Multi-Modal Vehicle
First Claim
1. A multi-modal vehicle (“
- MMV”
) configured to operate as a roadable vehicle on land, a vertical takeoff and landing (“
VTOL”
) vehicle, an aircraft vehicle, and a watercraft vehicle on water, swamp, grassland, snow, or ice, the MMV comprising;
a fuselage;
a chassis coupled to the fuselage and supporting at least three wheels in a deployed position and in a stowed position;
a canard wing system supported on the fuselage;
a main wing system supported on the fuselage, wherein the main wing system further comprises;
an inboard portion pivotally connected to the fuselage; and
an outboard portion pivotally connected to the inboard portion;
a first vertical thrust system including a pair of ducted fans incorporated within the fuselage;
a dual-use thrust system coupled to a rear portion of the fuselage and configured to transition between a first position for supplying a vertical thrust during a vertical takeoff or landing and a second position for supplying a horizontal thrust during an airborne cruise; and
a controller configured to automatically control at least one of the MMV operations, reconfigurations, and transitions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-modal vehicle (“MMV”) 20a-20d. The MMV 20a-20d includes a fuselage 22 and a chassis 26 supporting at least three wheels 44 having deployed and stowed states. Extending away from the fuselage 22 is a canard wing system 28 and a main wing system 30. The main wing system 30 includes an inboard portion 134 and an outboard portion 132. The inboard portion 134 is pivotally connected to the fuselage 22; the outboard portion 132 is pivotally connected to the inboard portion 134. The MMV 20a-20d further includes a vertical thrust system 32 comprising a pair of ducted fans 100 that are incorporated into the fuselage 22, and a dual-use thrust system 34 that is configured to transition between a first position for supplying vertical thrust and a second position for supplying a horizontal thrust. A controller 42 is configured to control the MMV operations, reconfigurations, or transitions.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A multi-modal vehicle (“
- MMV”
) configured to operate as a roadable vehicle on land, a vertical takeoff and landing (“
VTOL”
) vehicle, an aircraft vehicle, and a watercraft vehicle on water, swamp, grassland, snow, or ice, the MMV comprising;a fuselage; a chassis coupled to the fuselage and supporting at least three wheels in a deployed position and in a stowed position; a canard wing system supported on the fuselage; a main wing system supported on the fuselage, wherein the main wing system further comprises; an inboard portion pivotally connected to the fuselage; and an outboard portion pivotally connected to the inboard portion; a first vertical thrust system including a pair of ducted fans incorporated within the fuselage; a dual-use thrust system coupled to a rear portion of the fuselage and configured to transition between a first position for supplying a vertical thrust during a vertical takeoff or landing and a second position for supplying a horizontal thrust during an airborne cruise; and a controller configured to automatically control at least one of the MMV operations, reconfigurations, and transitions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- MMV”
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30. A foldable main wing system comprising:
a high-sweep angle delta wing in front of a low-sweep angle conventional wing. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of transitioning an aircraft from a vertical takeoff to an airborne in-flight cruise, the method comprising:
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supplying a first vertical thrust from a vertical thrust system and a second vertical thrust from a dual-use thrust system; providing a vectored thrust that transitions the second vertical thrust from the dual-use thrust system to a horizontal thrust from the dual-use thrust system; and terminating the first vertical thrust. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of transitioning an aircraft from an airborne in-flight cruise to a vertical landing, the method comprising:
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supplying a first vertical thrust from a vertical thrust system; and providing a vectored thrust that transitions a horizontal thrust from a dual-use thrust system to a second vertical thrust from the dual-use thrust system.
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Specification