METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DRAG VIA A PLASMA ACTUATOR

摘要

A vehicle includes a surface over which airflow passes. A plasma actuator is configured to generate plasma above the surface, the plasma coupling a d irected momentum into the air surrounding the surface to reduce separation o f the airflow from the surface. A method of reducing separation of airflow f rom a surface of the vehicle includes generating plasma in air surrounding t he surface at a position where the airflow would separate from the surface i n the absence of the plasma.