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Message no. 1
From: JonSzeto <JonSzeto@***.COM>
Subject: Smart Materials 101
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 22:56:37 EST
<much speculations about smart materials snipped>

Okay, since a lot of people have asked about smart materials, it's time for me
to shed a little light on the subject.

The idea for smart materials came from an article that I read in the Army
Times (a weekly newspaper that sells on US Army posts and covers issues
relevant to Army service members). The article was published several years
ago, and unfortunately I don't have the article on me anymore. But more on
that later.

First let's start with the basics---piezoelectricity:

Piezoelectricity is a special property that exists in certain materials,
particularly certain types of quartz crystals. If you squeeze them, equal but
opposite charges appear on opposing surfaces of the wafer. Conversely, if you
apply a voltage across the opposing faces of the wafer, the dimensions of the
wafer change. Piezoelectricity is used in a number of applications that
translate mechanical oscillation into electric signals (e.e., the voice
receiver of your telephone) or vice versa (sonar transmitters).

Now, in the case of smart materials, different piezoelectrics are layered one
atop another in a certain way. When a voltage is applied across the structure,
one set of piezoelectric expands in one direction, while another contracts in
the opposite direction. This creates a shearing force that "warps" the
material and causes it to twist and bend.

Now, back to the article I read, designers in the DoD are researching using
these layered piezoelectrics in helicopter rotors. In the rotor of a
helicopter, the aircraft changes the pitch of the blades to generate motive
force; in the main rotor, changing the pitch causes the helicopter to go up
and down, while in the tail rotor changing the pitch causes it to turn left or
right.

To get the pitch of the rotor blades to change, currently designers use
mechanical actuators of rods and gears. It's these actuators that mainly
contribute to the helicopter's chopping sound, by generating a turbulent
"eggbeater effect." Additionally, these actuators also cause drag that slows
down the helicopter and reduces maneuverability. Also, all these moving parts
drives up the maintenance cost, and they add extra weight.

What the designers hope to achieve is to design a single main rotor with smart
materials. That way, in order to change the blade pitch, all they have to do
is apply a voltage across the rotor. This eleiminates the mechanical
actuators, and thus eliminates noise, increases maneuverability, reduces
weight, and lowers maintenance costs (in terms of $$$, inventory, down time,
etc.)

Of course, all of this is still in the experimental stage right now, so
there's no guarantee smart materials (in RL) may live up to all the benefits
that have been claimed about it. But assuming it does (which I did), the
obvious benefits to other vehicles are quite self-evident (as reflected in
Rigger 2 on p. 117).

Now, what can and can't smart materials do? (IMO)

* Smart materials allows a relatively study component (like a rotor) to twist
(around an axis) and bend into an arc, much like a rubber eraser.
Theoretically, one could get 360+ degree twists, but practically, even with
2060-era engineering, the practical (production) limit would be 90 degrees,
with 180 as the technological limit.

* Smart materials can't change the overall shape and form of an object (like
Spawn's symbiote-suit, or the T-1000 liquid metal Terminator). Smart materials
allow a solid object limited deformation under an electric field, but once the
electricity is turned off, it snaps back to its original shape. Smart
materials are not malleable and should NOT be thought of as self-forming clay.

* Manufacturing smart-material components requires some precise layering and
placement of piezoelectric composites. As such, they probably would not stand
up well to physical shock. So smart materials would probably make for a very
poor (and very fragile) melee weapon.

That's about all I can guess about smart materials. If anyone else has any
other creative uses for smart materials, I'd love to hear it.

Hope this helps,
-- Jon
Message no. 2
From: Aaron Jones <aaronj@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 23:39:34 -0500
><much speculations about smart materials snipped>
>Now, in the case of smart materials, different piezoelectrics are layered one
>atop another in a certain way. When a voltage is applied across the structure,
>one set of piezoelectric expands in one direction, while another contracts in
>the opposite direction. This creates a shearing force that "warps" the
>material and causes it to twist and bend.
>Now, what can and can't smart materials do? (IMO)
>* Smart materials allows a relatively study component (like a rotor) to twist
>(around an axis) and bend into an arc, much like a rubber eraser.
>Theoretically, one could get 360+ degree twists, but practically, even with
>2060-era engineering, the practical (production) limit would be 90 degrees,
>with 180 as the technological limit.
>
>That's about all I can guess about smart materials. If anyone else has any
>other creative uses for smart materials, I'd love to hear it.
>
>Hope this helps,
>-- Jon

Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems unnecasarry
(sp?)?
I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it be
used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
depending on current speed and wind direction?

Aaron (Still looking for a SIG) Jones
aaronj@******.com
Message no. 3
From: Ereskanti <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 00:06:12 EST
In a message dated 98-01-19 23:34:55 EST, aaronj@******.COM writes:

> Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
> not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
> wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems
unnecasarry
> (sp?)?

I personally don't see why not, actually, it's not a bad idea at all.

> I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it
be
> used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
> depending on current speed and wind direction?

Oooooo, Hey Tobias, lookie here...with a spoiler of this stuff, and perhaps
drag points that extend from a vehicular body, a Ground Car -might- even stay
on the ground and make those speeds we were looking for...VIPER HERE WE
COME!!!

