Active control of surface drag

1. A method of altering fluid flow about a body moving relative to a fluid, comprising:

providing a body having a first surface, the first surface actuated by a first set of one or more actuators;

exposing the first surface of the body to the fluid, the first surface extending in at least a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being orthogonal to the second direction, the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow, and the second direction being parallel to the surface;

generating more than one deformation of the first surface of the body using the first set of one or more actuators, wherein the more than one deformation includes a series of variations propagating in a direction tangential to the surface and at a non-zero angle with the direction of fluid flow relative to the body; and

generating more than one deformation of the first surface of the body using the first set of one or more actuators, wherein the more than one deformation includes a series of variations propagating in a direction tangential to the surface and along the direction of fluid flow relative to the body.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variations comprise a surface wave.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the more than one deformation comprises:

inducing the series of variations to form a surface wave that comprises a superposition of more than one surface wave.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sensing a physical state of the body.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the physical state of the body comprises at least one of relative fluid velocity of the body, frequency of vibration of at least a portion of the body, amplitude of vibration of at least a portion of the body, location of the body, fluid pressure of the fluid at least one location on the body, fluid pressure of the fluid at least one location adjacent the body, temperature at least one location of the body, temperature of the fluid at least one location on the body, temperature of the fluid at least one location adjacent the body, rotational acceleration of the body, orientation of the body, rotational rate of the body, stress at least one location of the body, strain at least one location of the body, fluid density, shear force, location of turbulent flow relative to the body, the thickness of a laminar flow boundary layer adjacent the first surface, or acceleration of at least one location of the body.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the location of turbulent fluid relative to the body.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating a signal that is used to generate the more than one deformation of the first surface based on the location of the turbulent fluid relative to the body.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the thickness of a laminar flow boundary layer adjacent the first surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating a signal that is used to generate the more than one deformation of the first surface based on the thickness of the laminar flow boundary layer adjacent the first surface.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sensing a physical state of the body;

communicating the physical state of the body to a processor; and

applying a control algorithm to produce a command signal for generating the more than one deformation based on the physical state of the body.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control algorithm comprises at least one of a classical control algorithm, an adaptive control algorithm, a nonlinear control algorithm, an intelligent control algorithm, a multivariable control algorithm, a neural control algorithm, a digital control algorithm, an analog control algorithm, a parametric control algorithm, a table look-up algorithm, or a fuzzy control algorithm.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sensing a physical state of the body or the fluid flow;

communicating the physical state of the body or the fluid flow to a processor; and

applying an estimation algorithm, the estimation algorithm determining at least one estimated parameter, the at least one estimated parameter used in a process to produce a command signal for generating the more than one deformation.

13. A method of altering fluid flow about a surface, the surface being defined by at least a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the fluid flow direction having a projection parallel to the first direction and orthogonal to the second direction and the first and second directions being tangentially parallel to the surface, comprising:

providing a surface configurable with one or more actuators for deforming the surface;

coupling to the surface at least one actuator capable of deforming the surface;

detecting at least one physical state based on a signal from at least one sensor; and

responsive to the detecting at least one physical state, controlling the at least one actuator based on the signal to create deformations which propagate with a velocity having components of both the first and second directions.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the deformation comprises a surface wave.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein controlling the at least one actuator comprises:

inducing the deformations to form a surface wave that comprises a superposition of more than one surface wave.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the physical state comprises at least one of relative fluid velocity of the body, frequency of vibration of at least a portion of the body, amplitude of vibration of at least a portion of the body, location of the body, fluid pressure of the fluid at least one location on the body, fluid pressure of the fluid at least one location adjacent the body, temperature at least one location of the body, temperature of the fluid at least one location on the body, temperature of the fluid at least one location adjacent the body, and acceleration of at least one location of the body.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining the location of turbulent fluid relative to the body.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

generating a signal that is used to generate the more than one deformation of the surface based on the location of the turbulent fluid relative to the body.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining the approximate thickness of a laminar flow boundary layer adjacent the surface.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

generating a signal that is used to generate the more than one deformation of the surface based on the thickness of the laminar flow boundary layer adjacent the surface.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the controlling comprises applying at least one of a classical control algorithm, an adaptive control algorithm, a nonlinear control algorithm, an intelligent control algorithm, a multivariable control algorithm, a neural control algorithm, a digital control algorithm, an analog control algorithm, a parametric control algorithm, a table look-up algorithm, and a fuzzy control algorithm.

22. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

sensing a physical state of the body or the fluid flow;

communicating the physical state of the body or the fluid flow to at least one of a processor or a storage element; and

applying an estimation algorithm, the estimation algorithm determining at least one estimated parameter, the at least one estimated parameter used in a process to produce a command signal for generating the more than one deformation.