| Birds flap wings, sharks move vehicle fins. Each of | | | | Armstrong and flex back, whereas metals are not |
| these organisms is naturally equipped for forward | | | | nearly as elastic, but can provide the rigidness and |
| propulsion using the most efficient system possible | | | | many are conductive of electricity.An Added |
| against the medium through which it moves. In studying | | | | Component: Memory Materials as "Fuel in the |
| such a perfect model of motion, it's worth pondering | | | | Wings":Another thought: include the insides of the |
| whether human engineers can't put these same | | | | wings themselves as part of the fuel. Meaning, the |
| mechanical concepts to use in the construction of their | | | | wing would ideally be constructed of a poly plastic that |
| aircraft machines. One idea worth testing is the | | | | can be converted into engine power at the melting |
| incorporation of materials with memory into future | | | | point. In essence, the wings dissolve upon arrival at |
| design plans.Memory Materials and Wing or Propeller | | | | destination... a problem, yes... but on a single no return |
| Construction:Memory comes into play when one | | | | mission of a UAV this would be quite acceptable. In |
| considers the repetitive pattern of wing-flapping or fin | | | | the beginning of the flight, the structural integrity to fly in |
| propulsion. A moving mechanical object can easily | | | | part would be the amount of strength to carry the fuel |
| mimic this same movement, provided the materials it's | | | | too. Here, the fuel and the wing are synonymous. The |
| manufactured from are light enough and flexible | | | | concept of the vehicle "eating itself alive" as it were, is |
| enough. The fin or wing of said movement machine | | | | similar to the marathons or ultra marathons I use to run |
| must ideally be designed, as is the muscular-skeletal | | | | when near the end of the race you were depleted |
| makeup of a bird's wing, to return to normal position | | | | and literally running on guts, body fat and sheer will |
| when bent. Relative water flows, created current from | | | | power.As the aircraft eats the inside of the wing which |
| AUV, or increased back pressure from forward | | | | is made of a poly type plastic, it is dissolved, thus the |
| momentum against the artificial fin or wing, would force | | | | aircraft converts this into energy and the weight is |
| it back to its position. The forward propulsion of a | | | | decreased meaning it flies even more efficiently. The |
| propeller would cause it to bend out of shape and then | | | | last leg of the mission is down hill, and it flaps its way in |
| it would once again correct itself. Clearly, in order for | | | | a slow glide to the target or mission end point. The |
| this to work, the lightness of the machine, the force by | | | | goal line to win a victory point in the overall battle; thus, |
| which it propels itself, and the density of the wing | | | | scoring points against the opponent.The reason we |
| structure must all be taken into account. The "flying or | | | | use the wing is that it can be hollow and it is at the |
| swimming machine" will inevitably undergo many | | | | C.G. point. If we take some from the tail then |
| experiments before optimum physics and ultimate | | | | eventually a motor in the rear would deplete itself; |
| success is achieved.Memory Materials, Self-Propelling | | | | however, the weight and balance would be out of |
| Air/Water Crafts and Energy-Efficiency:In our | | | | check, unless a downward angle of attack and proper |
| hypothetical memory-material model, the propulsion | | | | speed was continuous. One variation on this theme is |
| apparatus would wiggle and move forward and thus | | | | to have the engine itself burn up like a Roman candle |
| be less detectable... with less mechanism or springs | | | | in the end, providing forward momentum and thrust. |
| and therefore less controlling surfaces, less murphyism, | | | | Since the chief purpose would be for multiple UAVs on |
| less wear and tear and less energy to propel. Thus | | | | a single mission, this might happen at different times |
| weight savings-- not that it's a huge issue in water of | | | | and actually space out the mission and attack |
| 8.2 lbs per gallon, but every amount saved is an | | | | sequence. Meaning, the enemy would be under |
| amount of efficiency.Materials with memory are | | | | constant fire until the last UAV made its final death |
| nothing new; look at a paper clip, spring, slinky, etc. A | | | | blow. This is of value when using UAVs as a |
| nickel titanium stint, when forced, could cycle some 100 | | | | diversionary force to keep the enemy occupied.The |
| times a second if I am not mistaken; and also cause a | | | | wing spars could be made of the same types of |
