The present invention provides a vehicle having a main body, a control surface pivotably coupled to the main body for changing the direction of travel of the vehicle, and an actuation system for driving a vehicle control surface to articulate about the pivot point. The actuation system comprises: at least one pair of extensible coupling members, each one of the pair of extensible coupling members comprising a shape memory alloy; and a heating system. The heating system is arranged to heat a first one of the extensible coupling members or a second one of the extensible coupling members in response to a vehicle control input received by the actuation system, wherein, when respectively heated, the first one or the second one of the extensible coupling members cause the control surface to articulate in the opposite direction to the other. The present invention also provides a method of actuating a control surface of a vehicle.
CONTROL SURFACE ACTUATION
STEUERFLÄCHENBETÄTIGUNG
ACTIONNEMENT DE SURFACE DE COMMANDE
2023-01-18
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge |