IIT Madras builds morphing wing skin to help prevent stalls
Technology
IIT Madras researchers have built a new "morphing skin" for airplane wings that changes shape midflight, kind of like how birds adjust their wings.
This tech helps prevent stalls, improves lift, and makes flights more fuel-efficient, especially during tricky moments like takeoff and landing.
Study shows morphing skin retrofit ready
Inspired by nature, the morphing skin uses smart materials to shift its shape in real time.
It has been tested using computer models and wind tunnels, and can even be added to existing planes, not just new ones.
The team's work was published in the European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids, and it could mean safer flights with less fuel burn (and fewer emissions) for everything from passenger jets to drones.