Sense and Control for Efficient Aerostructure

SensorCraft and other endurance vehicles are prone to performance degradation when the flow over the airfoil trailing edge separates due to gusts, high angle of attack maneuvers, or trailing edge flap deflections which push the limits of laminar airfoil lift production. FlexSys has already developed adaptive trailing edge devices under previous and ongoing AFRL contracts including one for the HiLDA program. We propose to demonstrate a prototype adaptive compliant flap with embedded optical strain sensing capability and demonstrate a robust method to infer the flap aerodynamic pressure distribution as a function of flap strain. Such data could be employed in a control scheme which can: (i) optimally set flap deflection to produce a desired aerodynamic outcome (ii) measure the extent of flow attachment over the flap and signal the activation of deployable vortex generators and (iii) monitor structural health of the active wing. The objective, and the outcome, of the proposed Phase I effort is to establish a foundation for a durable and integrated sense and control system for FlexSys adaptive structure flaps and active flow control systems. Maturing this technology will benefit efficiency, maneuverability, and flight control stability of SensorCraft as well as civil and military long endurance air vehicles.