> Aaron (Still looking for a SIG) Jones

Mike and I, with some guidance from Jon of course, have come around to the
idea of using Smart Materials on Submarines and/or Naval Vessels. Improving
Control surfaces, altering some degree of cavitation/image reflection, and all
sorts of other mayhem are potentially feasible, if just a bit ultra-fantastic.

-K
Message no. 4
From: Aaron Jones <aaronj@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 01:42:00 -0500
>In a message dated 98-01-19 23:34:55 EST, aaronj@******.COM writes:
>
>> Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
>> not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
>> wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems
>unnecasarry
>> (sp?)?
>
One very important factor in determining what is and is not feasible
would be speed. Just how fast can this stuff move?

Aaron (Still looking for a SIG) Jones
aaronj@******.com
Message no. 5
From: Mon goose <landsquid@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 00:51:39 PST
>>> Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the
flaps (I'm not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing
edge of the wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics
systems unnecasarry
>>> (sp?)?
>>
> One very important factor in determining what is and is not
feasible would be speed. Just how fast can this stuff move?
>
>Aaron (Still looking for a SIG) Jones
>aaronj@******.com
>

Smartmaterils = laminated/ engeneered peizo-electrics,right? Peizo
electrics, as in ultrasonic transducers! Speed is NOT the problem.
Strength might be, but then, Jon said the stuff was good for helicopter
rotors, and Iv'e read articles on similar materials used a "flippers"
for boats at MIT, so it seems strong enough. I'd say replacing wing and
tailflapsis an ideal solution- in fact, the entire contol surfacecouldbe
designed to flex, eleminating seams and improving performance to a level
closer to that of birds (yes, IMO, small ornothropters would be no
problem using this stuff). All that is pretty well covered by the
listed gains for smart materials.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 6
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 07:35:02 -0700
Aaron Jones wrote:
/
/ Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
/ not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
/ wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems unnecasarry
/ (sp?)?

Yes, but they would be applied to the entire wing to change the
camber of the wing (changing lift) removing the need for flaps at
all. Combine a smart wing with vectored thrust and you don't need a
tail assembly anymore (vastly reducing the plane's radar signature).
Of course you would need one hell of a software package to keep it in
the air, but it's definitly possible (birds already do it :)

BTW, I'm pretty sure that one of the fighters from RBB uses smart
materials technology (I can't remember the exact quote). I hope that
was carried over to R2.

/ I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it be
/ used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
/ depending on current speed and wind direction?

Definitely. Current formula one cars ride a fine line between
adjusting their spoilers to create just enough downforce to keep them
on the track when going through a curve while trying to keep drag low
enough to go faster than the other guy on the straight aways. Too
much downforce and you stay glued to the track but you can't get up
to speed. Too little and you'll fly down the straight aways, and
skid right out of the curves.

If you use smart materials you can have the spoilers flatten out on
the straight aways (reducing drag) and crank up the down force on the
curves. All you would need are sensors to monitor the turn rate and
lateral Gs experienced by the car and the software to adjust the
spoilers. If the software exists to keep a US Stealth Fighter in the
air, then it should be possible to create the software necessary for
a race car to adjust it's spoilers.

Which makes me wonder why nobody's used simple flap technology on
formula car spoiler... <shrug>.

-David
--
"Fortune favors the brave." - Terence
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 7
From: James Paul Morgan <jpmorgan@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 08:46:51 -0700
On Tue, 20 Jan 1998, David Buehrer wrote:

> Which makes me wonder why nobody's used simple flap technology on
> formula car spoiler... <shrug>.
>

Probably a combination of cost and would the refs or whoever is in charge
of such racing allow it. I've heard there are strict inspections on what
can and can not be on such a car.

The cost would be because the first person to do it would need millions to
develop it. Better to let the military develop it and soak that cost,
then reap the benefits in 10 years or whatever.


See ya around the Mulberry bush.

--James
(Mission Specialist for the Ventrue on Mars project.)

:)
Message no. 8
From: "Panther`" <qmilton@**.NET>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 19:13:55 -0800
JonSzeto wrote:
>
<monster-sized snip>
>
> That's about all I can guess about smart materials. If anyone else has any
> other creative uses for smart materials, I'd love to hear it.

Here's a relatively simple idea: cars whose bodies automatically
straighten and fix dents. I realize that any major structural damage
would still require the attention of a professional mechanic, but I'm
only talking about the usual dents and dings that cars receive...like if
somebody hits you in a parking lot, for example. Today that'd cost at
least a hundred dollars, usually. And people who drive some of the more
exotic/expensive types of cars would be abel to appreciate this ability,
as it would cost them FAR more to have repaired than for, say, someone
who drives an Americar.

Panther
Message no. 9
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 16:44:44 +0000
And verily, did David Buehrer hastily scribble thusly...
|
|Aaron Jones wrote:
|/
|/ Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
|/ not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
|/ wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems unnecasarry
|/ (sp?)?
|
|Yes, but they would be applied to the entire wing to change the
|camber of the wing (changing lift) removing the need for flaps at
|all. Combine a smart wing with vectored thrust and you don't need a
|tail assembly anymore (vastly reducing the plane's radar signature).
|Of course you would need one hell of a software package to keep it in
|the air, but it's definitly possible (birds already do it :)

And in the news today, the Civil Aviation Authority has grounded all aircraft
running Microsoft flight manager 2030, after discovering a fatal bug in the
software. (It seems that if the plane is in a climb of 10% AND someone in
the toilet flushes the chain as the plane begins to level off, the system
completely crashes, and soon after the plane.....

