Asymmetrical VTOL UAV
First Claim
1. An aircraft, comprising a pair of substantially identical engines respectively mounted on opposite sides of the aircraft such that respective thrust outlets of the engines are located at substantially equal lateral and vertical distances from, and at substantially equal longitudinal distances forward and aft of, the center of gravity of the aircraft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) incorporates a pair of substantially identical thrust-vectoring engines, e.g., turbofans, which are respectively mounted on opposite sides of the aircraft at substantially equal lateral and vertical distances above or below, and at substantially equal longitudinal distances forward and aft of, the center of gravity of the aircraft. The thrust vectoring of the engines can be either two-dimensional or three-dimensional, and can be effected by rotatable vanes, flaps, nozzles or combination thereof, on the engines. By locating the engines equidistantly from the center of gravity of the aircraft and re-spectively forward and aft of its pitch axis, the aircraft is provided with VTOL capability, including hovering, and the operation of its conventional attitude control mechanisms are substantially enhanced at both very low and very high speeds. The vehicle is particularly well suited to missions in hostile urban environments, such as cities.
50 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An aircraft, comprising a pair of substantially identical engines respectively mounted on opposite sides of the aircraft such that respective thrust outlets of the engines are located at substantially equal lateral and vertical distances from, and at substantially equal longitudinal distances forward and aft of, the center of gravity of the aircraft.
- 8. A method for providing an aircraft with VTOL capabilities and high maneuverability at both very low and very high speeds, the method comprising respectively mounting a pair of substantially identical thrust-vectoring engines on opposite sides of the aircraft such that respective thrust outlets of the engines are located at substantially equal lateral and vertical distances from, and at substantially equal longitudinal distances forward and aft of, the center of gravity of the aircraft.
- 14. A VTOL aircraft, comprising a pair of substantially identical thrust-vectoring engines respectively mounted on opposite sides of the aircraft such that respective thrust outlets of the engines are located at substantially equal lateral and vertical distances from, and at substantially equal longitudinal distances forward and aft of, the center of gravity of the aircraft.
Specification