Vortex generators and its significance

In aviation or more specifically in aerodynamics we prefer a laminar flow instead of a turbulent flow with lots of vortices in it. But there are cases where vortex is induced intentionally! This is done by vortex generators.

 

Video Credits: Samm Sheperd

 

Vortex generator is an aerodynamic device, as the name suggests vortex generators, generate vortex when attached to an aerodynamic surface. So what is the benefit of generating vortex? Why are vortex generators used?

Automotive Aerodynamics – Role of Aerodynamics in Automobiles

Aerodynamics is the study of properties of air while a solid object interacts with air, during their relative motion. Most of us think that aerodynamics is a field of aeronautics and all of aerodynamics is only applicable to aerospace vehicles.

Video Credits: Donut Media

But this isn’t true, aerodynamics is applicable in our day to day life in many ways. There is a major field known as automotive aerodynamics which deals with the aerodynamic study of automobiles. What does aerodynamics has to do with automobiles?

Reverse pitch Propeller – A Reverse gear for propeller planes

Do airplanes have a reverse gear? In case of car or truck we just shift to reverse gear and move backwards but can airplanes do the same? Conventional airplanes actually do not have such gear or reverse motion mechanism.

Video Credits: mohammad ebrahimi

This is because airplanes don’t require reverse motion as much as automobiles do, instead they use towing vehicles for moving backwards. But aeronautics is actually capable of moving an airplane backward without any external source? Wonder how? This can be achieved by reversing the thrust direction.

Artificial Neural Network - What if airplane had brain?

What if airplane had brain? It may seem crazy but can you believe it’s actually happening! Artificial neural network technology is being used to make airplane think. We humans are totally capable of thought which help us perform our daily actions. I'm sure you think that way too!

Video Credits: Airbus

It also help us gain self-awareness and avoid impending danger or accident. For example we don’t overspeed at turns as we know, if we overspeed we may miss the road and fall due to high centrifugal force.

Supermanoeuvrability – Secret of Highly Tactical Manoeuvres

Have ever been to any air-show conducted by Air force, you would have noticed fighter jets performing various manoeuvres. Those manoeuvres might be totally different from those capable by normal airliners. 

Video Credits: Airguardian

A fighter jet may completely role and perform few difficult manoeuvres such as cobra manoeuvre. So why aren’t normal airplane capable of such manoeuvres? How are such manoeuvres performed?

Rejected Takeoff (RTO)

What happens when you realise you have some problem with your car, such as engine seizing etc? You right away stop the car and call a mechanic. What happens in the case of airplane? The procedure followed in the case of aircraft is known as aborted takeoff or rejected takeoff (RTO).

Video Credits: Boeing

What is a rejected takeoff (RTO)?

Rejected Takeoff is the term used in aviation terminology describing the event where an ongoing takeoff action is aborted due to unavoidable reasons. There are many reasons for aborting the takeoff such as rough environmental conditions, engine failure, controlability issues.

Drone Swarms – Future of aerial warfare

You would have seen a flock of birds flying in the sky. Today’s technology has replicated through drones. There are drone light shows which are setting world records around the globe! One of the most beautiful purpose drones are put to.

Video Credits: Intel

In 2018, the technology giant “Intel” created a world record by flying 2000 drones at once. It lighted the night sky of California with lights carried by drones. But are drone swarms only meant for entertainment purpose?

Future of Aircraft Flight Control System

Modern day aircraft use computerised flight control system which is totally digitalised. But today’s computerised flight control system mostly executes the command given by pilot! These computers makes pre-determined calculations to control the actuators.

Video Credits: Airbus

With successful autonomous take-off and landing being demonstrated. What does a future of flight control system look like? Are they going to totally rely on artificial Intelligence (AI)? or, are they just going to rely on pilot’s commands?

Stall - An Aerodynamic Effect

To stall means ‘stop’. A car can stall sometimes, it is caused due to overload on the engine. What does stall mean in aviation? How many types of stall exists? What effect does it cause?. Lets look into these one by one.

