Systems Engineering Portfolio

Morphing Systems

Adaptive Systems

Adaptive structures allowing drastic wing shape changes have been a long-term goal of the aerospace industry. CRG is developing two methods of allowing wings to change from a slow-flight loitering, high-efficiency configuration to one designed for high speed and maneuverability. This shape change can occur repeatedly with no loss of material integrity.

CRG’s shape memory polymer, Veriflex^®, is being used to create a seamless wing skin that can be heated, reshaped by the internal wing structure, cooled, then reheated and moved back to the original shape. A real-time morphing wing shape increases versatility in the flight capabilities and function of an aircraft.

Veriflex is also being used to develop hinges that allow wings to bend at set points. This will allow planes to change from a loitering configuration to high-speed and high-maneuverability shapes.

Wing Structures

CRG has worked with other development partners in developing morphing aircraft technology. The goal was to develop and demonstrate viable composite materials and process technology to support multiple Air Force morphing structural applications. We developed a prototype of a form-fit, improved-function wing ready for simple integration and operational testing. In the process, we applied a unique suite of smart materials technologies, such as CRG’s shape memory polymers (Veriflex^®), dynamic composites (Veritex™), and dynamic syntactic foams (Verilyte™). We also employed smart materials, engineering design, process development, fabrication, and other supporting technologies to meet goals and requirements.

CRG’s smart structures engineering team focuses on integrating multiple smart material technologies with conventional actuation mechanisms and on developing a variety of smart adaptive or morphing structures. We have demonstrated realistic morphing structure concepts for near-term applications. These and other program efforts will help CRG better understand TRL levels, define near-term morphing capabilities, help identify the next enabling materials technologies necessary to round out structural morphing composites capabilities, and predict mid- and far-term morphing capabilities.