| Birds flap wings, sharks move vehicle fins. | | | | back, whereas metals are not nearly as |
| Each of these organisms is naturally equipped | | | | elastic, but can provide the rigidness and |
| for forward propulsion using the most | | | | many are conductive of electricity.An Added |
| efficient system possible against the medium | | | | Component: Memory Materials as "Fuel in the |
| through which it moves. In studying such a | | | | Wings":Another thought: include the insides |
| perfect model of motion, it's worth pondering | | | | of the wings themselves as part of the fuel. |
| whether human engineers can't put these same | | | | Meaning, the wing would ideally be |
| mechanical concepts to use in the | | | | constructed of a poly plastic that can be |
| construction of their aircraft machines. One | | | | converted into engine power at the melting |
| idea worth testing is the incorporation of | | | | point. In essence, the wings dissolve upon |
| materials with memory into future design | | | | arrival at destination... a problem, yes... |
| plans.Memory Materials and Wing or Propeller | | | | but on a single no return mission of a UAV |
| Construction:Memory comes into play when one | | | | this would be quite acceptable. In the |
| considers the repetitive pattern of | | | | beginning of the flight, the structural |
| wing-flapping or fin propulsion. A moving | | | | integrity to fly in part would be the amount |
| mechanical object can easily mimic this same | | | | of strength to carry the fuel too. Here, the |
| movement, provided the materials it's | | | | fuel and the wing are synonymous. The concept |
| manufactured from are light enough and | | | | of the vehicle "eating itself alive" as it |
| flexible enough. The fin or wing of said | | | | were, is similar to the marathons or ultra |
| movement machine must ideally be designed, as | | | | marathons I use to run when near the end of |
| is the muscular-skeletal makeup of a bird's | | | | the race you were depleted and literally |
| wing, to return to normal position when bent. | | | | running on guts, body fat and sheer will |
| Relative water flows, created current from | | | | power.As the aircraft eats the inside of the |
| AUV, or increased back pressure from forward | | | | wing which is made of a poly type plastic, it |
| momentum against the artificial fin or wing, | | | | is dissolved, thus the aircraft converts this |
| would force it back to its position. The | | | | into energy and the weight is decreased |
| forward propulsion of a propeller would cause | | | | meaning it flies even more efficiently. The |
| it to bend out of shape and then it would | | | | last leg of the mission is down hill, and it |
| once again correct itself. Clearly, in order | | | | flaps its way in a slow glide to the target |
| for this to work, the lightness of the | | | | or mission end point. The goal line to win a |
| machine, the force by which it propels | | | | victory point in the overall battle; thus, |
| itself, and the density of the wing structure | | | | scoring points against the opponent.The |
| must all be taken into account. The "flying | | | | reason we use the wing is that it can be |
| or swimming machine" will inevitably undergo | | | | hollow and it is at the C.G. point. If we |
| many experiments before optimum physics and | | | | take some from the tail then eventually a |
| ultimate success is achieved.Memory | | | | motor in the rear would deplete itself; |
| Materials, Self-Propelling Air/Water Crafts | | | | however, the weight and balance would be out |
| and Energy-Efficiency:In our hypothetical | | | | of check, unless a downward angle of attack |
| memory-material model, the propulsion | | | | and proper speed was continuous. One |
| apparatus would wiggle and move forward and | | | | variation on this theme is to have the engine |
| thus be less detectable... with less | | | | itself burn up like a Roman candle in the |
| mechanism or springs and therefore less | | | | end, providing forward momentum and thrust. |
| controlling surfaces, less murphyism, less | | | | Since the chief purpose would be for multiple |
| wear and tear and less energy to propel. Thus | | | | UAVs on a single mission, this might happen |
| weight savings-- not that it's a huge issue | | | | at different times and actually space out the |
| in water of 8.2 lbs per gallon, but every | | | | mission and attack sequence. Meaning, the |
| amount saved is an amount of | | | | enemy would be under constant fire until the |
| efficiency.Materials with memory are nothing | | | | last UAV made its final death blow. This is |
| new; look at a paper clip, spring, slinky, | | | | of value when using UAVs as a diversionary |
| etc. A nickel titanium stint, when forced, | | | | force to keep the enemy occupied.The wing |
| could cycle some 100 times a second if I am | | | | spars could be made of the same types of |
