TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY – Biologically Inspired Airfoil/ Wing Flow Control Using Flexible Extended Trailing Edge: LAR-17361-1

NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a Static Extended Trailing Edge (SETE) based on avian wing geometry, where the main airfoil is extended at the trailing edge by attaching a flexible polymer membrane with suitable length and rigidity. Based upon experimental results and CFD simulation it was determined that if SETE was implemented on a fixed wing aircraft, it could improve cruise flight aerodynamic efficiency up to 10% and reduce fuel consumption up to 5%. Applied to a typical aluminum airfoil on a fixed wing aircraft, the technology involves adding a flexible strip, which can adjust itself to the airflow to obtain drag reduction. Alternatively, sensors and actuators can be used for feedback control to make adjustments to the strip to optimize drag reduction. Depending on specific applications, the strip could be of an aluminum plate, polymer membrane, composite sheet or smart material plate. The effects of SETE on the wing aerodynamics are mainly due to modifications of the airfoil camber and of the flow structure at the trailing edge. The resulting improvement in aerodynamic efficiency can lead to greater fuel efficiency and vibration control. For small aircraft like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the device can prevent flow separation, which can lead to stalling. The wake structure is not appreciably altered indicating that the parasitic drag is not significantly affected. NASA is seeking to license this technology commercially. US Patent 8,882,049. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to [email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/. These responses are provided to members of NASA Langley's Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development "OSACB" for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.