Abstract:
An aerial vehicle including a toroidal fuselage having a longitudinal axis, and a duct extending along the longitudinal axis between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the fuselage, first and second counter-rotating, variable pitch rotor assemblies coaxially mounted within the duct of the fuselage, and at least one canard wing secured to the toroidal fuselage and having a leading edge positioned out of the duct of the fuselage and axially forward of the leading edge of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of the canard wing comprises a control surface having a variable angle of attack. The invention provides an aerial vehicle that can take-off and land vertically, hover for extended periods of time over a fixed spatial point, and operate in confined areas. The aerial vehicle also has the ability to transition between a hover and high speed forward flight.
Abstract:
Apparatus for transporting a load (24) between source and destination locations, comprising an aircraft having a body (11), power plant (12) carried by the body (11) to drive the aircraft both generally vertically and also generally horizontally, the aircraft also having a wing structure (14-15) that has a leading edge remaining presented in the direction of flight; and load pick-up, carry and set-down means (22) connected to the aircraft to elevate the load (24) from the source location, transport the elevated and air-borne load (24) generally horizontally, and set the load (24) down at the destination location, the body (11) and power plant (12) configured for vertical flight mode to elevate and set down the load (24), and for generally horizontal flight mode to transport the elevated load (24) generally horizontally below the level of the aircraft body (11).
Abstract:
A VTOL/STOL free wing aircraft (100) includes a free wing (110) having wings on opposite sides of a fuselage (102) connected to one another respectively adjacent fixed wing inboard or center root sections (117) fixedly attached to the fuselage (102) for free rotation about a spanwise axis (112). Horizontal and vertical tail surfaces (138, 140) are located at the rear end of a boom assembly (120) rotatably connected to the fuselage (102). A gearing (150) or screw rod (160) arrangement controlled by the pilot or remote control operator selectively relatively pivots the fuselage (102) in relation to the tail boom assembly (120) to enable the fuselage to assume a tilted or nose up configuration to enable VTOL/STOL flight.
Abstract:
Depending on the embodiment, this aircraft is steered by varying the orientation of at least one propeller and/or by pilot (80) body control. It starts with a vertical fuselage (1), goes into an approximately horizontal position as the speed increases and lands again with a vertical fuselage. New motors (3) reduce swaying caused by contra-rotating propellers (2) and ensure a power-neutral counter-rotation. New high energy batteries (6) make electric drives lighter, which in turn allow an intermittent switching on/off and a simultaneous strong/weak propulsion of the same propeller by two motors having a different power. The aircraft may be parked with the lower part of the fuselage inside a hole (91) of a landing area (9), so that it does not tip over. A catching device (93) makes a precise landing more easy.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a vertical take-off and landing, VTOL, flying machine. The machine includes a ducted fan having an intake side and an outlet side, at least two co-axial rotors configured to contra-rotate about a fan axis X when driven in rotation; a primary drive source arranged substantially co-axially with the ducted fan and to the outlet side of the ducted fan; and first and second thrust air ducts configured to split thrust from the ducted fan into a pair of thrust streams and to guide the two respective thrust streams to opposite respective sides of the primary drive source, the ducts being rotatable to direct motion of the machine. A number of configurations of secondary drive sources and alternative thrust sources are provided for improved safety.
Abstract:
The object of the invention is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft in the manned or unmanned version powered by one or more electric motors which rotate two contra-rotating, fixed-pitch or variable-pitch propellers located at the front. To control the aircraft during vertical and horizontal flights auxiliary horizontal and vertical control and trim surfaces (5) and (7), located in the slipstream of contra-rotating propellers (1) in front of the aircraft's centre of gravity are used, whereas the control and trim surfaces (5) and (7) are suspended in relation to the aircraft on axles (6) and (8) that are located in front of the centre of aerodynamic forces created by them, owing to which the aerodynamic surfaces place themselves in the direction of the flowing control air of the aircraft, while the lift force created by them depends directly on the moments exerted on their axes of rotation (6) and (8), created with the use of linear or angular magneto-dynamic hoists (10) or with the aerodynamic method through auxiliary control tabs (12) installed on the control and trim surfaces (5) and (7).
Abstract:
A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a wing, nacelles supportively disposed at opposite ends of the wing, proprotors respectively attached to each of the nacelles with each of the proprotors being rotatable to generate lift in vertical flight and thrust in horizontal flight and a delta-wing shaped fuselage disposed along the wing between the nacelles.
Abstract:
A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, including: receiving from a customer a first data request (400), the first data request (400) having: a first geographic coverage area, and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area, planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request, uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod (404), and deploying the UAV pod (802).
Abstract:
A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a wing, nacelles supportively disposed at opposite ends of the wing, proprotors respectively attached to each of the nacelles with each of the proprotors being rotatable to generate lift in vertical flight and thrust in horizontal flight and a delta-wing shaped fuselage disposed along the wing between the nacelles.
Abstract:
A flight control apparatus for fixed-wing aircraft includes a first port wing (115) and first starboard wing (120), a first port swash plate (145) coupled between a first port rotor 155) and first port electric motor (135), the first port electric 5 motor (135) coupled to the first port wing (115), and a first starboard swash plate (150) coupled between a first starboard rotor (130) and first starboard electric motor (140), the first starboard electric motor (140) coupled to the first starboard wing (120).