A morphing winglet concept with a variable stiffness skin

Morphing wingtip technology could improve the reduction of the induced drag, fuel consumption, and take-off and landing distances compared with fixed wing. This work presents a morphing winglet concept based on active inflatable honeycombs and Shape Memory Polymer Composite (SMPC) skins, which could allow the winglet deploy with a morphing skin able to withstand the aerodynamic loading with distributed pneumatic muscle fibers. An actuation geometric and mechanical model of the morphing wingtip concept is developed and analyzed. A morphing wingtip prototype is also fabricated to demonstrate the kinematics and actuation. Experiments and simulations show agreement about the output angle/input pressure relationship necessary for the wingtip deployment.