Moveable member bearing aerial vehicles and methods of use

• US 10,561,956 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Kansas
• Original Assignee: University of Kansas
• Inventors: Barrett, Ronald M., Bramlette, Richard B., Honea, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fabula, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US14/810,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20160023759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/12 Helicopters A63H27/04 takes precedence; Flying tops
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/00 Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/299 Rotor guards ducted or shrouded rotors B64U30/26; guards used as ground propulsion B64U60/60

Abstract

An aerial vehicle includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of movable members emanating connected to the body, at least one motor, and at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by the at least one motor. The movable members are connected to the body and extend away from the body.

Claims

1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis;

at least one motor;

at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by at least one motor, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors positioned relative to the longitudinal axis and configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw and roll control;

a plurality of support members structurally supporting the at least three aerodynamic propulsors relative to the body; and

one or more movable members affixed to the body or support members configured as a strike guard for the at least three aerodynamic propulsors and configured to flutter in response to aerodynamic forces during flight, the one or more movable members configured to move at least within a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

2. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members is radially aligned relative to the longitudinal axis with at least one of the at least three aerodynamic propulsors.

3. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members is radially positioned relative to the longitudinal axis between at least two of the at least three aerodynamic propulsors.

4. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members is further from the body than at least one of the at least three aerodynamic propulsors.

5. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members is longitudinally positioned aft of at least one of the at least three aerodynamic propulsors.

6. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of support members is one of the one or more movable members.

7. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members includes a flexible member that resiliently bends during operation of the aerial vehicle.

8. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members is movably mounted to the body or to one support member of the plurality of support members.

9. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the movable members has a first end and a second end, both the first end and the second end being connected to the body or one of the plurality of support members.

10. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, the one or more movable members affixed to one or more of the plurality of support members between the body and the at least three aerodynamic propulsors.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 1, the one or more movable members further comprising a flexible member and a sheet extending from the flexible member.

12. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis;

an undercarriage assembly having a plurality of support members and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

at least one motor;

at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by at least one motor and structurally supported by the undercarriage assembly, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors positioned relative to the longitudinal axis and configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw and roll control;

an electronics package including a stability augmentation system in data communication with the at least one motor; and

one or more movable members affixed to the undercarriage assembly configured as a strike guard for the at least three aerodynamic propulsors and configured to flutter in response to aerodynamic forces during flight, the one or more movable members configured to move at least within a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the electronics package is at least partially vibrationally isolated from the one or more movable members.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the one or more movable members include a reflective coating to increase visibility.

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a propulsor guard extending around at least a portion of a lateral perimeter relative to the longitudinal axis.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more movable members is affixed to the propulsor guard.

17. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a domed support member at least partially supported by the propulsor guard.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a flexible cover supported by the domed support member, wherein the flexible cover radially encloses the at least three aerodynamic propulsors and has a plurality of apertures therethrough to allow airflow through the least three aerodynamic propulsors.

19. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the propulsor guard is in electrical communication with the electronics package, the electronics package configured to stop the at least three aerodynamic propulsors when the propulsor guard contacts other objects.

20. The aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein the aerial vehicle is built to be repeatedly captured and handled by sports competitors while playing a competitive game whereby the aerial vehicle is to be captured by hand and/or by net.

21. An aerial vehicle, comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis;

an undercarriage assembly having a plurality of support members and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

at least one motor;

at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by at least one motor and structurally supported by the undercarriage assembly, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors positioned relative to the longitudinal axis and configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw and roll control;

a propulsor guard connected to the undercarriage assembly and extending circumferentially about a perimeter of the undercarriage assembly;

a domed support member connected to the undercarriage assembly and configured to transfer loads to the undercarriage assembly;

an electronics package including a stability augmentation system in data communication with the at least one motor; and

one or more movable members affixed to the undercarriage assembly configured as a strike guard for the at least three aerodynamic propulsors and configured to flutter in response to aerodynamic forces during flight, the one or more movable members configured to move at least within a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

22. The aerial vehicle of claim 21, the one or more movable members extending longitudinally aft of the undercarriage assembly.