Innovative Control Effectors for Common Aerovehicle (CAVs)

Acree Technologies Incorporated (ATI) has demonstrated the effectiveness of using an innovative Cathodic Arc Plasma Source (CAPS) to produce high-density plasma for control of supersonic air flow. ATI proposes to use its CAPS system for actuation on the Common Aero Vehicle (CAV). The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the CAPS to produce high-density plasma for active aerodynamic flight control for the CAV. The goal of the Phase-I is to design an efficient CAPS system and use computer modeling to determine the actuation effects within the speed range of interest, namely Mach 20 – Mach 4. In previous wind tunnel tests the CAPS system has demonstrated a greater than 100% pressure change at Mach 5. The Acree Technologies CAPS has set the standard for pressure changes in a supersonic flow. The CAPS system is light and robust with no moving parts. It is capable of being energized in a matter of microseconds compared to at least milliseconds for mechanical systems, which allows for increased accuracy of the CAV.