The aim of the NOVEMOR (NOvel Air VEhicle Configurations: From Fluttering Wings to MORphing Flight) research project is to investigate novel air vehicle configurations with new lifting concepts and morphing wing solutions to enable cost-effective air transportation. A multidisciplinary analysis and design optimization environment developed in an earlier EU Project (SIMSAC) will be used and improved to include analysis of novel configurations such as the joined-wing concept for improved lift and morphing wing solutions as an integral part of the aircraft conceptual design, rather than just as an add-on later in the design cycle. Such concepts will enable improved aircraft efficiencies, aerodynamic performance, reduced structural loads and lighter weight.

The NOVEMOR project will focus on the following primary objectives:

1. Design and evaluation of a new aircraft concept, the joined-wing configuration, including structural, aerodynamic and aeroelastic simulations and analysis, flight testing of an aeroelastically scaled remotely piloted vehicle and multidisciplinary design optimization techniques. This configuration will be evaluated against a conventional reference aircraft.
2. Morphing wing solutions (span and camber strategies and wing-tip devices) will be proposed to enhance lift capabilities and manoeuvering. These will be considered early in the design process, right from the beginning of aircraft design cycle, included in the conceptual design.
3. Design, testing and evaluation of several adaptive/morphing concepts and mechanisms as part of a conceptual design environment, capable of augmenting performance characteristics in terms of drag reduction, loads reduction, weight and noise impact reduction;
4. To evaluate the overall benefits of these new concepts in terms of improved lift capabilities.