Abstract:
Um ein Luftfahrzeug (100) zu schaffen, welches einerseits ein einfaches Starten und Landen auf beengtem Raum und andererseits eine hohe Reichweite sowie eine hohe Reisegeschwindigkeit ermöglicht, wird vorgeschlagen, dass das Luftfahrzeug Folgendes umfasst: Einen Rumpf (102), welcher eine Kabine (104) zur Beförderung wenigstens einer Person aufweist, wenigstens ein erstes mit dem Rumpf verbundenes Tragflügelpaar (110), wobei das erste Tragflügelpaar zwei Tragflügel (114) umfasst, welche an dem Rumpf festgelegt sind und auf einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten von dem Rumpf weg ragen, wobei jeder Tragflügel des ersten Tragflügelpaars einen relativ zum Rumpf feststehenden Tragflügelteil (116) und einen an dem jeweiligen feststehenden Tragflügelteil angeordneten, zwischen einer eingeklappten Stellung und einer ausgeklappten Stellung klappbaren Tragflügelteil (118) aufweist, ein zweites Tragflügelpaar (112), welches zwei Tragflügel (120) umfasst, die an dem Rumpf festgelegt sind und auf einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten von dem Rumpf weg ragen, wobei die beiden Tragflügel des zweiten Tragflügelpaars oberhalb der beiden Tragflügel des ersten Tragflügelpaars angeordnet sind und jeweils einen relativ zum Rumpf feststehenden Tragflügelteil (122) und einen an dem jeweiligen feststehenden Tragflügelteil angeordneten, zwischen einer eingeklappten Stellung und einer ausgeklappten Stellung klappbaren Tragflügelteil (124) aufweisen.
Abstract:
A system and method enabled to increase efficiency during a VTOL aircraft's transition. A VTOL aircraft enabled to operate multiple lift fans (102c) arranged into separately controllable groups, wherein the VTOL aircraft initially has vertical flight but transitions to horizontal flight. A first group of lift fans (102c) may be kept at full throttle, a second group of lift fans (102c) may be throttled to balance thrust and/or weight, and a third group of lift fans (102c) may be shut off.
Abstract:
A dual ducted fan arrangement in which the duct components (203), engine (10), and avionics/payload pods (300, 302) are capable of being quickly disassembled to fit within common backpacking systems. Each duct is identical in fan (201 ), stator (102), and control vane design. Assembly connections between ducted fans (203) and electronic modules are also identical. An engine (10) or APU drives the dual ducted fans (203) through a splined shaft (601) to a differential (600) or through electric motors. Energy is transferred to the ducted fans by a single gear mounted to the stator (102) hub. Relative speeds of the individual ducted fans are controlled through separate frictional or generator load control braking mechanisms (603) on each of the splined shafts (601) between the differential (600) and ducted fans (203). In the electric motor case relative speed is through electronic speed control. The fans (201 ) are counter rotating for torque balancing. The electronic module locations are vertically variable for longitudinal center of gravity for variations in payloads.
Abstract:
A VTOL aircraft is having four electric fans (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) distributed around the centre of gravity of the aircraft. Of the four electric fans, two (3a, 3b) are set into openings through the body (1)and two (4a, 4b) are rotatable about an axis to provide either horizontal thrust or vertical thrust. Optionally a multi-mode hybrid turbine engine (5) may be provided at the rear of the aircraft.
Abstract:
A propulsion system for an aircraft may include two coaxial propellers to operate in two different flight conditions. Each propeller may be attached to a driveshaft via corresponding one-way devices that allow each propeller to be driven in one direction but spin freely in the other direction. A reversible motor may selectively rotate the driveshaft in one direction to cause one propeller to operate while the other spins freely. For example, one propeller may be operated for one flight condition (such as vertical lift) and the other propeller may be operated for another flight condition (such as horizontal flight). Another propulsion system may include a propeller, a one-way bearing, a motor, and a generator. The one-way bearing may allow the motor to drive the propeller in one direction and to spin freely in the other direction to drive the generator with incoming airflow during a gliding phase of flight.
Abstract:
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles also known as UAVs or Drones, either autonomous or remotely piloted, are classified as drones by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as weighing under 212 pounds. The system described herein details Autonomous Flight Vehicles (AFV) which weigh over 212 pounds but less than 1,320 pounds which may require either a new classification or a classification such as Sport Light Aircraft, but without the requirement of a pilot due to the safe autonomous flight system such as the Safe Temporal Vector Integration Engine or STeVIE. Safe Autonomous Light Aircraft (SALA) are useful as drone carriers, large scale air package or cargo transport, and even human transport depending on the total lift capability of the platform.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide an alternative distributed airborne transportation system. In some embodiments, a method for distributed airborne transportation includes: providing an airborne vehicle with a wing and a wing span, having capacity to carry one or more of passengers or cargo; landing of the airborne vehicle near one or more of passengers or cargo and loading at least one of passengers or cargo; taking-off and determining a flight direction for the airborne vehicle; locating at least one other airborne vehicle, which has substantially the same flight direction; and joining at least one other airborne vehicle in flight formation and forming a fleet, in which airborne vehicles fly with the same speed and direction and in which adjacent airborne vehicles are separated by distance of less than 100 wing spans.
Abstract:
Systems, methods and devices are provided herein for removing a byproduct of a fuel cell from a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a fuel cell (530) and a venting system (560). The fuel cell (530) is in communication with a fuel storage container (510). The fuel is configured to generate electricity and a byproduct, by reacting a first fuel from the fuel storage container (510) with a second fuel through an electrochemical reaction. The venting system (560) is configured to expose the byproduct to forced convection.
Abstract:
Vertical lift in an aircraft (1) is produced by driving a column of air downwardly, through an annular thrust-flow channel (10) which is formed in the body (fuselage (2)) of the aircraft (1). The aircraft (1) also has an aerodynamic shape which is capable of developing lift responsive to forward flight. The annular thrust-flow channel (10) is provided with a flow control mechanism (80) which is capable of directing the developed air flow in varying orientations between a substantially vertical (axial) orientation for developing stationary, vertical lift (i.e., hovering) and a vectored (angled) orientation for developing a vertical component (63) for producing lift and a horizontal component (62) for producing forward (or rearward) flight, or flight to either side.
Abstract:
A propulsion device, including a platform configured to support a passenger thereon; a thrust engine coupled to the platform, wherein the thrust engine is configured to provide a thrust output substantially along a first axis; a deflector assembly positioned proximate the thrust output, wherein the deflector assembly includes two deflecting guides to divert the thrust output into at least two thrust vectors angled with respect to the first axis; an actuator coupled to each deflecting guide to controllably adjust a position of the deflecting guides with respect to the thrust engine; and a controller in communication with the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuator in response to one or more signals from at least one of the passenger and a sensor coupled to the platform.