Hehehehe....
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
|Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
|Principal Subjects in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
|Comp Sci & Electronics | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 10
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 09:53:19 -0700
James Paul Morgan wrote:
/
/ On Tue, 20 Jan 1998, David Buehrer wrote:
/
/ > Which makes me wonder why nobody's used simple flap technology on
/ > formula car spoiler... <shrug>.
/ >
/
/ Probably a combination of cost and would the refs or whoever is in charge
/ of such racing allow it. I've heard there are strict inspections on what
/ can and can not be on such a car.

Yeah, after the first spoiler was used racing regulations became
pretty stiff and long winded. But spoilers can be adjusted during a
race. It'd be a simple step to add computer control to adjust the
spoilers while the car is on the track.

/ The cost would be because the first person to do it would need millions to
/ develop it. Better to let the military develop it and soak that cost,
/ then reap the benefits in 10 years or whatever.

Have you seen the telemetry systems on formula one cars these days?
They're measuring everything, including the G forces on the car. All
they need to do is pay a programmer (a couple Gs and a case of
Mountain Dew ;) to write some software to control actuators on the
spoilers.

Anyway, either it hasn't occured to anybody yet, or there's some
regulation disallowing it. In SR 205x however... :)

-David
--
"Fortune favors the brave." - Terence
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 11
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 10:01:45 -0700
Spike wrote:
/
/ And verily, did David Buehrer hastily scribble thusly...
/ |
/ |Aaron Jones wrote:
/ |/
/ |/ Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps
/ |
/ |Yes, but they would be applied to the entire wing to change the
/ |camber of the wing (changing lift) removing the need for flaps at
/ |all. Combine a smart wing with vectored thrust and you don't need a
/ |tail assembly anymore (vastly reducing the plane's radar signature).
/ |Of course you would need one hell of a software package to keep it in
/ |the air, but it's definitly possible (birds already do it :)
/
/ "And in the news today, the Civil Aviation Authority has grounded all aircraft
/ running Microsoft flight manager 2030, after discovering a fatal bug in the
/ software. It seems that if the plane is in a climb of 10% AND someone in
/ the toilet flushes the chain as the plane begins to level off...

...the software confuses this with a command to flush it's buffers and
resets all the onboard systems to preflight mode. This of course
shuts down the engines, which results in the plane falling out of the
sky somewhat like not very aerodynamic brick.

Microsoft has denied any liability, and claims that it's the Airliner's
fault for putting incompatible java software in their toilets."

(Hey Gurth. Any chance of editing this and adding it as a news item
for NAGTTW? :)

-David
--
"Fortune favors the brave." - Terence
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 12
From: Jason Hyatt <jhyatt@******.NET>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 12:18:18 -0500
>Yeah, after the first spoiler was used racing regulations became
>pretty stiff and long winded. But spoilers can be adjusted during a
>race. It'd be a simple step to add computer control to adjust the
>spoilers while the car is on the track.


<snip..>

>Have you seen the telemetry systems on formula one cars these days?
>They're measuring everything, including the G forces on the car. All
>they need to do is pay a programmer (a couple Gs and a case of
>Mountain Dew ;) to write some software to control actuators on the
>spoilers.


Actually telemetry is fine but the rules (nascar cart indy) strictly
forbid any form of computer control systems. Its fine to adjust the
spoilers based on info from the telemetry but this has to be done by
the pit crew.
Message no. 13
From: Zixx <t_berghoff@*********.NETSURF.DE>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 18:35:33 +0000
On 19 Jan 98 at 22:56, JonSzeto wrote:

[snip!]

> wafer change. Piezoelectricity is used in a number of applications that
> translate mechanical oscillation into electric signals (e.e., the voice
> receiver of your telephone)

Hmmm? I've never seen a telephone that used pizos. They usually use that
damn coal-dust thing. Thren again, I have't disassembled a phone for quite
some time. :)

[snipped some more]

Actually that brought something up in my mind. Not smart materials the way
you describe it, but something I've read about a few xears ago: Materials
with form-memory. Metals, especially. The nice thing is that they go back
to their original form after deformation, much like a rubber. Just imagine
armor made of that stuff. You fire at it with your HMG and make some pretty
bit holes in the armor, whcih close afterwards. Nice, if yuo use
armor-degradation rules.


Tobias Berghoff a.k.a Zixx a.k.a. Charon, your friendly werepanther physad.

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK------------
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UL++(++++) P+ L++ E W+ N+(+++) o? K?(-)
w---() O- M-- V- PS+ PE- Y+>++ PGP-
t+(++) 5+ X++ R* tv b++ DI(+) D++ G>++
e>+++++(*) h! r-- z?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK-------------
Message no. 14
From: Zixx <t_berghoff@*********.NETSURF.DE>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 18:35:34 +0000
On 19 Jan 98 at 23:39, Aaron Jones wrote:

> Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
> not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
> wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems unnecasarry
> (sp?)?

Yup. It's basically the same as the rotor-problem, so there shouldn't be
much of a problem. Besides, it might me really good for economics and
stealth...

> I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it be
> used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
> depending on current speed and wind direction?

Up to a certain amount, I'd say yes.


Tobias Berghoff a.k.a Zixx a.k.a. Charon, your friendly werepanther physad.

