Regulations and Government
European OEMs partner to study environmentally friendly helos
Archrivals AgustaWestland and Eurocopter will join forces on a major environmental research program that will include integration technology demonstrators

Archrivals AgustaWestland and Eurocopter will join forces on a major environmental research program that will include integration technology demonstrators (ITDs) for a greener helicopter. The project–part of the larger E1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative–is expected to yield innovations such as smart blades for the main rotor and electric drive for the tail rotor. The project is funded in part by the European Commission.

As part of the Green Rotorcraft ITD program, the companies will study an “intelligent” main rotor blade that incorporates an active control system for mechanical and fluid dynamics. It can use movable tabs or flaps–actuated by piezo-electric components or smart materials–an AgustaWestland spokesman told AIN. Sensors installed on the blade supply the required data.

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