| not mistaken; and also cause a frequency and | | | | plastics that surgeons use to expand heart |
| electricity. Think of how an electromagnetic | | | | arteries during operations. We know these |
| pulse might confuse the enemy; and in a small | | | | techniques work on metal, plastic, carbon |
| mini UAV, act like a humming bird as it | | | | fibers, resilient composite, rubber of all |
| literally hovers to the target. The addition | | | | types even (stretch Armstrong). We pick the |
| of a self-activation feature might allow your | | | | lightest material and go for it. |
| UAV to fly to the target, hover, send you | | | | Nickel-titanium stints are also easily |
| pictures, GPS coordinates for smart bombing, | | | | adaptable metal, and you would not need much. |
| larger UAVs for Hell Fire Missiles... and | | | | If you use nickel and poly fibers you could |
| then finally drop on the target.Memory | | | | made a battery or find a suitable chemical |
| Materials in Achieving an Unpredictable | | | | reaction for fuel or propulsion or even |
| Flight Pattern:Now let us take this into the | | | | poison gas on impact (forget I said that).The |
| contexts of a UAV or flying unit. The | | | | engine in the rear might be made out of a |
| propeller or propulsion system moves the | | | | clay type substance encased in cellophane |
| vehicle forward. The horizontal stabilizer, | | | | which, once lit from the rear, would provide |
| whether a canard or conventional tail, could | | | | the thrust like a small C-65 Estes rocket |
| force the aircraft down or up. The dihedral | | | | engine. Once the engine was burned out, it |
| could have a somewhat memory of the way the | | | | could fall to Earth in cinders with a whistle |
| grain in material is manufactured, causing it | | | | on it so it made an intimidating sound and |
| to flap like a bird with a muscle above the | | | | another diversion; a dud, or perhaps a small |
| wing. The force of the relative wind would | | | | charge.Other Uses for Memory Materials:Tesla |
| cause the wing to bend downward until it | | | | would enjoy this discussion immensely; he |
| sprung back, and thus you have an | | | | would laugh and come up with 50 other good |
| unpredictable flight pattern. You could have | | | | uses... probably concepts a lot more noble |
| several vehicles flying in a swarm of flock, | | | | since he was a proponent of strong defense as |
| which were manufactured slightly less or more | | | | opposed to strong offense like Von Clauswitz. |
| so they would be nearly impossible to hit. | | | | Nevertheless, the uses for UAVs are of |
| Yes, with the same propulsion output they | | | | supreme value and maybe in thinner mediums of |
| could fly at similar if not exact speeds | | | | fluid such as salt water, where the polymers |
| since the ups and downs would equal out. The | | | | might serve a more useful purpose without |
| flapping of the wings would reduce the amount | | | | succumbing to corrosion over long journeys or |
| of energy needed for sustained flight.Memory | | | | long life missions. Another use would be in a |
| Materials in UAVs:Memory materials might also | | | | fire hose which, if laid on the ground, would |
| be used to build a motor in a UAV that would | | | | wiggle like a snake. Using the basics of |
| allow water to flow through, such as a | | | | fluid dynamics, the snaking hose could |
| diaphragm membrane, which might drive single | | | | function like a pump for long distances. As |
| piston. "Ferromagnetic" memory materials can | | | | the flow rate is lost with the increase in |
| be shaped for this type of use; for example, | | | | distance from the fire hydrant, the flow |
| manganese or gallium. One might fit small | | | | slows. Consequently, dynamic pressure is |
| units into capsules that are inserted into a | | | | reduced as less weight behind the flow |
| tube and placed inside of a Navy Seal or | | | | becomes available. Lining fire hoses with |
| fighter pilot suit. If one discovered a way | | | | materials which are memory manufactured will |
| to set these capsules to vibrate, the sound | | | | also make the hose easier to roll up for |
| would give away their position for extraction | | | | storage.Material memory manufacturing will |
| or rescue.Remember the movie Core when they | | | | solve many future problems of mankind and add |
| found the craft, which was at the bottom of | | | | a safety cushion to emergency response, civil |
| the ocean near a vent which caused the whales | | | | defense, scientific advancement and offensive |
| to find it? Polymers have also been used in | | | | military components.This article |
| cars and automobiles like the Saturn where | | | | professionally edited by WordFeeder |
| you punch the door and it pops back out. Some | | | | Copywriting and Content Services, Winslow - |
| polymers can stretch up to 12 times their | | | | Online Think Tank forum board. |
| length, again stretch Armstrong and flex | | | | |