Patent ID: 8528863
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: B64C,F42B

Abstract:
1. A roll-up wing for an air vehicle, comprising: at least one layer of metal material; at least one layer of a shape memory polymer (SMP) material on said at least one layer of metal material, said SMP material characterized by a glass transition band Tg above which the SMP material is in an elastomeric state and below which the material is in a glassy state; a first means for heating the SMP material to a temperature in the glass transition band Tg to roll the wing around the air vehicle to a stored position, said SMP material cooling to transition to its glassy state while in the stored position; and second means for heating the SMP material to a temperature in or above the glass transition band Tg allowing strain energy stored in the layer of metal material to return the wing to a deployed position.