What is a stall?

Stall is an aerodynamic effect which is caused due to exceeding the pre-determined critical angle of attack (AOA). As a result of which lift generated by wing decreases. Lift normally increases with angle of attack but only upto a certain limit.

Hovercraft – A distinctive vehicle

Do you know, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s first project in his career was to design and build a hovercraft for DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation). This hovercraft was called as “NANDI” which was successfully completed in the year 1962. Wouldn't it be interesting to know more about this vehicle!

Video Credits: Largest Dams

So what is a hovercraft?

A hovercraft is a vehicle which is capable of flying above different land forms. It is an amphibious craft/ vehicle which flies by generating air cushion. As a result it is also known as air cushion vehicle (ACV). So how does a hovercraft work?

Ground effect - Aircraft's Performance Booster

Do you know when a helicopter operates near to ground it experiences an enhanced performance than at a higher altitude. How does this happen? What causes this increase in performance? Ground effect is the phenomenon which causes this difference. So what is a ground effect?

Video Credits: flight-club

Ground Effect

When a wing is near to a fixed surface, it experiences an increase in lift and decrease in aerodynamic drag. This is known as ground effect. So what are the benefits of ground effect?

Lunar Water and its origin - A mystery

The discovery of water molecules on the moon raised new questions about the origin of “LUNAR WATER?” Where did it come from? Where exactly was it reasonably found? And why only Polar Regions were typically showing the strongest signals?

Video credits: Veritasium

Earlier, there existed uncertainty about origin of this water. According to prominent scientists, there were three distinct possibilities. One possibility was that the water was promptly delivered by direct impact of rare meteorites or comets containing...

Stall warning system

It would be so helpful if some one alerts us about an imminent danger in advance.There is a system known as stall warning system which helps the pilot by alerting the them about stall conditions.

Video Credit: mzo

What is a stall condition?

A stall is a condition in which the wing loses the ability to generate required lift as it exceeds the critical angle of attack. Lift is the force which keeps the aircraft airborne. As a result of stall an aircraft may lose its altitude, sometime resulting in an accident.

Demystifying an Airplane's Flight

How is an airplane controlled?

An airplane takes-off from the runway at high speeds, and soon reaches an altitude. Once it is in air how is it controlled? What’s the difference between controlling an airplane and helicopter?

Video Credits: Learn Engineering

Many of us would have driven cars along roads, we use accelerator for varying the speed of car similarly throttle (thrust lever) is used in airplane. We use...

Aircraft vs airplane – are both the same?

People have been using many terms alternatively, but do all of them mean the same? Airplane and Aeroplane are commonly interchanged, but they mean the same. Its just how they spell (Airplane – American English and Aeroplane -British English). 

Video Credits: The Hash Academy

But what is the case with aircraft and airplane? Do you know an airplane is an aircraft but an aircraft is not just airplane! Seems confusing isn’t it?

Fly by wire - Simplifying the complexity!

Do you remember light bulbs of 1990’s which had strings attached to them? A string needs to be pulled to switch it on or off. Today’s technology has brought us to smart home control, where everything is controlled by smart applications. Similarly aviation industry has also advanced from mechanical systems to fly by wire systems!

Video Credits: hamed eghbali

In olden aircraft there were mechanical systems which allowed the pilot to control the aircraft. For example rods and linkages were used to operate the control surfaces. This kind of mechanical systems posed many problems while in flight. The probability of failure was high. There were delay in command and action (lag). So a new technology was required to overcome this defect!

Ekranoplan – Ground effect vehicle

Aircraft are known for flying, but do you know ships/boats too are capable of flight! As weird as it sounds, flying ships/boats do exist in the real world and the concept isn’t new! 