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK------------
GAT/CS/S/IT d--- s+:- !a>? C++(++++)
UL++(++++) P+ L++ E W+ N+(+++) o? K?(-)
w---() O- M-- V- PS+ PE- Y+>++ PGP-
t+(++) 5+ X++ R* tv b++ DI(+) D++ G>++
e>+++++(*) h! r-- z?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK-------------
Message no. 15
From: Zixx <t_berghoff@*********.NETSURF.DE>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 22:33:14 +0000
On 20 Jan 98 at 0:06, Ereskanti wrote:
> > I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it
> be
> > used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
> > depending on current speed and wind direction?
>
> Oooooo, Hey Tobias, lookie here...with a spoiler of this stuff, and perhaps
> drag points that extend from a vehicular body, a Ground Car -might- even stay
> on the ground and make those speeds we were looking for...VIPER HERE WE
> COME!!!

Did I ever tell you that the Dodge Lighning is what came AFTER the Viper?
:)
Anyway, I actually thought about that some time ago (hey, you're not the
only one who can say that ;)) and it doesn't help a bit. Basically, our
problem is just that the air going over the car has a longer way than the
air going under the car. Basic aerodynamics: The car acts like a wing. Look
the the Diablo (VT-version, if oyu have the choice ;)). The car is so flat,
it hurts. You can do that with normal materials, smarts don't help you.
But Jon said 90 degrees....can anyone else tell me why 90 degrees, some
monoblades and a couple of bikers driving next to my car make a really
messy street-painting (geee...I'm violent today!)


> Mike and I, with some guidance from Jon of course, have come around to the
> idea of using Smart Materials on Submarines and/or Naval Vessels. Improving
> Control surfaces, altering some degree of cavitation/image reflection, and all
> sorts of other mayhem are potentially feasible, if just a bit ultra-fantastic.

Not really. The idea with the flaps, transformed for control-surfaces works
just as fine. Besides: To some degree, fish-like swimming might me doable.

"Buy the new Thuna-class attack submarine!"
....complete with italian salad....



>
> -K
>
>

Tobias Berghoff a.k.a Zixx a.k.a. Charon, your friendly werepanther physad.

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK------------
GAT/CS/S/IT d--- s+:- !a>? C++(++++)
UL++(++++) P+ L++ E W+ N+(+++) o? K?(-)
w---() O- M-- V- PS+ PE- Y+>++ PGP-
t+(++) 5+ X++ R* tv b++ DI(+) D++ G>++
e>+++++(*) h! r-- z?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK-------------
Message no. 16
From: Matb <mbreton@**.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 10:40:23 -0800
Panther` wrote:

> > That's about all I can guess about smart materials. If anyone else has any
> > other creative uses for smart materials, I'd love to hear it.

> Here's a relatively simple idea: cars whose bodies automatically
> straighten and fix dents. I realize that any major structural damage
> would still require the attention of a professional mechanic, but I'm
> only talking about the usual dents and dings that cars receive...like if
> somebody hits you in a parking lot, for example. Today that'd cost at
> least a hundred dollars, usually. And people who drive some of the more
> exotic/expensive types of cars would be abel to appreciate this ability,
> as it would cost them FAR more to have repaired than for, say, someone
> who drives an Americar.


Nice idea, but the industry doesn't like it. Too much money in repair
shops, spare parts, and fixed-lifetimes of vehicles to make such a
change that would vastly improve the lifespan of a car.

(Also, most car *panels* are injected-plastic molds, rather than metal;
I'm not sure how much Nitinol weighs compared to plastic, but I'm sure
it would affect the efficiency somewhat.)

-Matt

------------------------------------
With nomads I am numbered. -- E. MacColl

Shadowrun Card Game Website:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/2189/ccgtop.htm
Message no. 17
From: Brett Borger <bxb121@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 16:15:05 EST
> Actually that brought something up in my mind. Not smart materials
> the way you describe it, but something I've read about a few xears
> ago: Materials with form-memory. Metals, especially. The nice thing
> is that they go back to their original form after deformation, much
> like a rubber. Just imagine armor made of that stuff. You fire at it
> with your HMG and make some pretty bit holes in the armor, whcih
> close afterwards. Nice, if yuo use armor-degradation rules.


Every bit of Memory Metal I've seen has had the rigidity of thin
aluminum and required a temperature change to reform.

Q: Here we have our latest thing out of R&D.
Bond: What's this, a suit of armor? Has the Queen decided to
finally knight me then?

Q: This would be much easier if you wouldn't interupt. Now, as I was
saying, this is the new suit of Cased Officer with Form Fitting
Integral Normalization. (COFFIN).

Bond: I say Q, you are getting morbid. Perhaps you should get out
more. I have some very nice lady friends who..

Q: Yes, yes, enough out of you. As I was saying, this armor not only
serves to protect you from harmful sunbeams, but should you get shot,
you need only change the temperature 20 degrees Celcius to restor
what is left to the original shape.

Bond: Remarkable.

Q: Here, I've borrowed a crew member from the stage down the hall to
demonstrate.

<in walks a red-shirted Star Trek:TOS Ensign. He dons the armor.>

Q: Right. Watch carefully 007. < he picks up an SMG and empties
about 30 rounds into the Ensign, who screams and get tossed about by
the bullets. The armor resembles fishnet now. The Ensign falls to
his knees, blood pooling around him, moaning in agony>

Bond: That'll leave a mark.

