Credit: NASA/Wired
Aircraft create lift by driving an airfoil (wing) through the air. Airfoil & fuselage are moved through the air by an engine which creates thrust using a propeller &/or jet exhaust.
NASA’s latest research uses 18 propellers to directly drive air across the wing to generate lift. Leading Edge Asynchronous Propeller Technology — LEAPTech — is the name NASA has coined. Combustion engines are not practical for such an application, but electric motors are ideal.
At the moment, Solar Impulse 2 is part way through the first round-the-world flight by a solar-powered aircraft. It is a proof-of-concept, rather than a practical means of air travel. LEAPTech is a step towards practical electric-powered air travel.
Expected advantages include:
● shorter take off
● wings can be optimised for cruise, rather than take off & landing
● shorter (front-to-back — see image above) wing is lighter & generates less drag
● individual motors can be can run at different speeds to optimise performance
http://www.jobyaviation.com/LEAPTech/
http://www.wired.com/2015/03/nasa-straps-18-propellers-wing-science/
Follow the Solar Impulse 2 round-the-world solar-powered flight. / Solar Impulse 2 plane powered power Sun electric aircraft news journey around the world build alternative environmentally environmental green fly NASA experimental wing massive advantage exploding jet fuel batteries sky new design 18 propellers powered lithium iron phosphate batteries 31 foot wide carbon composite wing Leading Edge Asynchronous Propeller Technology project LEAPTech flight test experimental wing mounting truck dried up lakebed Edwards Air Force base California 70 mph NASA in development agency’s X-Plane program developed advanced prototype airplanes planes developed first rocket-powered airplane break the sound barrier prototypes development of the Space Shuttle propellers IEEE Spectrum blow wind directly over the wings generate lift conventional planes forward motion jet engine create lift LEAPTech take off shorter runways optimized cruising efficiency takeoff landing motor run at a different speed asynchronous optimize performance ride quality noise reduction LEAPTech new X-Plane X-57 fly at 200 mph 12,000 foot ceiling range 450 miles X-Plane aircraft vehicle new technology NASA’s real goal aviation industry electric /
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