Modular nacelles to provide vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities to fixed wing aerial vehicles, and associated systems and methods

• US 10,124,890 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DroneTech UAV Corporation
• Original Assignee: DroneTech UAV Corporation
• Inventors: Sada-Salinas, Jaime G., Arellano-Escarpita, David Alejandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frazier, Brady W
• Application Number:
  US14/678,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20160297520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 244 7 R
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/40 Arrangements for mounting power plants in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/02 associated with wings wings adapted for mounting power plant B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like

Abstract

Modular nacelles to provide vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities to fixed-wing aerial vehicles, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes a nacelle, a power source carried by the nacelle, and multiple VTOL rotors carried by the nacelle and coupled to the power source. The system can further include an attachment system carried by the nacelle and configured to releasably attach the nacelle to an aircraft wing.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle system configured for VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing), comprising:

an aircraft comprising;

a fuselage;

a first wing connected to the fuselage;

a second wing connected to the fuselage; and

a first propulsion system carried by at least one of the fuselage, the first wing, or the second wing; and

a removable second propulsion system that includes;

a first nacelle releasably coupled to a bottom surface of the first wing and detachable from the first wing in flight;

a second nacelle releasably coupled to a bottom surface of the second wing and detachable from the second wing in flight, wherein each of the first and second nacelles includes a power source and at least one VTOL rotor coupled to the power source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source includes a battery.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one VTOL rotor includes a first pair of counter-rotating VTOL rotors carried by the first nacelle and a second pair of counter-rotating VTOL rotors carried by the second nacelle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second nacelles includes a stabilizing fin.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second nacelles each have a center of gravity longitudinally aligned with a center of gravity of the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second nacelles each have an attachment mechanism positioned to releasably attach the corresponding nacelle to the corresponding wing.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the attachment mechanism includes a bolted bracket.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second nacelles includes a release mechanism configured to release the corresponding nacelle in flight.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the release mechanism includes an actuator.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the first and second nacelles includes a deployable, in-flight speed reduction device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the speed reduction device includes a deployable lifting surface.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the speed reduction device includes a deployable parachute.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a structural connection device connected between the first and second nacelles, independent of the fuselage, the first wing and the second wing.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the first propulsion system includes at least one of a tractor propeller and a pusher propeller.

15. A method for configuring an unmanned VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) system, comprising:

in preparation for VTOL flight, releasably attaching a first nacelle to a bottom surface of a first wing of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and releasably attaching a second nacelle to a bottom surface of a second wing of the UAV, wherein each of the first and second nacelles includes a power source and at least one VTOL rotor coupled to the power source, and wherein each of the first and second nacelles is detachable from the corresponding wing in flight;

releasably coupling a first signal communication link between the first nacelle and the first wing; and

releasably coupling a second signal communication link between the second nacelle and the second wing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the UAV has a first center of gravity before the first and second nacelles are attached and wherein the UAV has a second center of gravity after the first and second nacelles are attached, and wherein the first and second centers of gravity have the same longitudinal location.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in preparation for non-VTOL flight, removing the first nacelle from the first wing of the UAV, and removing the second nacelle from the second wing of the UAV.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein removing the first and second nacelles includes removing the first second nacelles while the aircraft is stationary.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein removing the first and second nacelles includes removing the first second nacelles while the aircraft is in flight.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising flying the first and second nacelles to a landing site, independent of the unmanned aerial vehicle.