Shape Memory Alloy Flight Control Surfaces

Nielsen Engineering & Research (NEAR) and The University of Kansas Center for Research (KUCR) propose the development of an innovative integral control surface and actuator system which can be used to achieve pitch, roll, and yaw control of a miniature hypersonic vehicle. The proposed system uses high-bandwidth, high-power density adaptive actuators for its control surfaces. These actuators have energy, power, force, moment, and stroke capabilities which are significantly higher than all previous actuator families. In Phase I, NEAR-KUCR will select the actuator material, evaluate candidate configurations, and carry out preliminary mission analysis and aerostructures simulations. The Phase I program will result in the fabrication and bench testing of a representative actuator-fin prototype which will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept. This design will act as a springboard and starting point for the Phase II effort which will lead to a prototype to be flight tested by the Navy sponsor.