The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) may be responsible for making the future sky overhead green, thanks to the design of the new Green Airplane. The plane, which has engines positioned in the back and meeting on the fuselage in a bubble-like formation, is capable of reducing fuel consumption by 70% and reducing nitric oxide emissions by 75%.Named the "double-bubble" after its design characteristics, this green airplane comes in two designs thanks to researchers at M.I.T. working with a $2.1 million research contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Other features of the double-bubble make it an overall quieter aircraft, requiring less runway space for takeoffs. The plane will be able to generate the same amount of thrust as today's Boeing 737 domestic aircraft, but will require much fewer fuel.
The design, however, will create more stress on the engines. In order to prevent against structural or mechanical problems, the green airplane will fly 10% slower than the 737, and will feature thinner wings and a smaller tail to reduce drag.
These designs are the beginning of what NASA hopes will be the widespread integration of green airplanes by the year 2035.
The M.I.T. page on OpenEI.org has been edited to include emerging technologies like the green airplane. Please visit this page and feel free to contribute any new, emerging technologies being developed at M.I.T.
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