Scientists Develop Bird Feather-Inspired Airplane Wing System
For millions of years, birds have been flying with an aerodynamics that automatically adjusts their feathers to the wind. This natural control has inspired a team of engineers from Princeton University to design a wing system that mimics that stability, promising a transformation in aviation efficiency.
## Biomimicry as the basis of design
The new wing design is an example of biomimicry, an approach in which natural solutions are replicated in technology. Birds, when maneuvering in difficult conditions, deploy covert feathers that adjust their position to the airflow without the need for external control. This is something that modern aircraft have achieved so far through electronic and mechanical systems.
Inspired by this capability, the engineers at Princeton created a wing prototype with rows of bioinspired flaps. These flaps offer passive adaptation to the airflow, increasing stability without the need for additional technology.
## Wind tunnel tests
To test its effectiveness, the team built a scale wing with 3D printed flaps and conducted tests in a 9-meter wind tunnel. The results revealed significant improvements: the wing with multiple rows of flaps increased lift by 45% and reduced drag by 30%, compared to traditional wings.
The arrangement of the flaps, inspired by covert feathers, allowed for superior control of the airflow. Researcher Aimy Wissa highlighted that adding flaps to the front of the wing optimizes performance, increasing the aircraft stability in variable conditions.
### Results in real tests
The team took their design to outdoor tests with a remote-controlled airplane model. Equipped with a computer system, the plane was programmed to stall. During flight, the bioinspired flaps passively deployed upon detecting a stability drop, delaying and mitigating the effects of the stall.
### Possible applications in other industries
The success of the system opens up opportunities in other sectors, such as marine vehicles, and wind turbines. Each of these sectors faces aerodynamic challenges, and bioinspired design could optimize efficiency and stability without the need for additional mechanisms or energy consumption.
“Biomimicry allows us to transfer knowledge from biology to engineering and use our tools to answer questions about biology,” concluded Wissa, highlighting the potential of these designs in advanced technology.
