Scientists at the University of Southampton, however, recently announced something a little more subtle, but perhaps with wider applications. They’ve developed a bat-inspired membrane for use in MAV wings, that changes shape in order to improve its performance.
The membranous wing works like an artificial muscle, using electro-active polymers to stiffen and relax in response to an electrical current. That current is in turn automatically delivered in response to forces exerted upon the wing’s flight surface, letting it instantaneously react accordingly.
As a result, the membranous wing offers better aerodynamics than a regular rigid wing, allowing for greater distances to be covered using the same amount of fuel. Also, unlike a flapping wing, it contains no moving parts that need to be maintained.
via Gizmag