Video Credits: Tech Insider

They have existed since the 1960s. These flying ships/boats, commonly known as ground effect vehicle (GEV’s) fly by utilising ground effect. They are also called as ground effect craft, Wing in ground effect (WIG-craft). So what does the term “Ekranoplan” has to do with all this?

Demystifying a Helicopter's Flight

Many of us may have noticed pilots flying helicopters in movies, some of us may have experienced it for real. So how to fly an helicopter? What are the controls it has got? And how does it work?

Video Credits: shidifu111

There are four types of helicopter controls. 

1) Cyclic control 

2) Collective control 

3) Anti –torque pedals control 

4) Throttle control.  

Lets look about the controls in detail...

SCRAMJET and its supersonic combustion

A ramjet is an engine which utilises the ram effect (fast approaching) air to compress and generate thrust after combusting the fuel air mixture. A scramjet is similar to ramjet, but with a little difference! 

Video Credits: Mint

In scramjet the combustion is carried out at supersonic speeds. So what’s the problem in supersonic combustion that seeks special interest?

"So how do you expect the combustion (ignition) to happen at 3705 km/h?"

Euler Angles and their use in Aerospace

How do you specify the orientation of a three dimensional object. Lets imagine a piece of square block placed on a flat table. Let us define this as initial position and mark it as (x,y,z). Now slightly tilt the box around Z axis. i.e. rotate it by not changing the sides.

Video Credits: Greg Horn

So now the new position of the block be mentioned as (X,Y,Z) when we see the block we can observe an angle change in x and y axis and no change in z axis. Just take note of the angles in a piece of paper and give it to your friend...

Mach Tuck - An Aerodynamic Enigma

Mach tuck is a natural tendency of an aircraft to pitch downwards while the airflow around wing reaches supersonic speed. So what is the significance of it? 

Video Credits: Kildren

Mach Tuck causes loss of control in aircraft, which if exists for a long duration may result in accident. This occurs because the aircraft takes a dive, and causes emergency situation in an aircraft. What really causes Mach Tuck?...

Non Destructive Testing (NDT) in Aviation

Airplanes generate profit only when they're in the sky, but in order to keep flying safely these metal birds need to be constantly checked and inspected. One of the most popular inspection techniques in the industry is non-destructive testing, also known as NDT. 

Video Credits: FL Technics

Non Destructive Testing (NDT) is done to detect flaws in a product. In the field of aerospace, NDT plays a major role. In aviation an aircraft is tested for damages to determine the airworthiness of an aircraft. These damages needs to be...

Chandrayaan 2's Pragyan Rover may still be Alive!

Remember ISRO's Chandrayaan 2 mission to moon? Well the mission was only a partial success as ISRO lost communication with the Vikram Lander, which was carrying Pragyan Rover on-board. The lander was later reported to be met with a hard landing #crashed. 

Chandrayaan2's Pragyan "ROVER" intact on Moon's surface & has rolled out few metres from the skeleton Vikram lander whose payloads got disintegrated due to rough landing | More details in below tweets @isro #Chandrayaan2 #VikramLander #PragyanRover (1/4) pic.twitter.com/iKSHntsK1f

— Shan (Shanmuga Subramanian) (@Ramanean) August 1, 2020

But now (August 1, 2020) Shanmuga Subramanian, the techie who got credited by NASA for finding debris of Chandrayaan 2's Vikram lander, claims that Pragyan rover may still be alive! and he has also shared his findings with ISRO and NASA.

As per Shan's findings...

Solar Plane - The future of efficient flight

Fuel powered aircraft are the major category of aircraft being flown right now. But engineers and innovators are looking forward for a more efficient power source to support flight. Solar power is one such solution. Solar powered aircraft have been flying around since a decade. But technology is driving the capability of flying machines to a whole new level.

Video Credits: SunPower

Current technology is pushing the flying machine to flown to the edge of space. Efforts are under process and soon would be a reality. But what's new in this? Flights are already capable of flying to the edge of space! Doing this with the solar plane is the innovation here. This helps making flights more efficient.