A wing is enough: An improved flying wing based on a bell-shaped lift distribution

Flying wings are aircraft without a fuselage and tail assembly. They stand out from conventional aircraft due to their optimised aerodynamics and significantly lower fuel consumption. But these special aircraft also have downsides. They are difficult to steer and are prone to entering a spin. Based on a design developed by the Horten brothers in the 1930s, passionate model aircraft …

Alpha-aluminium oxide-based gemstones: Development of a chemical synthesis process prompted by current mining conditions

Mining gemstones damages the environment and often occurs under dehumanising conditions. Christian Schärf, Paul Rathke and Friedrich Wanierke hypothesised that, because rubies and sapphires are a mixture of aluminium oxide and certain metals, it might be possible to produce the gemstones themselves. The trio experimented with various melting and crystallisation processes, and thoroughly analysed the synthesis progression and the powder …

Drone detection system: Detection, tracking and classification of potentially dangerous flight objects for multicopter defence

Small civilian drones are very popular right now – whether as toys or professional tools for recording videos. However, this also increases the risk of misuse, such as conducting espionage or even for carrying out terrorist attacks. In response, Tassilo Schwarz has developed a special defence system-technology that can identify unwanted drones and determine their position. The principle is as …