Bat-inspired micro air vehicles in the offing

Researchers led by an Indian-origin scientist have designed innovative membrane wings inspired by bats, paving the way for a new breed of unmanned Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) that can fly over long distances and are more economical to run.
The wings work like artificial muscles, changing shape in response to the forces they experience and have no mechanical parts, making MAVs incorporating them easier to maintain, said researchers from University of Southampton and Imperial College London in UK.
The unique design of the wings incorporates electro-active polymers that makes the wings stiffen and relax in response to an applied voltage and further enhances their performance.

By changing the voltage input, the shape of the electroactive membrane and therefore aerodynamic characteristics can be altered during flight. The proof of concept wing will eventually enable flight over much longer distances than currently possible.
Sometimes as small as 15 centimetres across, MAVs are increasingly used in a wide variety of civil and military applications, such as surveying remote and dangerous areas.
One emerging trend among MAV developers is to draw inspiration from the natural world to design vehicles that can achieve better flight performance and that offer similar levels of controllability to small drones but use the efficiency provided by wings to fly much further.

Researchers focused on mimicking the physiology of bats - the only type of mammal naturally capable of genuine flight.

To inform and speed up the design process, they built innovative computational models and used them to aid the construction of a test MAV incorporating the pioneering 'bat wings'.
The findings were incorporated into a 0.5 metre-wide test vehicle, designed to skim over the sea's surface and, if necessary, land there safely.
After extensive wind tunnel testing, the vehicle was put through its paces at a coastal location.
"We have successfully demonstrated the fundamental feasibility of MAVs incorporating wings that respond to their environment, just like those of the bats that have fuelled our thinking," said Bharath Ganapathisubramani from University of Southampton who led the study.

"We have also shown in laboratory trials that active wings can dramatically alter the performance. The combined computational and experimental approach that characterised the project is unique in the field of bio-inspired MAV design," Ganapathisubramani said.
For a long time the commercial vehicle industry has
considered itself a provider of services for mobility and logistics: "Digitization and alternative powertrains offer a huge opportunity to make the increasing freight traffic worldwide even more efficient and climate-friendly," Wissmann underscored.
This IAA is fully living up to its international aspiration. The proportion of foreign exhibitors comes to 61 percent. The five best represented foreign countries are China (229) , Italy (145), the Netherlands (121), Turkey (92) and France (85). More than one exhibitor in three comes from Europe (not including Germany), and one in five comes from Asia. The entire international value chain for commercial vehicles is represented here at the IAA: manufacturers of heavy trucks, vans and buses, and trailers and bodies, plus the many supply companies and providers of services such as telematics.

So far, around 1,700 journalists from 57 countries have already been accredited for the IAA. Almost half of them come from countries other than Germany. On Wednesday, September 21 (Press Day), and on Thursday, September 22 (Press and Opening Day), there will be over 100 press conferences, more than 70 of them on the Wednesday.
A change in Article 118 of the Motor Vehicles Act makes
Speed Governor mandatory for all commercial vehicles. This means that the existing vehicles will need to install these speed limit devices to get their fitness certificates from this date onwards, a move aimed at curbing the road accidents on Indian roads.

How Speed Governors Help Speed Governors will limit commercial vehicles to a maximum speed of 80 kmph. The limit will be 60 kmph for school buses and trucks carrying hazardous material. However ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles, and commercial vehicles with 9 seats or less (including driver) are exempted from this requirement. This move will reduce the number of deaths due to over speeding on the Indian roads.
When asked on the issue, Mr. Mohammed Ashraf, the MD,
Speed Governor manufacturer Autograde
[https://bsmedia.business-standard.comwww.Autograde.In/speed-governors.Php ], said, "There is no shortage for the devices in the Indian market. Speed Governors as a product is in the market for a while now. We have been manufacturing road safety solutions in India and the Middle East for almost a decade.

We also export to over 24 countries, in Europe, Africa and Latin America. Dubai, which has one of the best road safety measures in the world, has adopted Speed Governors years ago. It is good to see that India is also moving to world class standards in road safety measures. We welcome the initiative this government is undertaking to ensure the safety of our fellow countrymen."
About Autograde International
Autograde International is part of the HKA Group (Estd.1924), and is a leading manufacturer of road safety solutions in India and the Middle East. The company is committed to providing a safer tomorrow for their customers by investing in, and manufacturing, cutting-edge automotive products. With a customer-focused approach that's built on a foundation of Quality-first manufacturing processes and continuous innovation, the Autograde International team of talented and driven individuals strives to help move the community forward with safer roads for

all.
Media Contact:
Ramana Krishnan
Ramana@autograde.