Abstract: A windshield wiper system includes a windshield wiper having a wiper blade with a near end and a far end. The windshield wiper is configured for performing a relative rotation of the wiper blade between the far end and the near end of the wiper blade. A mechanism applying a torque to the far end during a sweeping motion of the windshield wiper twists the far end of the wiper blade relative to the near end. The mechanism may perform the relative rotation of the wiper blade regardless of whether the wiper blade is in contact with a windshield. For example, the mechanism may include a stationary cam block having a cam profile, and an actuator arm moving along the cam profile with the sweeping motion of the windshield wiper. The cam profile is suitably shaped to pivot the actuator arm in laterally outer ranges of the sweeping motion.

Abstract: An edge-morphing arrangement for an airfoil includes a compliant upper surface and a compliant lower surface that are joined together. An actuator is coupled to a driven surface and actuated to move the driven surface and change the shape thereof, with the non-driven surface changing its shape in response to actuation of the driven surface. The upper and lower surfaces can be part of a sub-flap mounted to a traditional flap of the fixed wing of an airplane. The upper and lower surfaces can be mounted to existing structure in the flap, or the flap components can be mounted to the sub-flap. The upper and lower surfaces can alternatively replace the traditional flap in the fixed wing of an aircraft. The upper and lower surfaces are continuous and can be deflected upward, downward, or twisted in a span-wise direction relative to the flap or wing.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system includes a windshield wiper having a wiper blade with a near end and a far end. The windshield wiper is configured for performing a relative rotation of the wiper blade between the far end and the near end of the wiper blade. A mechanism applying a torque to the far end during a sweeping motion of the windshield wiper twists the far end of the wiper blade relative to the near end. The mechanism may perform the relative rotation of the wiper blade regardless of whether the wiper blade is in contact with a windshield. For example, the mechanism may include a stationary cam block having a cam profile, and an actuator arm moving along the cam profile with the sweeping motion of the windshield wiper. The cam profile is suitably shaped to pivot the actuator arm in laterally outer ranges of the sweeping motion.

Abstract: An edge-morphing arrangement for an airfoil includes a compliant upper surface and a compliant lower surface that are joined together. An actuator is coupled to a driven surface and actuated to move the driven surface and change the shape thereof, with the non-driven surface changing its shape in response to actuation of the driven surface. The upper and lower surfaces can be part of a sub-flap mounted to a traditional flap of the fixed wing of an airplane. The upper and lower surfaces can be mounted to existing structure in the flap, or the flap components can be mounted to the sub-flap. The upper and lower surfaces can alternatively replace the traditional flap in the fixed wing of an aircraft. The upper and lower surfaces are continuous and can be deflected upward, downward, or twisted in a span-wise direction relative to the flap or wing.