Q: Not really. Observe. <He walks up to the moaning Ensign and
pushes him back with his foot into a tub of boiling water. The water
bubbles fiercely and turns pick then red. The Ensign's screams
become higher pitched and more frantic before being silenced.>

<Bond looks in the pool, then at Q, then back. Repeat several
times.>

Q: There, that should be enough. < He dons oven mitts and grabs a
meat hook. Leaning over the tub he snags the Ensigns body and drags
it out of the tub.> There, you see. The armor is perfectly
restored, and ready for the next agent.

Bond: Um, Q. I want you to be the first to know that I've decided to
marry Montepenny immediately. I'll send 008 to you as soon as
possible.

<Bond hurries away>

Q: <to his rapidly retreating back> Really Bond.

-=SwiftOne=-
Message no. 18
From: Aaron Jones <aaronj@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 00:15:18 -0500
>On 20 Jan 98 at 0:06, Ereskanti wrote:
>> > I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it
>> be
>> > used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
>> > depending on current speed and wind direction?
>>
>> Oooooo, Hey Tobias, lookie here...with a spoiler of this stuff, and perhaps
>> drag points that extend from a vehicular body, a Ground Car -might- even stay
>> on the ground and make those speeds we were looking for...VIPER HERE WE
>> COME!!!
>
>Did I ever tell you that the Dodge Lighning is what came AFTER the Viper?
>:)
>Anyway, I actually thought about that some time ago (hey, you're not the
>only one who can say that ;)) and it doesn't help a bit. Basically, our
>problem is just that the air going over the car has a longer way than the
>air going under the car. Basic aerodynamics: The car acts like a wing. Look
>the the Diablo (VT-version, if oyu have the choice ;)). The car is so flat,
>it hurts. You can do that with normal materials, smarts don't help you.
>But Jon said 90 degrees....can anyone else tell me why 90 degrees, some
>monoblades and a couple of bikers driving next to my car make a really
>messy street-painting (geee...I'm violent today!)
>
What about the device mentioned for Formula 1 which was instantly
outlawed...Ground effect fans, was it? Just pull the car to the ground and
nail it there...
Here's a thought for those truly made of money and status...Never
have another hinge in your entire vehicle...trunks, hoods, doors...

Aaron (Still looking for a SIG) Jones
aaronj@******.com
Message no. 19
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 11:53:03 +0100
Brett Borger said on 16:15/20 Jan 98...

> Q: Here we have our latest thing out of R&D.
> Bond: What's this, a suit of armor? Has the Queen decided to
> finally knight me then?

LOL! Great story :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
Aan cultuur doe je maar thuis.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
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Message no. 20
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 11:53:02 +0100
David Buehrer said on 10:01/20 Jan 98...

[snip flushing toilets on airliners]
> (Hey Gurth. Any chance of editing this and adding it as a news item
> for NAGTTW? :)

Sure thing. I'll just replace Microsoft by Microdeck and everything should
be fine :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
Aan cultuur doe je maar thuis.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
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Message no. 21
From: Matthew Waddilove <m_waddilove@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 02:58:50 PST
<SNIP>
>> on the ground and make those speeds we were looking for...VIPER HERE
WE
>> COME!!!
>
>Did I ever tell you that the Dodge Lighning is what came AFTER the
Viper?
>:)
>Anyway, I actually thought about that some time ago (hey, you're not
the
>only one who can say that ;)) and it doesn't help a bit. Basically, our
>problem is just that the air going over the car has a longer way than
the
>air going under the car. Basic aerodynamics: The car acts like a wing.
Look
>the the Diablo (VT-version, if oyu have the choice ;)). The car is so
flat,
>it hurts. You can do that with normal materials, smarts don't help you.


Diablo, Viper c'mon ... TVR Speed 12!!

7.7 Litre 90 degree V12 with steel block, 48 valve
Max Power 800 bhp @ 7250 rpm
Max Torque 650 ft/lbs @ 5750 rpm
top speed 240 mph
0-60 mph <3 seconds

now thats what I call fast!

have a look at other TVR stuff at http://www.east1.co.uk/tvrcity/
this is not a sales pitch I'm just waiting till I have a spare £150,000.


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Message no. 22
From: s c rose <scrose@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 08:10:41 -0600
Spike wrote:
>
> And verily, did David Buehrer hastily scribble thusly...
> |
> |Aaron Jones wrote:
> |/
> |/ Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
> |/ not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
> |/ wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems unnecasarry
> |/ (sp?)?
> |
> |Yes, but they would be applied to the entire wing to change the
> |camber of the wing (changing lift) removing the need for flaps at
> |all. Combine a smart wing with vectored thrust and you don't need a
> |tail assembly anymore (vastly reducing the plane's radar signature).
> |Of course you would need one hell of a software package to keep it in
> |the air, but it's definitly possible (birds already do it :)

Take a good look at a B2 it's all wing and very complex. The first
expermental flying
wings designs came out in the in the 1950's it's when they noticed the
things about no
little to no tail assembly making a small radar signature... The concept
of flying wing
tech has been around for over a century by the time SR takes place. IMO
their is no
reason smart materials could not be used in a flying wing design besides
which they
look really wiz...


