ROCKET-POWERED ENTERTAINMENT VEHICLE

• US 20100096491A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rocket Racing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rocket Racing, Inc.
• Inventors: D'Angelo, Michael R., Diamandis, Peter H., Whitelaw, Granger
• Application Number:
  US12/511,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/15
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 3/00 Equipment or accessories for racing or riding sports training equipment for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/023 of rocket type, e.g. for assisting taking-off or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/00 Cosmonautic vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 3/00 Observing or tracking cosmonautic vehicles

Abstract

A rocket-powered vehicle used for entertainment, namely races, exhibitions, competitions, and revenue-generating events.

Claims

1. A rocket powered vehicle comprising:

an airframe;

a propulsion module;

a propellant storage tank;

an avionics package; and

an entertainment platform.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said airframe is a winged airframe.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a pressure fed propellant delivery system.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a pump fed propellant delivery system.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one pressurant to enhance rocket propulsion.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said entertainment platform comprises an onboard video network for transmitting streams of video to end users being entertained.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said entertainment platform comprises an augmented reality system that melds the real world with a virtual world.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said entertainment platform comprises audio collectors for transmitting sounds to end users being entertained.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said entertainment platform comprises biometric measurements of a pilot transmitted to end users being entertained.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said avionics package comprises virtual aids for monitoring at least one item selected from the group consisting of engine performance, flight dynamics, navigation, and competition.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rocket propulsion module comprises different throttle positions.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rocket propulsion module is selected from the group consisting of a liquid rocket engine, a solid fuel rocket engine, a hybrid rocket engine, a turbojet, a turbofan, a turboramjet, a ramjet, a scramjet, a propeller, and a turboprop.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said airframe comprises a housing for a pilot.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 comprising combinations of boost and glide during flight.

17. The vehicle of claim 1 comprising extended glide capability during flight.

18. The vehicle of claim 1 comprising at least two propulsion module applications selected from the group consisting of take-off, horizontal acceleration, vertical climb, high G acceleration, low G acceleration, sustain, landing, and taxi.

19. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a plume seeding system.

20. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a modulated thrust.

21. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an igniter for enhancement of thrust.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)