DUCTED FAN UAV CONTROL ALTERNATIVES

• US 20100187369A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Fleming, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/23.C
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/24 Coaxial rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/297 Tilting rotors

Abstract

A ducted fan air-vehicle having alternative methods of control is described. The ducted fan air-vehicle includes an air duct, a fan, a center body, a plurality of control vanes. Each control vanes includes a separate servo for independent control of each control vane, and is therefore able to operate the control vanes in a non-traditional manner to provide maximum control authority.

Claims

1. A ducted fan air-vehicle comprising:

an air duct;

a fan;

a center body;

a plurality of control vanes located within or downstream from the air duct, each control vane having a leading edge;

a separate servo for each control vane for independently controlling each vane.

2. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 1 wherein each vane includes a flap surface.

3. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 1 wherein each servo is mounted onto each control vane.

4. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 1 wherein each servo is located outside of each control vane.

5. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 1 wherein each control vane is connected to the air duct by a control vane support.

6. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 1 wherein the center body includes an engine, a camera, or an avionics system.

7. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 1 wherein the leading edges of two adjacent control vanes are deflected toward each other to generate a drag force on the air duct.

8. The ducted fan air-vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a flight control system for controlling the deflection of the control vanes.

9. A method for controlling a ducted fan air-vehicle comprising:

providing an air duct, a fan, and a center body;

providing a plurality of control vanes located within or downstream of the air duct, each control vane having a leading edge;

providing a separate servo for each control vane;

deflecting the leading edges of two adjacent control vanes to generate a drag force on the air duct.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the leading edges of two adjacent control vanes are deflected toward each other.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the leading edges of two adjacent control vanes are deflected in the same direction.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing four sets of adjacent control vanes and deflecting leading edges of all four sets of adjacent control vanes toward each other.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the deflection of the control vanes is controlled by a flight control system.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein each servo is mounted onto or internal to each control vane.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein each servo is mounted internal to each control vane.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein each servo is located outside of each control vane.