--

Get a shot off fast. This upsets him long enough
to make you make your second shot perfect.
Message no. 23
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 07:25:33 -0700
s c rose wrote:
/
/ > And verily, did David Buehrer hastily scribble thusly...
/ > |
/ > |Aaron Jones wrote:
/ > |/
[snip: smart materials on airplanes?]
/ > |
/ > |Yes, but they would be applied to the entire wing to change the
/ > |camber of the wing (changing lift) removing the need for flaps at
/ > |all. Combine a smart wing with vectored thrust and you don't need a
/ > |tail assembly anymore (vastly reducing the plane's radar signature).
/ > |Of course you would need one hell of a software package to keep it in
/ > |the air, but it's definitly possible (birds already do it :)
/
/ Take a good look at a B2 it's all wing and very complex. The first
/ expermental flying
/ wings designs came out in the in the 1950's it's when they noticed the
/ things about no
/ little to no tail assembly making a small radar signature... The concept
/ of flying wing
/ tech has been around for over a century by the time SR takes place. IMO
/ their is no
/ reason smart materials could not be used in a flying wing design besides
/ which they
/ look really wiz...

Actually I'm pretty sure the Germans had a few flying wing designs in
WWII. I think one of their rocket planes was a flying wing. It was
also a death trap though.

Anyway, flying wings have been around. But they haven't been agile
enough to be fighters. Vectored thrust is changing that however.

I'd expect flying wing/vectored thrust to be the standard for
military aircraft in SR 205x.

-David
--
"Fortune favors the brave." - Terence
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 24
From: AirWisp <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 10:04:28 EST
In a message dated 98-01-19 23:33:54 EST, you write:

> Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
> not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
> wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems
unnecasarry
> (sp?)?
> I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it
be
> used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
> depending on current speed and wind direction?
Message no. 25
From: AirWisp <AirWisp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 10:06:20 EST
In a message dated 98-01-19 23:33:54 EST, you write:

> Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
> not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
> wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems
unnecasarry
> (sp?)?
> I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it
be
> used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
> depending on current speed and wind direction?

Sorry about the double posting ...

I could see this happening ... except for one thing ... large surfaces of the
aircraft would need to be covered with Smart Materials to get the aircraft to
be a flapless aircraft ... you would almost have to consider the rigger as
willing the plane to turn ... and the plane in turn changes shape minutely to
do so ...

Mike
Message no. 26
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 21:15:07 +0100
David Buehrer said on 7:25/21 Jan 98...

> Actually I'm pretty sure the Germans had a few flying wing designs in
> WWII. I think one of their rocket planes was a flying wing. It was
> also a death trap though.

The Me-163. There were other German flying wings IIRC, but the best-known
are all Nothrop-designs of the late 1940s/early '50s, plus of course the
current B-2.

> I'd expect flying wing/vectored thrust to be the standard for
> military aircraft in SR 205x.

Very well possible, I think. Flying wings and vectored thrust fighters are
both in service today, so it probably won't be all that long before
somebody combines the two.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
"Do we LOOK like secret agents?!"
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
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Message no. 27
From: The Bookworm <Thomas.M.Price@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 16:07:33 -0600
On Wed, 21 Jan 1998, David Buehrer wrote:
> s c rose wrote:
>> Take a good look at a B2 it's all wing and very complex. The first
>> expermental flying wings designs came out in the in the 1950's it's
>> when they noticed the things about no little to no tail assembly making
>> a small radar signature... The concept of flying wing tech has been
>> around for over a century by the time SR takes place. IMO their is no
>> reason smart materials could not be used in a flying wing design
>> besides which they look really wiz...
> Actually I'm pretty sure the Germans had a few flying wing designs in
> WWII. I think one of their rocket planes was a flying wing. It was
> also a death trap though.

But IIRC the early flying wings had small tails with rudders on them. The
B-2 is the first compleatly tailless flying wing, the only controll
surfaces are the flaperons. Getting the flaperons to work correctly took a
computer but with the minor tail you could use a 40's mechanical system.

> Anyway, flying wings have been around. But they haven't been agile
> enough to be fighters. Vectored thrust is changing that however.
> I'd expect flying wing/vectored thrust to be the standard for
> military aircraft in SR 205x.

Just as long as they didnt lose the source code for the Controll programs
in the crash of '29 :)

Thomas Price
aka The Bookworm
thomas.m.price@*******.edu
tmprice@***********.com
Message no. 28
From: The Bookworm <Thomas.M.Price@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 16:08:53 -0600
On Tue, 20 Jan 1998, David Buehrer wrote:

> Have you seen the telemetry systems on formula one cars these days?
> They're measuring everything, including the G forces on the car. All
> they need to do is pay a programmer (a couple Gs and a case of
> Mountain Dew ;) to write some software to control actuators on the
> spoilers.

Naw it would cost more than that. You forgot the Pizza and Skittles! :)

Thomas Price
aka The Bookworm
thomas.m.price@*******.edu
tmprice@***********.com
Message no. 29
From: s c rose <scrose@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 11:32:03 -0600
David Buehrer wrote:
<snip>

> / tech has been around for over a century by the time SR takes place. IMO
> / their is no
> / reason smart materials could not be used in a flying wing design besides
> / which they
> / look really wiz...
>
> Actually I'm pretty sure the Germans had a few flying wing designs in
> WWII. I think one of their rocket planes was a flying wing. It was
> also a death trap though.

The delta wing rocket powered planes such as the ME163 are not ture
flying wings. Neither are the
assoted varible wing Fighters in use today. The only fully operational
flying wing is the B2's
bomber. Military avation and history are a hobbie of mine so I have
spent the time and trouble to study this stuff. The 3rd Reich had some
of the most advanced aircaft of the time but no fully operational flying
wing planes. The laftuaffe abandoned it's experments and did not produce
operational aircraft. They where rather busy getting the living dog
snotpounded out of them at the time by the RAF and USArmy Air corps. So
experments that did not have get positive results where rather quickly
adandoned in favor of other designs to try and get an advantage over the
allied airforces.



> Anyway, flying wings have been around. But they haven't been agile
> enough to be fighters. Vectored thrust is changing that however.

Actually flying wing designs are very agile in the air, Matter of fact
they are rather unstable
in some ways and tend to have wonderful pitch and roll abilities, the
kicker is they are not easy to contol
at high speed and require almost constant adjustments in the control
surfaces to keep them under control at all. Very high Speeds and
constant changes in the control surfaces are bad combination at best.
Which is one of the reasons they make poor fighter platforms IMO.
Agility is a combination of not only moving quickly but changing flight
vectors as well.

> I'd expect flying wing/vectored thrust to be the standard for
> military aircraft in SR 205x.

With the use of smart matericals and flight computers to deal with
making the plane stay in the air.
Vectored thrust would make make flying wing low altude low speed
fighters very effective, You could quite do things modern planes can not
even think about doing in the area of manuvers.

Just my two cents on the topic of future air craft and a little history
to boot.


--

Never Appeal to a man's "better nature" he may not have one.
Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.
Message no. 30
From: Drekhead <drekhead@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 14:26:38 -0500
On 22 Jan 98 at 11:32, s c rose wrote:

> Military avation and history are a hobbie of mine so I have spent
> the time and trouble to study this stuff. The 3rd Reich had some of
> the most advanced aircaft of the time but no fully operational
> flying wing planes. The laftuaffe abandoned it's experments and did

Hey plane buff, how come you didn't know it was spelled Luftwaffe?
:)

--
===DREKHEAD==================================drekhead@***.net====
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Alley/6990/index.html
=================================================================
The beatings will continue until morale improves.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 31
From: losthalo <losthalo@********.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 19:42:56 -0500
At 11:32 AM 1/22/98 -0600, you wrote:

>With the use of smart matericals and flight computers to deal with
>making the plane stay in the air.
>Vectored thrust would make make flying wing low altude low speed
>fighters very effective, You could quite do things modern planes can not
>even think about doing in the area of manuvers.

True, but aren't the vectored-thrust planes in use by the military now
mainly in the roles of Ground Attack and not Fighters? I'm thinking mainly
of the Harrier, but aren't there design limitations to V.T. to prevent the
high speeds needed by fighters?


losthalo@********.comGoFa6)7(Im6TJt)Fe(7P!ShMoB4/19.2Bk!cBkc8MBV6sM3ZG
oPuTeiClbMehC6a23=n4bSSH173g4L??96FmT1Ea4@*********************
4h7sM8zSsYnk6BSMmpFNN0393NRfmSLusOH1Whileyouarelisteningyourwillingat
tentionismakingyoumoreandmoreintothepersonyouwanttobecome
Message no. 32
From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 10:55:56 +1000
losthalo writes:
>>With the use of smart matericals and flight computers to deal with
>>making the plane stay in the air.
>>Vectored thrust would make make flying wing low altude low speed
>>fighters very effective, You could quite do things modern planes can not
>>even think about doing in the area of manuvers.
>
>True, but aren't the vectored-thrust planes in use by the military now
>mainly in the roles of Ground Attack and not Fighters? I'm thinking mainly
>of the Harrier, but aren't there design limitations to V.T. to prevent the
>high speeds needed by fighters?


I'm far from the best guy on the list here to comment on this, but..

I thought the Harrier could be used as a fighter. Sure, the US Marines use
it as a ground attack craft, but the Brits base it on carriers...

I'm sure someone cluey will fill us in. For what it's worth, though (and
back OT), isn't the Federated-Boeing "Eagle" a vectored-thrust fighter?

(I can send email at work... I can't bring my SR books in. :) )
--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons.
Message no. 33
From: Ereskanti <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:36:44 EST
In a message dated 98-01-22 19:47:22 EST, losthalo@********.COM writes:

> True, but aren't the vectored-thrust planes in use by the military now
> mainly in the roles of Ground Attack and not Fighters? I'm thinking mainly
> of the Harrier, but aren't there design limitations to V.T. to prevent the
> high speeds needed by fighters?
>
For some designs, I know this is true. However, I also know that a true "Jump
Jet", more akin to the thing(s) that could be made in R2 could happen,
especially when combining better engine and thrust controls and Smart
Materials. Imagine an engine, using Jon's suggested limitations and/or
guidelines on Smart Materials made of such material, at least from the venting
point of view....

-K
Message no. 34
From: The Bookworm <Thomas.M.Price@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 22:55:01 -0600
On Thu, 22 Jan 1998, losthalo wrote:

> At 11:32 AM 1/22/98 -0600, you wrote:
> >With the use of smart matericals and flight computers to deal with
> >making the plane stay in the air.
> >Vectored thrust would make make flying wing low altude low speed
> >fighters very effective, You could quite do things modern planes can not
> >even think about doing in the area of manuvers.
> True, but aren't the vectored-thrust planes in use by the military now
> mainly in the roles of Ground Attack and not Fighters? I'm thinking mainly
> of the Harrier, but aren't there design limitations to V.T. to prevent the
> high speeds needed by fighters?

