Curved-surface jet controls hypersonic airfoil pitch without rudders

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In my research on hypersonic aerodynamics, I have always been driven by one core question: How can we achieve reliable, efficient control of a vehicle within such extreme environments? Traditional control surfaces at Mach 8 are like "melting wax wings" amidst the flames; not only does their performance plummet, but they often become the primary point of structural failure. It is more than an engineering hurdle—it is a challenge to the inherent tension between human ingenuity and nature's limits. For me, this work is far more than a collection of papers or datasets. It stems from my obsession with the concept of "rudderless flight"—a control philosophy that discards mechanical complexity in favor of returning to the primal power of the fluid itself. The first time I captured that clear image in the wind tunnel—the oblique shock wave generated by the interaction between a curved jet and the mainstream—and watched it twist the model's pitching moment linearly, like an invisible hand, I felt an almost poetic shock. I realized that the airflow itself could be the most exquisite control surface. What moves me even more is how this technology transforms the "thermal barrier"—the long-standing nemesis of hypersonic flight—into a controllable partner. We are no longer passively "resisting" heat; instead, we are artfully "guiding" the flow, allowing structural integrity and control effectiveness to find reconciliation for the first time at such extreme velocities. Behind this achievement lie countless days and nights exploring the delicate balance between jet geometry, pressure ratios, and flow instabilities. Having lived through it, I know that every step from concept to experimental validation is fraught with difficulty. Yet, it is precisely this hardship that makes the eventual success so precious. I hope this work does more than provide a viable technical path for future aerospace vehicles. I hope it conveys a conviction: when faced with seemingly insurmountable physical boundaries, innovative thinking and a profound understanding of fundamental physics will always be our most powerful engines of propulsion. I hope my work can inspire everyone, whether colleagues or others, to strive for their dreams.

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