Aerial vehicle with deployable components

• US 10,494,081 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Area-I, Inc. (Anduril Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alley, Nicholas Robert, Steele, Joshua Lemming, Williams, Jesse Owen, Kuehme, Daniel, Phillips, Jonathan Caleb
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/388,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20170291686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 244 49
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/36 adapted to receive antennas or radomes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 11/28 Collapsible or foldable blades
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/24 Transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/30 using cable, chain, or rod mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/40 Varying angle of sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/54 Varying in area
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/546 by foldable elements
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 5/02 Tailplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 5/12 for retraction against or within fuselage or nacelle
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 5/16 about spanwise axes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/60 UAVs characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle with deployable components (UAVDC) is disclosed. The UAVDC may comprise a fuselage, at least one wing, and at least one control surface. In some embodiments, the UAVDC may further comprise a propulsion means and/or a modular payload. The UAVDC may be configured in a plurality of arrangements. For example, in a compact arrangement, the UAVDC may comprise the at least one wing stowed against the fuselage and the at least one control surface stowed against the fuselage. In a deployed arrangement, the UAVDC may comprise the at least one wing deployed from the fuselage and the least one control surface deployed from the fuselage. In an expanded arrangement, the UAVDC may comprise the at least one wing telescoped to increase a wingspan of the deployed arrangement.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a fuselage;

at least one stabilizer; and

wherein the base of the at least one stabilizer is configured to pivot about a first axis and a second axis,

wherein the at least one stabilizer is configurable in at least the following arrangements;

a compact arrangement comprising;

the at least one stabilizer stowed against the fuselage, and a deployed arrangement comprising;

the least one stabilizer deployed from the fuselage about the first axis such that the deployment about the first axis places the at least one stabilizer in position to stabilize the UAV flight through a rotation of the at least one stabilizer about the second axis.

2. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the deployed arrangement is configured to stabilize the UAV into a controlled flight.

3. The UAV of claim 2, wherein the deployed arrangement being configured to stabilize the UAV into the controlled flight comprises the at least one stabilizer being configured to deploy into the deployed arrangement about the first axis and to provide positive flight control by rotating about the second axis.

4. The UAV of claim 3, further comprising a pushrod and control arm configured to rotate the at least one stabilizer about the second axis.

5. The UAV of claim 4, further comprising an actuator configured to operate the pushrod so as to enable rotating of the at least one stabilizer about the second axis.

6. The UAV of claim 1, further comprising a flexible fairing at the base of the at least one stabilizer configured to enable a rotation of the at least one stabilizer about the second axis while maintaining an aerodynamic efficiency.

7. The UAV of claim 1, further comprising a spring enabling the at least one stabilizer to deploy about the first axis.

8. The UAV of claim 1, wherein the at least one stabilizer comprises an airfoil cross-sectional profile.

9. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

at least one deployable stabilizer,

wherein the at least one stabilizer is configurable in at least the following configurations;

a stowed configuration positioned at a first angle relative to a first axis, and

a deployed configuration pivoted at a second angle relative to the first axis,

wherein the at least one stabilizer is in position, at the second angle relative to the first axis, to stabilize the UAV into a controlled flight through a pivot of the at least one stabilizer about the second axis.

10. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the at least one stabilizer is further configured to pivot about a second axis to provide positive flight control.

11. The UAV of claim 10, further comprising a flexible fairing at the base of the at least one stabilizer configured to enable a rotation of the at least one stabilizer about the second axis while maintaining an aerodynamic efficiency.

12. The UAV of claim 10, further comprising a pushrod and control arm configured to rotate the at least one stabilizer about the second axis.

13. The UAV of claim 9, further comprising a spring enabling the at least one stabilizer to deploy about the first axis.

14. The UAV of claim 9, wherein the stabilizer comprises an airfoil cross-sectional profile.

15. A method for operating a stabilizer on a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

arranging the stabilizer in a stowed position against a fuselage of the UAV;

deploying the stabilizer from the stowed position to a deployed position, wherein deploying the stabilizer from the stowed position to the deployed position comprises pivoting the stabilizer about a first axis such that the deployment about the first axis places the stabilizer into the deployed position, and wherein the stabilizer is operable to stabilize the UAV into a controlled flight from the deployed position; and

operating the stabilizer by enabling the stabilizer to pivot about a second axis in order to stabilize the UAV into the controlled flight.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein deploying and operating the stabilizer comprises enabling the stabilizer to pivot about the first axis and the second axis at approximately the base of the stabilizer.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, enabling a rotation of the stabilizer about the second axis while maintaining an aerodynamic efficiency with a fairing at a base of the stabilizer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein operating the stabilizer comprises operating a pushrod and control arm configured to rotate the stabilizer about the second axis.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein deploying the stabilizer comprises a spring enabling the stabilizer to deploy about the first axis.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein further comprising stabilizing the UAV into a controlled flight by, at least in part, the deployment and operation of the stabilizer.