How a 'shark skin' coating helps aircraft reduce emissions<br /><br />As a transparent film is stuck onto the side of an aircraft fuselage in Sydney, Australia, sharks might not immediately come to mind.<br /><br />But for Australian startup MicroTau, whose mission is to reduce global aviation emissions, aircraft and sharks go hand in hand.<br /><br />Taking their inspiration from shark skin, MicroTau has developed an artificial shark skin-inspired, drag-reducing technology in the form of an adhesive film that can be applied onto the exterior of aircraft.<br /><br />The Riblet Modification Package works on the same principles as the sandpaper-like surface of a shark’s skin that reduces drag, helping them move efficiently through water. These riblets align with the direction of flow — water flow for sharks, air flow for aircraft — thus reducing drag.<br /><br />Stuck onto an aircraft, MicroTau's Riblet Film improves efficiency with less turbulence, reduces fuel emissions and thus potentially makes flights cheaper.<br /><br />REUTERS / MICROTAU<br /><br />Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe <br />Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net <br />Follow us: <br />Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook <br />Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram <br />Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter <br />DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion <br /><br />Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital <br /><br />Check out our Podcasts: <br />Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify <br />Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts <br />Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic <br />Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer<br />Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher <br />Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein <br />Soundcloud: https://tmt.ph/soundcloud <br /><br />#TheManilaTimes<br />#tmtnews <br />#aircraft
