A system to actuate an active blade element attached to a rotor blade, the system comprising: an actuator system adapted to attach to an internal surface of the rotor blade, the actuator system adapted to provide a linear motion in response to receiving a control signal, the linear motion being in a direction that is parallel to the spanwise axis of the rotor blade; and a linear transmission system attached to the actuator system and adapted to attach to an active blade element attached to the rotor blade, the linear transmission system adapted to receive the linear motion provided by the actuator system, and, in response to the linear motion provided by the actuator system, provide at least a partial rotation of the active blade element about an axis of the linear transmission system, the axis being in the direction that is spanwise to the rotor blade, wherein the linear transmission system comprises: an inner elongated tubular member attached to the actuator system adapted to receive the linear motion provided by the actuator system and to traverse linearly in the direction that is parallel to the spanwise axis of the rotor blade responsive to the linear motion provided by the actuator system, the inner elongated tubular member including a plurality of first helical grooves formed in a first direction on an outer surface of the inner elongated tubular member; and characterized by an outer elongated tubular member positioned outside the inner elongated tubular member, the outer elongated tubular member attached to the active blade element, the outer elongated tubular member connected to the inner elongated tubular member and adapted to at least partially rotate on an axis of the outer elongated tubular member in response to the inner elongated tubular member traversing linearly in the direction that is spanwise to the rotor blade, the outer elongated tubular member including a plurality of second helical grooves (342a-c) formed in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction of the first helical grooves. an actuator system adapted to attach to an internal surface of the rotor blade, the actuator system adapted to provide a linear motion in response to receiving a control signal, the linear motion being in a direction that is parallel to the spanwise axis of the rotor blade; and a linear transmission system attached to the actuator system and adapted to attach to an active blade element attached to the rotor blade, the linear transmission system adapted to receive the linear motion provided by the actuator system, and, in response to the linear motion provided by the actuator system, provide at least a partial rotation of the active blade element about an axis of the linear transmission system, the axis being in the direction that is spanwise to the rotor blade, wherein the linear transmission system comprises: an inner elongated tubular member attached to the actuator system adapted to receive the linear motion provided by the actuator system and to traverse linearly in the direction that is parallel to the spanwise axis of the rotor blade responsive to the linear motion provided by the actuator system, the inner elongated tubular member including a plurality of first helical grooves formed in a first direction on an outer surface of the inner elongated tubular member; and characterized by an outer elongated tubular member positioned outside the inner elongated tubular member, the outer elongated tubular member attached to the active blade element, the outer elongated tubular member connected to the inner elongated tubular member and adapted to at least partially rotate on an axis of the outer elongated tubular member in response to the inner elongated tubular member traversing linearly in the direction that is spanwise to the rotor blade, the outer elongated tubular member including a plurality of second helical grooves (342a-c) formed in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction of the first helical grooves. an inner elongated tubular member attached to the actuator system adapted to receive the linear motion provided by the actuator system and to traverse linearly in the direction that is parallel to the spanwise axis of the rotor blade responsive to the linear motion provided by the actuator system, the inner elongated tubular member including a plurality of first helical grooves formed in a first direction on an outer surface of the inner elongated tubular member; and characterized by an outer elongated tubular member positioned outside the inner elongated tubular member, the outer elongated tubular member attached to the active blade element, the outer elongated tubular member connected to the inner elongated tubular member and adapted to at least partially rotate on an axis of the outer elongated tubular member in response to the inner elongated tubular member traversing linearly in the direction that is spanwise to the rotor blade, the outer elongated tubular member including a plurality of second helical grooves (342a-c) formed in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction of the first helical grooves.