Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods for a transformable aerial vehicle are provided. In one aspect, a transformable aerial vehicle includes: a central body and at least two transformable frames assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion; an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.
Abstract:
A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied.
Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods for a transformable aerial vehicle are provided. In one aspect, a transformable aerial vehicle includes: a central body and at least two transformable frames assemblies respectively disposed on the central body, each of the at least two transformable frame assemblies having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the central body and a distal portion; an actuation assembly mounted on the central body and configured to pivot the at least two frame assemblies to a plurality of different vertical angles relative to the central body; and a plurality of propulsion units mounted on the at least two transformable frame assemblies and operable to move the transformable aerial vehicle.
Abstract:
A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an aircraft comprising a fuselage (100) comprising a fuselage axis (101), a first wing arrangement (110) and a second wing arrangement (120). The first wing arrangement (110) is mounted to the fuselage (100) such that the first wing arrangement (110) is tiltable around a first longitudinal wing axis (111) of the first wing arrangement (110) and such that the first wing arrangement (110) is rotatable around the fuselage axis (101). The second wing arrangement (120) comprises at least one propulsion unit (122), wherein the second wing arrangement (120) is mounted to the fuselage (100) such that the second wing arrangement (120) is tiltable around a second longitudinal wing axis (121) of the second wing arrangement (120) and such that the second wing arrangement (120) is rotatable around the fuselage axis (101). The first wing arrangement (110) and the second wing arrangement (120) are adapted in such a way that, in a fixed-wing flight mode, the first wing arrangement (110) and the second wing arrangement (120) do not rotate around the fuselage axis (101). The first wing arrangement (110) and the second wing arrangement (120) are further adapted in such a way that, in a hover flight mode, the first wing arrangement (110) and the second wing arrangement (120) are tilted around the respective first longitudinal wing axis (111) and the respective second longitudinal wing axis (121) with respect to its orientations in the fixed-wing flight mode and that the first wing arrangement (110) and the second wing arrangement (120) rotate around the fuselage axis (101).
Abstract:
System and method to construct vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aerial vehicles capable of being folded into compact size, and capable of be combined with one or more such vehicles to form bigger composite aerial vehicles. Airframe of the vehicle comprises a plurality of wings on lateral or periphery of thrust generators, wherein arrangements of wings make it possible to optionally fold wings without moving thrust generators. Folding transforms such vehicles into ground vehicles which can share roads and house parking lots with conventional ground vehicles. Therefore such vehicles can be used as V/STOL flying cars. Means are provided for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, so that multiple vehicles can form a large composite vehicle. Compactness, combinability and V/STOL capability enable versatile applications.
Abstract:
An aircraft is provided with a gas turbine engine having a plurality of shafts. A first shaft provides power to an electrical generator and a propeller, while a second shaft provides power to a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system may be integrated to the propeller, like a ducted fan, or on the outer skin of the aircraft.
Abstract:
A hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to determine various characteristics of ground surfaces. The UAV includes a lightweight and robust body/wing assembly, and is equipped with multiple consumer-grade digital cameras that are synchronized to acquire high-resolution images in different spectra. In one example, one camera acquires a visible spectrum image of the ground over which the UAV is flown, and another camera is modified to include one or more filters to acquire a similar near-infrared image. A camera mount/holder system facilitates acquisition of high-quality images without impacting the UAV's flight characteristics, as well as easy coupling and decoupling of the cameras to the UAV and safeguarding of the cameras upon landing. An intuitive user interface allows modestly trained individuals to operate the UAV and understand and use collected data, and image processing algorithms derive useful information regarding crop health and/or soil characteristics from the acquired images.
Abstract:
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of vertical and horizontal flight modes, a method for assembling a UAV, and a kit of parts for assembling a UAV. The UAV comprises a wing structure comprising elongated equal first and second wings; a support structure comprising first and second sections coupled to a middle position of the wing structure and extending in opposite directions perpendicular to the wing structure; and four propellers, each mounted to a respective one of the first and second wings, and first and second sections, for powering the UAV during both vertical and horizontal flight modes.
Abstract:
An aircraft for unmanned aviation is described. The aircraft includes an airframe, a pair of fins attached to a rear portion of the airframe, a pair of dihedral braces attached to a bottom portion of the airframe, a first thrust-vectoring (“T/V”) module and a second T/V module, and an electronics module. The electronics module provides commands to the two T/V modules. The two T/V modules are configured to provide lateral and longitudinal control to the aircraft by directly controlling a thrust vector for each of the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the aircraft. The use of directly articulated electrical motors as T/V modules enables the aircraft to execute tight-radius turns over a wide range of airspeeds.