A Review of Active Rotor Blade Control Methods for Helicopter Vibration Reduction

This paper analyzes the systems developed for controlling the blades of a helicopter’s main rotor: active control of trailing-edge flaps, active control of the blade stiffness and twist, and higher harmonic control by the blade incidence angle. The analysis reveals the high potential of these new systems, which can significantly reduce the vibrations and noise levels of a helicopter’s main rotor without compromising its aerodynamic efficiency.