Future Transportation Systems - Decreasing Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Gas Emissions in Transportation - page 274

17.2.1.6 New Maneuver Control Concepts
Electronic flight management systems can improve maneuvering and compensate
for vibrations by controlling the variable load on a wing by turbulence. Regulation
can be done with high performance and high speed micro controllers, which allow
fast redistribution of weight and changes in the wing profile according to the
external aerodynamic conditions [ 34 ].
The distribution of lift forces along the wingspan of a commercial aircraft has
an elliptical form. This distribution produces the lowest resistance while cruising.
In maneuvers like turning along a curved trajectory, the wing must produce more
lift. However, the distribution changes which leads to a higher load near the wing
root. For this reason the wing must be strengthened for the increased load. This
surplus weight must be carried unproductively while cruising [ 35 ].
Future control of maneuvering loads will be presumably able to make a fast
redistribution of the lift forces, which depend on the angle of attack and altitude.
By controlling the maneuvering loads, the lift will be shifted toward the wing root
while the load on the outer wing will decrease.
Control of the maneuvering load will be managed by leading and trailing edge
flaps, and spoilers. The wing profile will be varied by computer-based flight
control systems. For cruising, the trailing flaps will be retracted. For landing and
take-off they will be extended to increase the wing area and the camber.
The time span for regulation measures for flight maneuvers is extremely short.
New, high speed and high capacity microcontroller systems will be increasingly
used for this task.
17.2.2 Far Future Phases of Development
Airplanes which are just being tested in flight today will be in regular commercial
service in the next 30-40 years. During their long service life, their interiors,
fuselages, and cabins may be frequently modernized and their jet engines may be
modified many times. Older airplanes can be retrofitted to the most modern
standard. This is the way that airliners are going if they are rebuilt to being freight
transporters after a long service time interval.
17.2.2.1 Construction of Large Airplanes
Airports and airspaces are currently becoming more and more overcrowded. Since
air traffic will double within the next 15 years, the available airport capacities
cannot handle these increases. Super large airplanes with 600-1,000 passengers
could be a way out [ 36 ].
Future airports will manage large numbers of passengers, especially, if several
large airplanes arrive or takeoff at short intervals. Airport services such as fire
fighting, de-icing, and ground handling equipment will need to be increased.