Solid State Aircraft

RIVIN MATHEW S7 ME ROLL NO:7440

Introduction
Solid State Aircraft Artist Concept Drawing

The aircraft concept is to integrate three unique types of materials (thin film solar arrays, thin film lithium batteries and an ionic polymer metal composite) to produce an aircraft that has no

Features
No conventional mechanical parts IPMC is the source of control and propulsion Flapping motions of wings Relatively small mass and flexibility Cost effective

Component Materials
Thin photo-voltaic array Super Capacitors Lithium Ion/Lithium Polymer cells Ionic Polymer Metal Composite

Thin Film Photo Voltaic Array

Flexible, light weight and can be

manufactured on a variety of substrate materials

Active material is on the order of 1-2

microns and present day technology provide 8% efficiency.

CuInGaSe, CdTe researches developing

promisingly (they provide arrays of 20% efficiency)

THIN FILM PHOTO VOLTAIC ARRAY

Super Capacitors
SSA needs lightweight energy storage. Output power significantly vary during wing

flapping.

Super capacitors have a very high peak power

capability.

It can withstand millions of charge discharge

cycles needed for a flapping wing.

Super capacitors with energy densities 10kw/kg

are currently available.

Lithium Ion cells

Thin film lithium ion or lithium polymer

batteries.

Produced by depositing the various material

layers, cathode, anode on to a substrate.

Rechargeable, lightweight and flexible. Rapidly charged and discharged. Can be operated in high temperature zones. Lithium Ion Cells are currently on the developing

phase.

Ionic Polymer Metal Composite

Ion exchange membrane designed to selectively

pass cations/anions.

Perflourinite alkenes and Stryenebenzene are

examples.

Layering conductive coating into ion exchange

membrane.

Large dynamic deformation when placed in a time-

varying electric field.

Conversely, deformation can produce a dynamic

electric field.

IPMC Working
Conducting coating extends into polymer. IPMC bend towards anode, when filed is applied

because of ion movement.

One side of the material expand and other

contract.

Actions 2 & 3 explains the bending motion of

the IPMC.

Water is used inside IPMC for ion formation and

to set up internal strain.

Vehicle Operation
Propulsion is done by flapping of wings,

constructed with IPMC. Gliding motion is also used along with flapping motion. Gaining altitude is done by flapping and gliding loses altitude. During gliding motion, wing shape can be adjusted to enable steering control. Variation in shape is achieved by a grid of electrodes that are computer controlled.

Wing Design
Wing is made of IPMC. To minimize mass and to be compatible

with IPMC, the wing will have thin-cross section.

Initial wing design is based on that of a

Pteradon.
Pteradon was the largest flying creature

ever lived on earth which had a thin membrane and low wing loading.

Advantages
Oxygen is not required for operation.

Combustion of fuels is not necessary.

No toxic exhaust gases, thus environmentally

friendly.
Can operate in high altitudes. The aircraft can be operated in orbits beyond

earths atmosphere.
The aircraft can be launched at a minimal cost

Communications System

Communications to satellite with

transparent
metallic antenna

Getting data &

Communications or data collection through sounding to surface with thin film antenna

information to and from the SSA is a critical function. The unique configuration of the SSA & its thin light flexible structure pose a unique challenge for the communications system.

Technical Problems
Efficiency of currently available

Photovoltaic array is 8%. Can be operated only in places where there is sufficient amount of sun light. Lithium Ion Cells are only in the developing phase. Water leakage from IPMC is a critical issue, especially for its use in dry environments. Pteradon is already extinct, only simulated studies can be conducted.

Applications
Planetary observation. Quickly deployable Earth observation and

communication system. SSA can be used to communicate to a satellite by integrating a suitable antenna on top of it. High resolution and context camera imagery. Data gathering on atmospheric measurements, communications relay, magnetic measurements.

Conclusion
Key aspect of feasibility is the successful

integration of three components. SSA is a promising concept, considering the environmental friendly characteristics. The technology for SSA, is expected to be developed in near future. SSA would take man kind to new levels of inter planetary observations in minimal cost.

References
[1] A.J. Colozza, et al, Solid State Aircraft, Phase I Final

Report, NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts Project NAS5-98051, November, 2002. [2] M. Shahinpoor and K.J. Kim, Ionic Polymer Metal Composites I. Fundamentals, Smart Materials and Structures Int. J., Vol. 10, pp. 819-833 www.wikipedia.org

QUERIES???. . . . .