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The  (Braunschweig, Germany) is preparing to flight test a morphing composite wing based on a novel trailing edge design developed in the Hyperelastic Trailing Edge Morphing (HyTEM) project.

The HyTEM concept enables gap-free and step-free movement of the wing edge, enabling the wing to change its shape without creating visible transitions – a major advantage for aerodynamics. It was developed as part of the interdisciplinary research project "Morphing Technologies & Artificial Intelligence Research Group" (), which aims to demonstrate a novel wing concept designed to improve aircraft efficiency and control.

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“Using 10 strategically placed actuators distributed across each wing half-span, we can achieve unprecedented shape adaptation and control of a fully composite wing structure,” says Martin Radestock, project manager at DLR. “Imagine a trailing edge that can be precisely controlled to optimize lift, drag and roll rates, all while the wing remains fully closed. Additionally, the adaptability of the design can enhance aircraft safety, as the control surface functionalities can be distributed across the entire wing to mitigate actuator malfunctions.” The video below demonstrates a sinusoidal deflection of a trailing edge segment, spanning 0.5 meters, with five distinct control positions.

Ground and flight tests

Both the conventional reference wing and the HyTEM morphing wing are made entirely of lightweight fiber-reinforced composites. DLR completed ground testing and initial flight tests on the reference wing earlier in 2025. “These flights provided valuable data for comparison and validated our baseline setup,” notes Radestock. Building on that momentum, the first morphing wing has now been fabricated, successfully integrated into the avionics of the unmanned test vehicle PROTEUS and all functionality tests have been completed, confirming the system’s integrity and the interaction of the morphing mechanisms with the flight control system.

Although morphing technologies have been studied in extensive ground and wind tunnel tests at the subsystem level over the last decade, important top-level measurements such as fuel consumption and changes in flight characteristics are missing and can only be determined through flight tests. In addition, the combination of artificial intelligence (AI)-based control with morphing technologies offers great potential for improvements in flight control and performance.

PROTEUS has now been equipped with both the conventional and morphing wing and the upcoming flight test campaign will test the HyTEM concept in real flight conditions at the DLR Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Nationales Erprobungszentrum für Unbemannte Luftfahrtsysteme) in Cochstedt, Germany.

“We look forward to sharing the results,” says Radestock, “and to pushing the boundaries of what wings can do.”