Abstract:
A propeller includes a hub coaxially surrounding a longitudinal axis. A ring shroud coaxially surrounds the longitudinal axis and is spaced radially from the hub. The ring shroud includes an inner ring surface and a radially spaced, oppositely facing outer ring surface. At least one propeller blade is fixedly attached to both the hub and the inner ring surface and extends radially therebetween for mutual rotation therewith. At least one extending blade has a first extending blade end radially spaced from a second extending blade end. The first extending blade end is fixedly attached to the outer ring surface. The second extending blade end is cantilevered from the first extending blade end and is radially spaced from the ring shroud.
Abstract:
A propeller includes a hub coaxially surrounding a longitudinal axis. A ring shroud coaxially surrounds the longitudinal axis and is spaced radially from the hub. At least one propeller blade is fixedly attached to both the hub and ring shroud and extends radially therebetween for mutual rotation therewith. At least one stub blade has a first stub end radially spaced from a second stub end. The first stub end is fixedly attached to a selected one of the hub and ring shroud. The second stub end is cantilevered from the first stub end and is radially interposed between the first stub end and the selected one of the hub and ring shroud.
Abstract:
A MEUV that is able to navigate aerial, aquatic, and terrestrial environments through the use of different mission mobility attachments is disclosed. The attachments allow the MEUV to be deployed from the air or through the water prior to any terrestrial navigation. The mobility attachments can be removed or detached by and from the vehicle during a mission.
Abstract:
An asymmetric aircraft (1) and an aircraft (1) that can operate from small ships (8) and be stored in high density with three aircraft or more in one helicopter hangar (107) without needing a landing gear or wing fold. These aircraft slide into and out of the hangar on dollies (90) like circuit boards in a computer and are launched and recovered using a large towed parafoil (6).
Abstract:
This invention relates to a connection set that is used to attach and transfer force and torque between a wing (2a, 2b), comprising a lifting surface and a control surface (9) connected together by a hinge, and the central body (1 ) of an aircraft, which contains a servo-motor (10) used for actuating said control surface (9). The wing (2a, 2b) is connected to the central body (1 ) using a connection set comprised of two components. First, an attachment mechanism (3, 4, 5, 6) is used to align the wings (2a, 2b) relative to the central body (1 ) and to transfer the aerodynamic forces acting on the wing (2a, 2b) to the central body (1 ), preventing the wing (2a, 2b) from bending at its connection point. Second, a torque coupling mechanism (7, 8) is used to actuate the control surfaces that are present on the wings using servomotors (10) that are embedded within the central body (1 ). The connection set is engaged and disengaged using a single motion and does not require additional connection of electrical cables or mechanical fixations.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an unmanned air vehicle (105), comprising a body having front (121) and rear (122) sections with at least one pair of end plates (110) connected to said body, wherein one end plate within said at least one pair of end plates is connected to the left side of said body and another end plate within said at least one pair of end plates is connected to the right side of said body, each end plate having upper and lower sections (111,112), wherein: a) said upper section is positioned above a mean line of said body; b) said lower section is positioned below said mean line of said body; and c) a ratio of the area of said upper section to the area of said lower section is less than 1.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for reconnaissance using autonomous unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV). The system comprises a mothership, which is generally a fixed wing fuel tank capable of providing a suitable surface for flight (lift) and one or more elements for attachment of individual UAVs. The system further comprises one or more UAVs that are detachably connected to the mothership, and which are independently controllable for reconnaissance and tracking. The system and its individual parts are reusable and independently controllable, permitting low cost reconnaissance over wide areas of geography.
Abstract:
An aerial vehicle comprising an aerofoil (2), a generally forward facing propeller (10), a drive motor (6) arranged to drive the propeller about a drive axis to generate thrust, and mounting means (32) on which the propeller is pivotably mounted so that the drive axis can be moved relative to the aerofoil thereby to vary the direction of the thrust, the vehicle further comprising thrust control means (14, 18) arranged to control pivoting of the propeller so as to control the direction of the thrust, thereby to control the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A method for landing a fixed wing aircraft is provided in which an inversion maneuver is performed so that the aircraft's back is facing the ground, and the aircraft's underside is facing away from the ground. After initiation or completion of this maneuver, deep stall is induced, and the aircraft descends almost vertically to land on its upper side, thus minimizing impact loads or damage on its underside. In a particular aerodynamic arrangement configured for carrying out the method, a flap (24), which may be stowed during normal flight, is deployed in a manner such as to aerodynamically induce a negative pitching moment on the aircraft and deep stall.
Abstract:
An in-flight refueling system for an unmanned aircraft is responsive to sensed forces acting on a refueling receptacle of the aircraft by a separate refueling probe, to control movements of the aircraft as it is being refueled to reduce the magnitude of the sensed forces and thereby maintain the coupling of the aircraft with the refueling probe.