Well it depends on how much you vector the thrust. IIRC the Harrier can
vector its trust from full back to about 10degreese forward of straight
down with the line of thrust always being through the CM of the the
aircraft . This allows it to hover and move backwards and do other funky
stuff. With that sort of system i can see having technical problems
limiting your speed and weight.
The version being deployed on next generation fighters like the
F-22 is more limited. It uses more standard engings with moveable nozzels
on the end that allow you to deflect your thrust up to about 15 degrees to
any one side. This allows you to have faster attitued changes than just
useing controll surfaces and in a greatter flight envelope but does not
allow you to hover, fly backwards, ect...
Anyone out there with more knowledge willing to share?

Thomas Price
aka The Bookworm
thomas.m.price@*******.edu
tmprice@***********.com
Message no. 35
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 11:36:13 +0100
Robert Watkins said on 10:55/23 Jan 98...

> I thought the Harrier could be used as a fighter. Sure, the US Marines use
> it as a ground attack craft, but the Brits base it on carriers...

The British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm has Sea Harriers on small aircraft
carriers, and they've been used in, for example, the Falklands to shoot
down Argentinian (sp?) aircraft. However, that might have been because
they were the only British aircraft around, not because they were the best
for the job.

> I'm sure someone cluey will fill us in. For what it's worth, though (and
> back OT), isn't the Federated-Boeing "Eagle" a vectored-thrust fighter?

The RBB describes it as having "supersonic-capable, variable-directed
thrust engines" and being a "single-seat fighter with variable-geometry
wings". (The picture doesn't make sense at all from the description, BTW.)

In Rigger 2, it's become a multiple-role "vectored-thrust vehicle" using
the Jump Jet Fighter template.

From all that, it seems the F-B Eagle is intended as a multi-role fighter,
much like for example the current F/A-18 Hornet, but with VTOL
capabilities.

> (I can send email at work... I can't bring my SR books in. :) )

Sure you can :)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
I believe in death after life.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

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Message no. 36
From: David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 11:48:38 -0700
losthalo wrote:
/
/ At 11:32 AM 1/22/98 -0600, you wrote:
/
/ >With the use of smart matericals and flight computers to deal with
/ >making the plane stay in the air.
/ >Vectored thrust would make make flying wing low altude low speed
/ >fighters very effective, You could quite do things modern planes can not
/ >even think about doing in the area of manuvers.
/
/ True, but aren't the vectored-thrust planes in use by the military now
/ mainly in the roles of Ground Attack and not Fighters? I'm thinking mainly
/ of the Harrier, but aren't there design limitations to V.T. to prevent the
/ high speeds needed by fighters?

Sorry. I'm talking about current research to vector the thrust from
the nozzle of the engine by making a flexible nozzle (like those
accordian straws we used to drink from as kids).

The idea is that when you turn the plane in any direction (up, down,
left, right) the nozzles vector the thrust from the engines to
further increase the rate of turn, or to increase the responsiveness
of the plane. If you took a car and gave the rear wheels the ability
to turn in a direction opposite of the front tires you would get a
similar effect. It will also add some new stunts to a fighter's bag
of tricks.

The Harrier does vector it's thrust, but with different technology.
Current research is attempting to apply it to fighters. I think the
latest Russian jet (the name escapes me) has working vectored
thrust. The US has working vectored thrust technology, but only on
experimental planes (AFAIK).

With good enough vectored thrust nozzles you don't need a tail
assembly anymore, and end up with a flying wing. Flying wings have a
low radar signature, and their inherent instability makes for a very
maneuverable plane (I'd love to see the B2 flying nap of the earth).

-David
--
"Fortune favors the brave." - Terence
--
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
Message no. 37
From: Simon <DSchossleitner@********.DE>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials 101
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 18:15:26 +0100
AirWisp schrieb:
> In a message dated 98-01-19 23:33:54 EST, you write:
>
> > Could smart materials be used on aircraft to replace the flaps (I'm
> > not much of an airplane person, but they're on the trailing edge of the
> > wing), making (I'm guessing) heavy and touchy hydraulics systems
> unnecasarry
> > (sp?)?
> > I'm not sure exactly how cost effective it would be, but could it
> be
> > used on a car's body panels, allowing the car to adjust its aerodynamics
> > depending on current speed and wind direction?
>
> Sorry about the double posting ...
>
> I could see this happening ... except for one thing ... large surfaces of the
> aircraft would need to be covered with Smart Materials to get the aircraft to
> be a flapless aircraft ... you would almost have to consider the rigger as
> willing the plane to turn ... and the plane in turn changes shape minutely to
> do so ...
>
> Mike

There is work being done to build a flapless plane right now. IIRC the whole
surface of the wings (maybe the body too) is covered with really small
bimetallic strips, well not exactly they rather look like tiny little loops.
the loops raise and lower themselves to change the flow of air over the wing
and can do so much faster than nomal flaps. Not really smart materials, but...
THe only problem seems to be modern (tosay) computing powerto control several
thousand of these on one wing,.

Simon

Further Reading

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