would re-open a path to faster commercial aviation. In pursuit of aerodynamics that...

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Briefs: Test & Measurement
Exhaust Plume Analyzer

Exhaust plumes emanating from smoke stacks at power plants or other industrial facilities can have adverse impacts on local aviation during periods of calm winds. Adverse impacts can be exacerbated if the temperature is low or the atmosphere is unstable. While low oxygen concentrations and elevated temperatures inside the...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

For more than 100 years, X-rays have been used in crystallography to determine the structure of molecules. At the heart of the method are the principles of diffraction and superposition,...

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Briefs: Aerospace
Synthesis and Development of Polyurethane Coatings Containing Fluorine Groups for Adhesive Applications

Accumulation of insect strikes on the leading edge of airplane wings is a more serious problem than one might realize. Depending on the magnitude, such accumulation changes the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing, causing a change from...

Briefs: Aerospace

It's common to see line-shaped clouds in the sky, known as contrails, trailing behind the engines of a jet airplane. What's not always visible is a vortex coming off of the tip of each wing — like...

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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Ultra-Thin Capacitive Sensor Has the Least Possible Resistance to Motion

A thin and flexible sensor was developed for sensing sounds, since it can move with the airflow made by even the softest noises. With the least possible resistance to motion, the sensor addresses issues with accelerometers, microphones, and many other similar sensors. The...