| frequency and electricity. Think of how an | | | | plastics that surgeons use to expand heart arteries |
| electromagnetic pulse might confuse the enemy; and in | | | | during operations. We know these techniques work on |
| a small mini UAV, act like a humming bird as it literally | | | | metal, plastic, carbon fibers, resilient composite, rubber |
| hovers to the target. The addition of a self-activation | | | | of all types even (stretch Armstrong). We pick the |
| feature might allow your UAV to fly to the target, | | | | lightest material and go for it. Nickel-titanium stints are |
| hover, send you pictures, GPS coordinates for smart | | | | also easily adaptable metal, and you would not need |
| bombing, larger UAVs for Hell Fire Missiles... and then | | | | much. If you use nickel and poly fibers you could made |
| finally drop on the target.Memory Materials in Achieving | | | | a battery or find a suitable chemical reaction for fuel or |
| an Unpredictable Flight Pattern:Now let us take this into | | | | propulsion or even poison gas on impact (forget I said |
| the contexts of a UAV or flying unit. The propeller or | | | | that).The engine in the rear might be made out of a |
| propulsion system moves the vehicle forward. The | | | | clay type substance encased in cellophane which, |
| horizontal stabilizer, whether a canard or conventional | | | | once lit from the rear, would provide the thrust like a |
| tail, could force the aircraft down or up. The dihedral | | | | small C-65 Estes rocket engine. Once the engine was |
| could have a somewhat memory of the way the grain | | | | burned out, it could fall to Earth in cinders with a whistle |
| in material is manufactured, causing it to flap like a bird | | | | on it so it made an intimidating sound and another |
| with a muscle above the wing. The force of the | | | | diversion; a dud, or perhaps a small charge.Other Uses |
| relative wind would cause the wing to bend downward | | | | for Memory Materials:Tesla would enjoy this discussion |
| until it sprung back, and thus you have an unpredictable | | | | immensely; he would laugh and come up with 50 other |
| flight pattern. You could have several vehicles flying in | | | | good uses... probably concepts a lot more noble since |
| a swarm of flock, which were manufactured slightly | | | | he was a proponent of strong defense as opposed to |
| less or more so they would be nearly impossible to hit. | | | | strong offense like Von Clauswitz. Nevertheless, the |
| Yes, with the same propulsion output they could fly at | | | | uses for UAVs are of supreme value and maybe in |
| similar if not exact speeds since the ups and downs | | | | thinner mediums of fluid such as salt water, where the |
| would equal out. The flapping of the wings would | | | | polymers might serve a more useful purpose without |
| reduce the amount of energy needed for sustained | | | | succumbing to corrosion over long journeys or long life |
| flight.Memory Materials in UAVs:Memory materials | | | | missions. Another use would be in a fire hose which, if |
| might also be used to build a motor in a UAV that | | | | laid on the ground, would wiggle like a snake. Using the |
| would allow water to flow through, such as a | | | | basics of fluid dynamics, the snaking hose could |
| diaphragm membrane, which might drive single piston. | | | | function like a pump for long distances. As the flow |
| "Ferromagnetic" memory materials can be shaped for | | | | rate is lost with the increase in distance from the fire |
| this type of use; for example, manganese or gallium. | | | | hydrant, the flow slows. Consequently, dynamic |
| One might fit small units into capsules that are inserted | | | | pressure is reduced as less weight behind the flow |
| into a tube and placed inside of a Navy Seal or fighter | | | | becomes available. Lining fire hoses with materials |
| pilot suit. If one discovered a way to set these | | | | which are memory manufactured will also make the |
| capsules to vibrate, the sound would give away their | | | | hose easier to roll up for storage.Material memory |
| position for extraction or rescue.Remember the movie | | | | manufacturing will solve many future problems of |
| Core when they found the craft, which was at the | | | | mankind and add a safety cushion to emergency |
| bottom of the ocean near a vent which caused the | | | | response, civil defense, scientific advancement and |
| whales to find it? Polymers have also been used in | | | | offensive military components.This article professionally |
| cars and automobiles like the Saturn where you punch | | | | edited by WordFeeder Copywriting and Content |
| the door and it pops back out. Some polymers can | | | | Services, Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. |
| stretch up to 12 times their length, again stretch | | | | |