Aircraft Innovation from Mako Sharks
Shark Scales Inspire Faster Planes
Mako - Cheetah of the Ocean
A team from the University of Alabama has made a remarkable discovery. One of the world's fastest sharks, the shortfin Mako, has a built-in acceleration system on the surface of its skin. The Mako can move up to 80 mph. The shark's scale flexes up to 40 degrees. That prevents drag and enable the shark to move faster inn the water. The team's water tunnel experiments demonstrated how the scales generate high speeds.
Innovation for Aircraft
The team believes the same technology can be applied to the surface of planes and helicopters. And, they say there is tremendous potential to create a man-made surface that mimics nature's passive mechanism in Mako sharks. The research is very significant and could lead to new designs to reduce drug and increase speed in aircraft. This research was funded in part by Boeing and the US Army. It's being presented this week at the 2019 American Physical Society Meeting in Boston.
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| Shortfin Mako - "Cheetah of the Ocean" |
Mako - Cheetah of the Ocean
A team from the University of Alabama has made a remarkable discovery. One of the world's fastest sharks, the shortfin Mako, has a built-in acceleration system on the surface of its skin. The Mako can move up to 80 mph. The shark's scale flexes up to 40 degrees. That prevents drag and enable the shark to move faster inn the water. The team's water tunnel experiments demonstrated how the scales generate high speeds.
Innovation for Aircraft
The team believes the same technology can be applied to the surface of planes and helicopters. And, they say there is tremendous potential to create a man-made surface that mimics nature's passive mechanism in Mako sharks. The research is very significant and could lead to new designs to reduce drug and increase speed in aircraft. This research was funded in part by Boeing and the US Army. It's being presented this week at the 2019 American Physical Society Meeting in Boston.
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