Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aircraft having improved aerodynamical characteristics and excellent in direction stability. SOLUTION: In the aircraft having a first drive unit 4 in which an air taking-in port 10 is formed on an upper side of a body 2 of the aircraft 1 and a second drive unit 5 in which an air taking-in port 10 is formed on a lower side of the body 2 of the aircraft 1, the body of the aircraft 1 has a recession part 12 for storing the drive units 4, 5, and the recession part 12 is arranged such that the first and second drive units 4, 5 are vertically superposed/arranged on a plane where a vertical axis and a perpendicular axis of the aircraft 1 are laid. The drive units 4, 5 include an engine 14, a housing 11 provided with the air taking-in port 10, a means 8 for removably fixing the drive units 4, 5 to the body 2 of the aircraft 1, and a means 9 for removably bonding an electricity feed wire, a data circuit and a fuel pipe between the drive units 4, 5 and the body 2 of the aircraft 1. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A ducted fan core for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided that accommodates a wide variety of payloads. The ducted fan core comprises a frame (190), attached to which are an engine (120), gearbox assembly, fan, and a plurality of control vanes (130). A first surface on the frame comprises a plurality of connects or electrical traces. The plurality of connects are used to removably attach a variety of pods (240) carrying various payloads. Thus, a wide variety of payloads may be delivered using the same unmanned aerial vehicle, simply by removing and attaching different pods to a fixed vehicle core. These pods may be shaped so as to form part of the vehicle exterior, and when the pods are attached to the frame, they enhance the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A ducted fan core for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided that accommodates a wide variety of payloads. The ducted fan core comprises a frame (190), attached to which are an engine (120), gearbox assembly, fan, and a plurality of control vanes (130). A first surface on the frame comprises a plurality of connects or electrical traces. The plurality of connects are used to removably attach a variety of pods (240) carrying various payloads. Thus, a wide variety of payloads may be delivered using the same unmanned aerial vehicle, simply by removing and attaching different pods to a fixed vehicle core. These pods may be shaped so as to form part of the vehicle exterior, and when the pods are attached to the frame, they enhance the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
Abstract:
A modular automated air transport system comprising an unmanned autonomous aircraft having a selectively detachable control systems portion and a structural air frame portion, wherein the structural air frame portion contains an interior cargo hold, aerodynamic members having control surfaces and at least one propulsion device attached to the structural air frame portion; and wherein the control system portion includes a control computer for autonomously controlling the flight of said air transport system from one known location to a second known location.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ducted fan core for housing a wide variety of payloads for an unmanned aircraft. SOLUTION: A ducted fan core 100 includes a frame 110 attached to an engine 120, a gearbox assembly, a fan 140, and a plurality of control vanes 130. A first surface 112 on the frame includes a plurality of connecting sections or electrical traces. The plurality of connecting sections are used for removably attaching a variety of pods holding various payloads. Thus, the wide variety of payloads can be conveyed by using the same unmanned aircraft, simply by removing pods from the fixed core of the aircraft and attaching different pods thereto. These pods are shaped so as to form part of the exterior of the aircraft, and when the pods are attached to the frame, they enhance the characteristics of aerodynamics of the aircraft. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A disclosed flying craft includes a suspension structure having a first end and a second end, a lift unit, and a payload unit. The lift unit includes a nacelle and a tailboom, and pivotally couples to the first end of the suspension structure, and a payload unit couples to the structure's second end. Thus the tailboom can pivotally couple with respect to the payload unit, which advantageously permits the tailboom to assume an orientation desirable for a particular mode of flight. During vertical flight or hover, the tailboom can hang from the lift unit in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the suspension structure and that minimizes resistance to downwash from the lift unit. During horizontal flight, the tailboom can be orthogonal to the suspension structure, extending rearward in an orientation where it can develop pitching and yawing moments to control and stabilize horizontal flight. Advantageous variations and methods are also disclosed.