Warren F. Phillips, a hang-glider pilot and Utah State University professor, is awaiting a patent on an invention that could help reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency on airplanes.

"Twisteron" is a new technology he hopes will someday save the commercial airline industry about $400 million in fuel costs.

"Every object that moves through air produces drag, which is a force that opposes the motion," explained the 60-year-old Phillips, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and author of the textbook "Mechanics of Flight."

Objects that produce lift, such as an airplane's wing or parts of a sailboat, experience what is called "induced" drag. A sailboat's keel keeps it from tipping over as the sails catch the wind. In sailboat races, where crews look for ways to be faster, Twisteron technology used with the keel might help save precious time by reducing the drag on the keel, Phillips said.

More importantly, Phillips has discovered a way to control his invention on an airplane so that it adjusts to changes in drag as the airplane experiences a reduction in weight by burning fuel, or changes in air density at different altitudes and different speeds.

Written into the patent application are 120 ways to implement Twisteron, which would be built as part of a plane's wing system. The name describes a twisting action that takes place with a plane's wings during flight to reduce drag. It's a concept that has been around since the Wright Flyer first took flight in 1903.

Over the past five years, Phillips has worked on finding solutions to a complicated math formula that deals with lift. In a "special mathematical way," Twisteron distributes lift differently across the span of a wing.

"I'm mostly interested in the science and the mathematics of how things work," Phillips said.

A report by USU students about a small radio-controlled plane that used Twisteron technology won first place in the 2003 National Design, Build, Fly competition. Twisteron reduced drag by 20 percent during steep turns and 7 percent during level flight.

USU doctoral candidate Nick Alley worked on that plane and describes Phillips as a "hidden treasure" in Utah. Alley is basing his doctoral thesis on Phillips' work in hopes of expanding on Twisteron technology.

It's possible, Phillips said, that Twisteron could be used with commercial airliners within 10 years, once the technology gets through all of the Federal Aviation Administration hoops.

Across the industry, airlines are looking at carrying less emergency fuel to reduce weight and flying their jets at slower speeds to save money. But these carriers must wait for FAA approval to lighten their fuel load.

If Twisteron takes off, USU could benefit from technology transfer to the marketplace. The school also would attract more high-caliber students as USU further establishes itself on the national stage, according to Steve Kubisen, USU vice president of technology commercialization. If Twisteron technology is manufactured in Utah, the state would benefit from the economic development, Kubisen added.

The hope now is to attract federal or corporate funding to accelerate development of the technology by testing Twisteron in wind tunnels and on larger planes.



		16 June 2004 Hopes are high for 'Twisteron' USU professor develops way to reduce drag By Stephen Speckman Deseret Morning News Warren F. Phillips, a hang-glider pilot and Utah State University professor, is awaiting a patent on an invention that could help reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency on airplanes. "Twisteron" is a new technology he hopes will someday save the commercial airline industry about $400 million in fuel costs. "Every object that moves through air produces drag, which is a force that opposes the motion," explained the 60-year-old Phillips, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and author of the textbook "Mechanics of Flight." Objects that produce lift, such as an airplane's wing or parts of a sailboat, experience what is called "induced" drag. A sailboat's keel keeps it from tipping over as the sails catch the wind. In sailboat races, where crews look for ways to be faster, Twisteron technology used with the keel might help save precious time by reducing the drag on the keel, Phillips said. More importantly, Phillips has discovered a way to control his invention on an airplane so that it adjusts to changes in drag as the airplane experiences a reduction in weight by burning fuel, or changes in air density at different altitudes and different speeds. Written into the patent application are 120 ways to implement Twisteron, which would be built as part of a plane's wing system. The name describes a twisting action that takes place with a plane's wings during flight to reduce drag. It's a concept that has been around since the Wright Flyer first took flight in 1903. Over the past five years, Phillips has worked on finding solutions to a complicated math formula that deals with lift. In a "special mathematical way," Twisteron distributes lift differently across the span of a wing. "I'm mostly interested in the science and the mathematics of how things work," Phillips said. A report by USU students about a small radio-controlled plane that used Twisteron technology won first place in the 2003 National Design, Build, Fly competition. Twisteron reduced drag by 20 percent during steep turns and 7 percent during level flight. USU doctoral candidate Nick Alley worked on that plane and describes Phillips as a "hidden treasure" in Utah. Alley is basing his doctoral thesis on Phillips' work in hopes of expanding on Twisteron technology. It's possible, Phillips said, that Twisteron could be used with commercial airliners within 10 years, once the technology gets through all of the Federal Aviation Administration hoops. Across the industry, airlines are looking at carrying less emergency fuel to reduce weight and flying their jets at slower speeds to save money. But these carriers must wait for FAA approval to lighten their fuel load. If Twisteron takes off, USU could benefit from technology transfer to the marketplace. The school also would attract more high-caliber students as USU further establishes itself on the national stage, according to Steve Kubisen, USU vice president of technology commercialization. If Twisteron technology is manufactured in Utah, the state would benefit from the economic development, Kubisen added. The hope now is to attract federal or corporate funding to accelerate development of the technology by testing Twisteron in wind tunnels and on larger planes. © 2004 Deseret News Publishing Company

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