Design and Fabrication of an Adaptive Leading Edge Rotor Blade

Using Compliant Systems, a variable geometry leading edge was developed for a high performance Sikorsky SSC-A09 rotor blade that morphs to an aerodynamically optimized 10-degree cambered profile (for ideal performance in the blade-retreated position) once per revolution. The variable geometry allows the blade to maintain an optimal profile throughout its entire azimuthal circuit, delaying blade stall and thereby offering substantial gains in forward speed, maneuverability, and payload capacity.