Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply a micro aircraft and a mobile phone equipped with the micro aircraft. SOLUTION: This micro aircraft, for example, can mount to the mobile phone, and is provided with at least four micro rotors driven by compression fluid or a ring-shaped electric motor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a propulsion system having at least one propulsion module comprised of at least one propeller and at least two motors/engines, one or more of the motors/engines providing mechanical energy to drive the propeller, wherein the difference between the angular velocities of the motors/engines provides energy input to a mechanical or magneto-mechanical linkage system to change the blade pitch angle of the propeller, in cyclic and/or collective manner.
Abstract:
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising at least one rotor motor. The rotor motor is powered by a micro hybrid generation system. The micro hybrid generator system comprises a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor, a small engine configured to generate mechanical power, a generator motor coupled to the small engine and configured to generate AC power using the mechanical power generated by the small engine, a bridge rectifier configured to convert the AC power generated by the generator motor to DC power and provide the DC power to either or both the rechargeable battery and the at least one rotor motor, and an electronic control unit configured to control a throttle of the small engine based, at least in part, on a power demand of at least one load, the at least one load including the at least one rotor motor.
Abstract:
A UAV with an engine (34) attached to rear (38) of its fuselage by an engine mounting assembly with the rotational axis of the engine generally parallel with the axis (45) of the fuselage. The engine mounting assembly includes a fuselage bulkhead (40) and a parallel, spaced motor mount bulkhead (42) with the engine (34) attached to it. The mounting assembly also includes a number of connectors (64) that extend between the two bulkheads (40, 42) and resiliently compressible material (48) between the bulkheads in the vicinity of each connector. Each connector (64) can pivot relative to the bulkheads (40, 42) and presses on the bulkheads to compress the compressible material (48). The connectors (64) are adjustable to adjust the compressive load exerted on the compressible material (48). An undercarriage assembly (52) for a UAV comprising an upper cylinder (54) which is telescopically displaced relative to a lower cylinder (58) and a spring element (64) connected to both of the cylinders. A support structure (30) mounted in the front of the fuselage for supporting a camera and the support structure is configured to pivot the camera relative to the fuselage between different orientations.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for assembling, launching, recovering, disassembling, capturing, and storing unmanned aircraft (140) and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft (140) can be assembled from a container (111) with little or no manual engagement by an operator. The container (111) can include a guide structure to control motion of the aircraft components. The aircraft (140) can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom (103). The boom (103) can be extended to deploy a recovery line (853) to capture the aircraft (140) in flight. The aircraft (140) can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored in the container (111), again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft (140).
Abstract:
A vertical take-off and landing miniature aerial vehicle includes an upper fuselage segment (12) and a lower fuselage segment (14) that extend in opposite directions from a rotor guard assembly (16). A rotor (52) rotates within the rotor guard assembly (16) between the fuselage segments(12, 14). Plural turning vanes (28) extend from the rotor guard assembly (16) beneath the rotor (52). Moreover, plural grid fins (26) extend radially from the lower fuselage segment (14) below the turning vanes (28). The aerial vehicle is capable of taking off and landing vertically. During flight, the aerial vehicle can hover and transition between a horizontal flight mode and a vertical flight mode using the grid fins (26).
Abstract:
An unmanned rotor carried aerial vehicle comprises a propulsion unit (5) and a carrier (7) suspended from the propulsion unit. The propulsion unit (5) is connected to the carrier (7) via a cardan-like joint (9) for permitting limited tilting of the propulsion unit relative to the carrier in two orthogonal directions corresponding to the roll and pitch directions of the vehicle and for preventing relative movement between the propulsion unit and the carrier in the yaw direction of the vehicle.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a payload quick release mechanism for an unmanned aerial vehicle. SOLUTION: The payload quick release mechanism for the unmanned aerial vehicle is affixed to a structure on the unmanned aerial vehicle, and allows for quick attachment and removal of a payload from the unmanned aerial vehicle. An attachment device includes a body with a perimeter part and a plurality of arms that extend from the body perimeter part. Each arm includes an indented section in which a tab extending from a payload upper part may be placed. When the payload tab rests within the indented section, the payload is prevented from translation and is attached to the mechanism. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT