Fuzzy Logic Control of a Smart Actuation System in a Morphing Wing

Abstract

Fuzzy Controllers -Recent Advances in Theory and Applications 2 material actuators and pressure sensors. The aim of these studies is to develop an automatic system that, based on the information related to the pressure distribution along the wing chord, moves the transition point from the laminar to the turbulent regime closer to the trailing edge in order to obtain a larger laminar flow region, and, as a consequence, a drag reduction.The objective of the research presented here is to develop a new morphing mechanism using smart materials such as Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) as actuators and fuzzy logic techniques. These smart actuators deform the upper wing surface, made of a flexible skin, so that the laminar-to-turbulent transition point moves closer to the wing trailing edge. The ultimate goal of this research project is to achieve drag reduction as a function of flow condition by changing the wing shape. The transition location detection is based on pressure signals measured by optical and Kulite sensors installed on the upper wing flexible surface. Depending on the project evolution phase, two architectures are considered for the morphing system: open loop and closed loop. The difference between these two architectures is their use of the transition point as a feedback signal. This research work was a part of a morphing wing project developed by the Ecole de Technologie Supérieure in Montréal, Canada, in collaboration with the Ecole Polytechnique in Montréal and the