Utilization of magnetic fields for highly advanced aircraft flight control

Current research in advanced aircraft technology has resulted in new concepts that are being investigated and incorporated into aircraft designs at Florida A & M University and the Center for Advanced Power Systems. One proposed model is the all-electric aircraft, including power-by-wire technology. The major components of this proposed design include fuel cell power generation, enhanced power system networks, incorporation of superconducting materials, and completely electrically driven subsystems. An enhancement to this work is the conception of plasma aerodynamic devices. Utilizing the forces produced by magnetic fields on electrically charged flows, there exists the ability to manipulate the airflows around an aircraft for drag reduction and possibly flight control. A methodical process has been developed to inversely determine the magnetic design necessary to produce a desired field pattern. Within this paper, this method is briefly reviewed and the research in integrating these devices into the electric power system is discussed.