Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a collapsible wing assembly of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a method of locking and unlocking the collapsible wing assembly of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The collapsible wing assembly comprising a center wing adapted to be attached to the fuselage; and a pair of outboard wings, wherein each of the outboard edges of the center wing comprises a first attachment structure, and each of the inboard edges of the outboard wings comprises a second attachment structure, wherein the first attachment structure is operable to engage with the second attachment structure and displace the second attachment structure to a captive position towards the trailing edge of the center wing.
Abstract:
A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (100, 400, 1000, 1500) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils (141, 142, 1345, 1346) having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns (621, 622). Embodiments include one or more rudder elements (1045, 1046, 1145, 1146, 1245, 1345, 1346, 1445, 1446, 1545, 1546) which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member (1049, 1149, 1249, 1349) disposed within the fuselage housing (1001) and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
Abstract:
A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
Abstract:
Deployment and control actuation mechanisms are incorporated in unmanned aerial vehicles having folding wings and/or folding canards and/or a folding vertical stabilizer. The folding canards and folding vertical stabilizer can be deployed using respective four-bar over-center mechanisms. Elevators pivotably mounted to the folding canards and a rudder pivotably mounted to the folding vertical stabilizer can be controlled by means of respective twist link mechanisms. The folding wings have respective wing roots that are driven by respective gas springs to pivot on bearings about a wing root hub having control servo wire paths.
Abstract:
A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a fuselage, an empennage having an all-moving horizontal stabilizer located at a tail end of the fuselage, a wing having the fuselage positioned approximately halfway between the distal ends of the wing, wherein the wing is configured to transform between a substantially straight wing configuration and a canted wing configuration using a canted hinge located on each side of the fuselage. The VTOL aircraft may further includes one or more retractable pogo supports, wherein a retractable pogo support is configured to deploy from each of the wing's distal ends.
Abstract:
An air vehicle, as well as a method for folding an air vehicle for storage, may include a fuselage and a wing connected to the fuselage. The wing may include two ends positioned opposite from each other, and the wing may be substantially perpendicular to the fuselage. At least one of the ends may define a space therebetween the fuselage and the wing. The space may be sized to receive a potion of the wing when the wing is wrapped around the fuselage.
Abstract:
A morphing aircraft that is achieves multi-modality location and camouflage for payload emplacement The morphing aircraft includes a substantially cylindrical fuselage including a shape configured as a packaging container with a first end and a second end A set of wings is coupled to the fuselage The set of wings includes a first position where the set of wings is extended outwards from the fuselage and a second position where the set of wings is retracted inwards towards the fuselage A tail is coupled to the second end of the cylindrical fuselage The tail includes a first position where the tail is extended outward from the fuselage and a second position where the tail is retracted inward towards the fuselage A propeller is mounted to the first end of the fuselage An engine is mechanically coupled to the propeller The engine is enclosed within the fuselage and powers the propeller.
Abstract:
A canister system for a folding aircraft may include a canister housing and a launch mechanism powered by one or more compression springs. A hand-operated drive mechanism may rotate a plurality of threaded rods to drive the launch mechanism from a released position to a cocked position, in which mechanical energy is stored in the springs. A latch mechanism may capture the launch mechanism in the cocked position. The canister may include a housing for receiving and storing the aircraft when the launch mechanism is in the cocked position. A trigger mechanism may release the latch mechanism, permitting the energy stored in the compressed springs to drive the launch mechanism toward the released position and propel the aircraft from the housing at launch velocity.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention include an aircraft capable of sustained out-of-ground-effect hover flight and sustained supersonic flight. At least some embodiments includes two wings powered by an engine to counterrotate while hovering, and to not rotate and sweep while flying at transonic and supersonic speeds. Other embodiments include two rotating wings that generate a force per unit area of under 100 lb/ft2 within the rotating wing disk during hover. Still other embodiment include a vehicle with rotating wings that can increase pitch to accelerate the aircraft, align the chord line of the wings with the airstream, and sweep the wings. Still further embodiments include a power plant that powers unducted rotating wings during hover and disengages from the wings to propel the aircraft at supersonic speeds.
Abstract translation:本发明的实施例包括能够持续地面效应悬停飞行和持续的超音速飞行的飞机。 至少一些实施例包括由发动机驱动的两个翼,以在盘旋时反向旋转,并且在以跨音速和超音速飞行的同时不旋转和扫掠。 其它实施例包括两个旋转翼,其在悬停期间在旋转翼盘内产生每100英寸/ ft 2以下的每单位面积的力。 另外的实施例包括具有旋转翼的车辆,其可以增加俯仰以加速飞行器,将翼的弦线与气流对准,并且扫掠翼。 另外的实施例包括在悬停期间为未被引导的旋转翼提供动力的动力装置,并且与翼分离,以超音速推进飞行器。