Page 1
Impact
SBIR Topic
Nu mb er :
AF 98 -178
Ti tl e :
Acti ve Flow C on trol
for A er od ynamic
Enha nc em en t
Co nt ra ct
Nu mb er :
F33 615 -99 - C-3 008
Co mp an y N am e :
Or bi tal Re se arch, Inc.,
Clevelan d, OH
Tec hn ic al
Pr oj ec t
Of fice:
AF RL /Air Vehicle s
Director at e
An example of Air Force suppor ted SBIR technology that met topic requirements and is being
commercialized by the small business partner.
A
DISTRIBUTION A:
Approved for public
release; distribution
unlimited.
Active Flow Control
for Aerodynamic
Enhancement
Both aircraft and
missiles require microelectromechanical based
ow control systems
capable of operating in
extreme conditions
The Air Force wanted
control systems incorporating smart surfaces
and advanced control
systems to improve
aerodynamic efciency
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Air Fo rce Re quire men ts
Future Air Force fixed- wing air vehicles and advanced weapons
nee d innovative Microelectromechanical Systems MEMS-based
aerodynamic flow control systems that can operate under high
alpha and ex treme flow conditions where conventional co ntrols
become inef fective. T he U.S. Army, U.S. Nav y, DARPA, an d a
significant portion of commercial and military sector were also
actively pur suing research in the area of active flow control to
explore the potential of such smar t flight control systems. MEMS
based active flow control actuators can be directly integrated into to
air vehicle structure, providing improve d aerodynamic performance.
This need specifically calle d for smart surfaces a nd advanced
control systems that can provide control authority to air vehicles
with improved aerodynamic efficiency by mea ns of weight- and-
volume minimization for Control Actuation Systems (CAS), drag
reduction, fuel savings, and enhanced control and maneuverability.
The technologies developed from this program have the potential
to benefit both commercial and militar y air vehicle systems.
SBI R Techn ology
Orbital Research, Inc. ( ORI), in collaboration with the AFRL Air
Vehicles and Munitions Directorates, designed, developed and
demonstrated innovative flow control systems to enhance the
aerodynamic performance of air vehicles. To demonstrate the
performance of integrated MEMS actuators and sensors, two
specific demonstration systems were chosen. Two control systems
were developed in particular; one tailored for xed-wing applications
and second for weapons (missiles) applications. Both systems
utilized a Co- Located Sensor and Actuator (CLAS) module(s)
app roach, where a complete system was designed by incorporating
fast-response p ressure sensors (for flow sensing), a real -time
feedback controller (for smart actuation), and novel, M EMS based
control actuators (for aerodynamic control) into a compact conformal
package that could be embedded within the aerodynamic sur face.
Fixed-Wing Ap plication: OR I developed and demonstrated a
transparent stall control system for wings that automatically delays
flow separation or stall angle, thereby extending the operational
flight envelope of wings at high angles of attack. A key innovation
in this system is the abilit y to detect stall conditions prior to
‘actual’ stall and delay stall by employing countermeasures using
embedded micro actuators.
High Alpha Weapons Application: ORI developed and demonstrated
a novel, yaw control system for weapons (slender bodies) at high
angles of attack. This system cancels out unwanted yawing moments
on weapons at high alpha condi tions and also provides the desired
(user commanded) yawing moments under both steady and dy namic
pitch conditions w ithin the actuator saturation limits. This system was
successfully demo nstrated on a scale model of a typical air-to-air
missile (Air Force’s platform of interest).
Com pany Impa ct
With the successful completio n of this SBIR program, ORI is now
uniquely positioned to design and develop a comprehensive set
of flow control solutions comprising both actuators and feedback
controlle rs that can be commercialized and applied to a number
of military an d civilian air vehicle platforms. ORI has received two
patents and currently has one patent pending, which protects ORI’s
intellectual property for this tech nolog y. These patents prov ide ORI
a competitive advantage when discussing various research and
technology exchange agreements with other entities. The successful
demonstration of the technologies developed in this SBIR helped
ORI spin-off iACTIV, manufacturer of MEMS air control valves for
applications spanning f rom simple stand-alone general purpose
industrial valves to highly specialized integrated flig ht control actuation
sub -systems. The foundation of knowledge gained through this SBIR
program has provided tools and expertise necessary for ORI to
jumpstar t the development of active flow control systems for specific
future militar y weapons and air vehicle platforms. The program has
also attributed to the grow th of Orbital Research by expanding
ORI’s research a nd development portfolio. The depth and breadth
of ORI’s capabilities has allowed the company to grow in a stable
and rapid fashion and the achievements were recognized by Inc.
Mag azine and the Weatherhead School of Management at Case
Western Reserve Universit y.
Tech nolog y Payoff
Orbital Research, Inc is currently involved with collaborative efforts
with prime contractors such as Lockheed Mar tin and General
Dynamics to tra nsition these technologies from laboratory research
to practical applications through flight testing. OR I received research
and development funds from prime contractors, through joint
sponsored research agreements, to custom -develop this technology
for specific air vehicle platforms. ORI has developed a solid founda-
tion to commercialize this technology to both civilian and militar y
customers.
U.S . AIR FORC E
AF SBIR Progr am Man age r
AFR L/ XPT T
1864 4th Street,
Roo m 1, B uilding 15
Wri ght -Patters on AFB, OH 45433
Conte nts of this shee t are not ne cessa rily the off icial views of, or are endorsed b y, the U. S. Go vernm ent, DoD, o r Dep artment of the A ir Force.
AF SBIR Progr am Man age r: Steve Guil foo s
e- ma il: steph en.guilfo [email protected]. mil
Website: w ww.sbi rsttr mall.c om
DSN Fax: 78 5-2329
T: (8 00 ) 22 2-033 6
F: ( 937) 255 -2329
Air Force
Research Laboratory AFRL
Science and Technology for Tomorrow’s Aerospace Force
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