Abstract:
A ducted fan air vehicle and method of operation is disclosed for obtaining aerodynamic lift and efficiency in forward fliglit operation without significantly impacting hover stability. One or more retractable wings (301) are included on the ducted fan air vehicle and are deployed during forward flight to provide aerodynamic lift. The wing or wings are retracted when the vehicle hovers to reduce the impact the wings have on stability in a wind. Each wing may conform to the curvature or profile of the vehicle when retracted, and may be constructed in one or more wing sections. The wing or wings may be deployed and retracted automatically or at the command of an operator. Each wing and related components may be integrated into the vehicle or may be detachable.
Abstract:
Autonomous micro air vehicles (102) surveillance systems are provided. A MAV system of one embodiment includes an MAV and a launch pad (120). The MAV has an engine (103) that is adapted to power the MAV. The launch pad has a starter (128) that is adapted to start the engine in the MAV when the MAV is resting on a launching surface (142) of the launch pad. The launch pad further has a battery (126) to power the starter.
Abstract:
The invention describes a microaircraft (2), which can be associated for instance to a cellular phone (1), provided with at least four microrotors (4) actuated with compressed fluid or by ring-shaped electric motors (7).
Abstract:
VTOL micro-aircraft comprising a first and a second ducted rotor (1, 2) mutually aligned and distanced according to a common axis and whose propellers (4, 6) are driven in rotation in mutually opposite directions. Between the two ducted rotors (1, 2) are positioned a fuselage (3) and a wing system (13) formed by wing profiles (10, 11) forming an X or an H configuration and provided with control flaps (16).
Abstract:
A snubber assembly (230) for an unmanned aerial vehicle (10) including a rotor assembly (100) having ducted counter-rotating rotors (200, 202), the rotor assembly (100) including a rotor shaft (128R or 130R), a torque tube (270) having an inboard end, and a flexbeam (260) having an inboard end (262), comprising:
a bracket (238) configured to be secured in combination with the inboard end of the torque tube (270); a spherical bearing (232) secured in combination with said bracket (238); and a rotor hub (204), configured for securement in interlocked, engaged combination with the rotor shaft (128R or 130R), having a plurality of radially extending arms (214), each of said radially extending arms (214) including means for securing the inboard end (262) of the flexbeam (260) in combination with the rotor hub (204) and means for rotatably mounting said spherical bearing (232), bracket (238) combination internally in said rotor hub (204); said internally rotatably mounted spherical bearing (232), bracket (238) combination being positioned inboard of said outboard end of said radially extending arm (214) and inboard of the inboard end (262) of the flexbeam (260); characterized in that said securing means of each said radially extending arm (214) comprises a clevis (220); and said rotatably mounting means for each said radially extending arm (214) comprises an inboard internal bulkhead (223), an outboard internal bulkhead (224), said inboard and outboard internal bulkheads (223, 224) in combination defining a bearing cavity (225) and an inboard cavity (226), and a bearing bolt (234); said bearing bolt (234) being disposed in combination with said outboard internal bulkhead (224), said spherical bearing (232), and said inboard internal bulkhead (223) for rotatably mounting said spherical bearing (232), bracket (238) combination in said bearing cavity (225).
Abstract:
An unmanned arerial vehicle (UAV) has a toroidal fuselage and a rotor assembly having a pair of counter-rotating rotors secured in fixed coaxial combination with the toroidal fuselage to provide a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability for the UAV. One embodiment of the VTOL UAV is especially configured for ground surveillance missions by the inclusion of an externally mounted, remotely controllable stowable sensor subsystem (250) that provides an azimuthal scanning capability and a predetermined elevation/depression scanning capability to accomplish the ground surveillance mission and a foldable landing gear subsystem (300) to facilitate landing of the VTOL UAV at unprepared ground surveillance sites. The foldable landing gear subsystem includes a plurality of legs (302), one end of each leg being detachably secured in combination with the toroidal fuselage, a foot that includes a pad member (312) pivotally attached to the other end of each leg, and a non-structural hinge secured to each leg and the toroidal fuselage. The non-structural hinges (306) provide the capability to fold the landing gear subsystem to a stowage configuration wherein each leg, pivoting foot combination is folded within the envelope of the toroidal fuselage.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an aircraft design which incorporates a modular design including the use of one or more multi-motor assemblies where the motors are in series within the multi-motor assembly. Still further, the multi-motor assemblies may be configured to include modular motor assemblies or modular sections. Ultimately, the present invention provides an aircraft with the ability to easily assemble or expand the multi-motor assemblies and, in doing so, modify the characteristics of the aircraft. The modularity also enhances the ability to maintain the aircraft by enabling motors or the units housing each motor to easily be replaced.