Abstract:
An airborne vehicle having a wing-body which defines a wing-body axis and appears substantially annular when viewed along the wing-body axis, the interior of the annulus defining a duct which is open at both ends. A propulsion system is provided comprising one or more pairs of propulsion devices, each pair comprising a first propulsion device mounted to the wing-body and positioned on a first side of a plane including the wing-body axis, and a second propulsion device mounted to the wing-body and positioned on a second side of the plane including the wing-body axis. A direction of thrust of the first propulsion device can be adjusted independently of the direction of thrust of the second propulsion device and/or a magnitude of thrust of the first propulsion device can be adjusted independently of the magnitude of thrust of the second propulsion device. In certain embodiments the wing-body appears swept forward when viewed from a first viewing angle, and swept backward when viewed from a second viewing position at right angles to the first viewing angle.
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:
Технической задачей является повышение удобства запуска с рук оператора и повышение устойчивости взлета беспилотного летательного аппарата. Технический результат достигается в беспилотном летательном аппарате включающем планер (1) типа «бecxвocткa», два держателя 3, закрепленных на планере (1) в его задней части, находящейся дальше центра тяжести (4) беспилотного летательного аппарата относительно направления полета и выполненных с возможностью удержания беспилотного летательного аппарата оператором. Беспилотный летательный аппарат содержит силовую установку толкающего типа с пропеллером (2) при этом, часть каждого держателя (3) сполагается дальше плоскости вращения пропеллера относительно центра тяжести (4) спилотного летательного аппарата. Держатели (3) могут быть выполнены в виде стержней. Если беспилотный летательный аппарат снабжен вертикальными стабилизаторами, держатели могут быть выполнены в виде прорезей в вертикальных стабилизаторах.
Abstract:
An aircraft with swept back wings and spoilers inlaid into the top surface near the tips of the wings. The aircraft also includes an elevator formed in the center back portion of the aircraft, which is also aft of the spoilers. It is aft to allow an auxiliary control in the elevator signal to cancel the unwanted pitch up moment caused by the spoilers only going up and being aft of the center of gravity of the aircraft. Roll is achieved with these spoilers by the direct action of the lift dumping on one side or the other and by taking advantage of the transformation of yaw into roll by the sweep back of the wings.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an aircraft (101), configured to have a wide range of flight speeds, consuming low levels of power for an extended period of time, while supporting a communications platform with an unobstructed downward-looking view. The aircraft (101) includes an extendable slat (205) at the leading edge of the wing (103), and a reflexed trailing edge. The aircraft comprises a flying wing (103) extending laterally between two ends and a center point. The wing (103) is swept and has a relatively constant chord. The aircraft (101) also includes a power module configured to provide power via a fuel cell (131). The fuel cell (131) stores liquid hydrogen as fuel, but uses gaseous hydrogen in the fuel cell (131). A fuel tank heater is used to control the boil-rate of the fuel in the fuel tank. The aircraft (101) of the invention includes a support structure including a plurality of supports, where the supports form a tetrahedron that affixes to the wing (103).
Abstract:
This disclosure provides a solar rechargeable aircraft (10) that is inexpensive to produce, is steerable, and can remain airborne almost indefinitely. The preferred aircraft is a span-loaded flying wing, having no fuselage or rudder. The aircraft can be remotely piloted through multiple, redundant communication subsystems. The availability and reliability of each separate communication subsystem is continuously monitored. The aircraft has a wide variety of applications, which include serving as a long term high altitude platform that serves to link a ground station using radio wave signals and a satellite using optical signals.
Abstract:
This disclosure provides a solar rechargeable aircraft (10) that is inexpensive to produce, is steerable, and can remain airborne almost indefinitely. The preferred aircraft is a span-loaded flying wing, having no fuselage or rudder. The aircraft has a wide variety of applications as communications relay, which include serving as a long term high altitude platform that serves to link a ground station (510) using radio wave signals and a satellite using (512) optical signals.
Abstract:
A daisy-chain aerial vehicle includes at least two component aerial vehicles. Each component aerial vehicle includes at least one wing having a wing body, a trailing edge, and a wingtip, the wing body shaped like an airfoil. At least one cross-flow fan propulsor is located at the trailing edge, and at least one connection element on the wing is configured to connect and disconnect the aerial vehicles during flight.
Abstract:
One example embodiment includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)(12). The VTOL UAV (12) includes a flight control system configured to provide avionic control of the VTOL UAV (12) in a hover mode and in a level-flight mode. The VTOL UAV (12) also includes a body (18) encapsulating an engine and the flight control system. The VTOL UAV (12) further includes a propeller disk (14) coupled to the engine and configured to provide vertical thrust in the hover mode and to provide horizontal thrust for flight during the level-flight mode.