公开(公告)号：US11511854B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-29

申请号：US16395415

申请日：2019-04-26

Applicant: Textron Systems Corporation

Inventor： Sean Marshall Baity ,  David D. Billingsley ,  Brad S. Galloway ,  Richard M. Chapman ,  Daniel Thomas Otradovec ,  Graham Schill

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C27/08 ,  B64C27/26

Abstract: An aircraft employs articulated, variable-position electric rotors having different operating configurations and transitions therebetween, as well as variable-pitch airfoils or blades, for generating vectored thrust in the different configurations. Control circuitry generates rotor position signals and blade pitch signals to independently control rotor thrust, rotor orientation and rotor blade pitch of the variable-position rotors in a manner providing (i) the transitions among the operating configurations for corresponding flight modes of the aircraft, which may include both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) mode as well as a forward-flight mode, and (ii) commanded thrust-vectoring maneuvering of the aircraft in the different configurations, including tailoring blade pitch to optimize aspects of aircraft performance.

公开(公告)号：US11724801B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-15

申请号：US16178892

申请日：2018-11-02

Applicant: Textron Systems Corporation

Inventor： Sean Marshall Baity ,  David D. Billingsley ,  Brad S. Galloway ,  Richard M. Chapman

IPC: B64C29/00 ,  B64C39/10 ,  B64C1/26 ,  B64C11/44 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64D27/24 ,  G05D1/08

CPC classification number: B64C29/0033 ,  B64C39/10 ,  B64C1/26 ,  B64C11/44 ,  B64C11/46 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2039/105 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/024 ,  B64C2201/028 ,  B64C2201/042 ,  B64C2201/088 ,  B64C2201/104 ,  B64C2201/108 ,  B64C2201/165 ,  B64C2211/00 ,  B64D27/24 ,  G05D1/0858

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe having a fixed-wing section and a plurality of articulated electric rotors, at least some of which are variable-position rotors having different operating configurations based on rotor position. A first operating configuration is a vertical-flight configuration in which the rotors generate primarily vertical thrust for vertical flight, and a second operating configuration is a horizontal-flight configuration in which the rotors generate primarily horizontal thrust for horizontal fixed-wing flight. Control circuitry independently controls rotor thrust and rotor orientation of the variable-position rotors to provide thrust-vectoring maneuvering. The fixed-wing section may employ removable wing panels so the aircraft can be deployed both in fixed-wing and rotorcraft configurations for different missions.