Army researchers get one step closer to in-flight shape-shifting drones
Zach England
The Army is one step closer to deploying drones that can change shape during flight, according to new research from the Army Research Laboratory and Texas A&M University.
The two-year study in fluid-structure interaction led to a tool to rapidly analyze a variety of structural configurations for unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones.
The tool will eventually help configure drones to change shape during flight, which will optimize performance.
“Consider an [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] mission where the vehicle needs to get quickly to station, or dash, and then attempt to stay on station for as long as possible, or loiter,†said Dr. Francis Phillips, an aerospace engineer at the laboratory, in an Army press release.
https://www.armytimes.com/2020/07/08/army-researchers-get-one-step-closer-to-in-flight-shape-changing-drones/
