Propeller blade trailing edge fringes for improved sound control
First Claim
1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
- a motor configured to rotate a propeller such that the propeller generates a lifting force;
the propeller including;
a hub that is coupled to the motor so that the motor can rotate the propeller;
a propeller blade extending from the hub, the propeller blade including;
a leading edge;
a tip;
a trailing edge; and
a fringe extending from the trailing edge of the propeller blade;
a controller configured to alter a position of the fringe; and
a sensor configured to monitor a sound generated around the aerial vehicle;
wherein the controller alters the position of the fringe at a speed based at least in part on the sound.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatus for actively adjusting the position of one or more propeller blade treatments of a propeller blade of an aerial vehicle during operation of the aerial vehicle. For example, the propeller blade may have one or more propeller blade treatments that may be adjusted between two or more positions. Based on the position of the propeller blade treatments, the airflow over the propeller is altered, thereby altering the sound generated by the propeller when rotating. By altering the propeller blade treatments on multiple propeller blades of the aerial vehicle, the different sounds generated by the different propeller blades may effectively cancel, reduce, and/or otherwise alter the total sound generated by the aerial vehicle.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
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a motor configured to rotate a propeller such that the propeller generates a lifting force; the propeller including; a hub that is coupled to the motor so that the motor can rotate the propeller; a propeller blade extending from the hub, the propeller blade including; a leading edge; a tip; a trailing edge; and a fringe extending from the trailing edge of the propeller blade; a controller configured to alter a position of the fringe; and a sensor configured to monitor a sound generated around the aerial vehicle; wherein the controller alters the position of the fringe at a speed based at least in part on the sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A propeller blade, comprising:
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a hub; a tip; a surface area that extends between the hub and the tip, the surface area having an upper side, a lower side, a leading edge that extends between the hub and the tip, and a trailing edge; a fringe coupled along the trailing edge of the propeller blade; and a controller configured to alter a position of the fringe at a speed based at least in part on a sound generated around the propeller blade. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a frame; a motor coupled to the frame; a propeller coupled to and rotatable by the motor; a first fringe positioned on the propeller, wherein a sound generated by the propeller when the propeller is rotating is altered based at least in part on a position of the first fringe; a second fringe positioned on the propeller, wherein the sound generated by the propeller when the propeller is rotating is further altered based at least in part on a position of the second fringe; and a controller configured to send instructions to alter a position of at least one of the first fringe or the second fringe; and wherein the instructions are based at least in part on a determination by the controller that the aerial vehicle is below a defined altitude. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification