Active Space to Develop Actuator for Helicopter Blades

Under the contract, the firm will develop a new concept of an active gurney flap (AGF) together with Green Rotorcraft Consortium (GRC1) and technical assistance from Agusta Westland.

The project will involve designing and manufacturing the controller, actuator and gurney flap mechanism and to assemble them in a set of four scaled model helicopter blades, and perform testing in a wind tunnel.

The AGF system is aimed at meeting the system requirements related to actuation frequency, maximum deployed extension, the limited space at the flap location (about 1.5mm) and the movement of the gurney flap perpendicular to the surface of the blade.

According to Augusta Westland, rotorcraft operations are expected to grow in the near future due to the company's affordable mode of transportation for point-to-point connection over road transport, as well as its reduced impact on infrastructures.

The Clean Sky initiative is aimed at developing a green rotorcraft (GRC) integrated technology demonstrator (ITD), which could reduce noise and gas emissions produced by rotorcraft helicopters and tilt-rotors.

The initiative will also develop methods to reduce drag and increase rotorcraft efficiency, as well as develop advanced flight procedures, participate to investigate EcoDesign ITD activities and finally assess and evaluate the actual impact of selected technologies for rotorcraft.

GRC's objectives include reducing CO2 emission by 25% to 40% for each mission for turboshaft or diesel engines powered rotorcraft, as well as to halve the noise footprint area by 50%.

The objectives also include ensuring full compliance with the REACH directive, which guards human health and the environment from harmful chemical substances.