Archive · 13 Sep 2026
IIT Madras Develops Bird-Inspired Morphing Wings to Prevent Stalls
Aircraft wings need smooth airflow to keep planes in the air.
Sometimes the airflow breaks away from a wing, causing a stall and a loss of lift.
Researchers at IIT Madras designed an extra flexible wing skin that can change shape.
It is inspired by how birds adjust their wings while flying.
Special strips help the skin sense airflow changes and move in response.
Wind tunnel tests showed that the design can help keep airflow attached to the wing.
This may make take-offs, landings and difficult flying conditions safer and more efficient.
The researchers are exploring its use in aircraft, drones and other flying machines.
IIT Madras researchers developed a flexible wing assembly that changes shape when airflow begins separating from a wing.
The system uses Macro Fibre Composite strips to sense and actuate shape changes in real time.
Tests on a three-dimensional NACA 4415 wing showed reduced airflow separation, increased lift and limited drag.
Researchers said the technology could support commercial aircraft, drones, unmanned aerial vehicles and high-performance aviation.
The project has been developed for more than 20 years, experimentally validated and patented, according to the research team.
- Who
- Researchers led by Dr Rinku Mukherjee at IIT Madras, with Antony Samuel B and Dr Aritras Roy.
- What
- A bird-inspired, flexible morphing wing assembly designed to reduce airflow separation and prevent aerodynamic stalls.
- When
- The research has been developed for more than 20 years; the articles do not specify a publication date for the reported testing.
- Where
- The system was developed at IIT Madras and tested using numerical models and wind tunnel experiments on a three-dimensional NACA 4415 wing.
- Why
- To help aircraft maintain lift, limit drag and remain stable across challenging flight conditions.
- Research institution
- IIT Madras
- Research lead
- Dr Rinku Mukherjee
- Wing configuration tested
- Three-dimensional NACA 4415 airfoil
- Sensing and actuation
- Macro Fibre Composite strips
- Reported effects
- Reduced airflow separation, increased lift and limited drag
- Potential uses
- Commercial aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and high-performance aviation
- Publication
- European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids
- Status
- Experimentally validated and patented, according to the researchers