R&D activities on Morphing Wings in Japan

Abstract

Aircraft fuel expense accounts for a high proportion of total operating expense. Accordingly, reduction of aircraft drag affects directly airline’s operation. Moreover, stringent numerical targets for reduction of noise, CO2 and NOx emission were set by ICAO. To this end one of the technologies to enhance such environmental performances a morphing technology in which wing configuration varies seamlessly without gaps and kinks. In this paper R&D activities on the morphing technology in Japan are introduced and challenges to be solved and strategy aimed at proposal on collaborative projects are discussed.