TOWABLE AIR VEHICLE

• US 20140246538A1
• Filed: 01/02/2014
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Support Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Heliplane LLC
• Inventors: MORRIS, John William, JARNOT, Charles A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,187,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.13
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/02 Gyroplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/291 Detachable rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles

Abstract

An unmanned, towable air vehicle is described and includes electronic sensors to increase the detection range relative to the horizon detection limitations of a surface craft, an autogyro assembly to provide lift, and a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight. A forward motive force powers the autogyro assembly to provide lift. In an example, the autogyro assembly includes a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub for rotation to provide lift to the vehicle. In an example, an electrical motor rotates the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off. The electrical motor does not have enough power to sustain flight of the vehicle in an example.

Claims

1. An air vehicle to be towed by a vehicle, comprising:

an unmanned flight body;

an autogyro assembly connected to the flight body;

a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight; and

a generator connected to convert mechanical power from the autogyro assembly to electrical power utilized by the air vehicle including the controller.

2. The air vehicle of claim 1, further including a sensor to detect other objects adjacent the air vehicle, wherein the sensor receives electric power from the generator.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sensor increases a sensor range by at least 3 times relative to a horizon detection distance.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the autogyro assembly comprises a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the generator is utilized as a motor during takeoff to rotate the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off, and wherein the motor does not have enough power to power the air vehicle through takeoff absent a further motive force.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the controller is to sense forward motion to control the autogyro assembly.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is to receive signal from a propulsion device and to control the autogyro assembly using the received signal.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the controller is to control the rotational speed of the hub, wherein the autogyro assembly comprises actuators to control angle of the plurality of airfoil blades, and wherein the controller controls the actuators, and wherein the flight body comprises a container to house the controller, a flight stabilizer, and an undercarriage to support the container when on the ground.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is to issue control signals to position airfoil blades for different stages of flight.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

12-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An air vehicle to be towed by a marine vessel, the air vehicle comprising:

a flight body;

a plurality of legs extending from the flight body to support the towed air vehicle when on the ground;

a weight sensor attached to each of the plurality of legs for sensing weight loaded on each of the plurality of legs;

an autogyro assembly connected to the flight body;

an actuator connected to the autogyro assembly to change the location of the autogyro assembly relative to the flight body;

a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight, wherein the controller receives weight data provided the plurality of weight sensors, calculates a center of gravity associated with the towed air vehicle in response to the received weight data, and in response to the calculated center of gravity controls the actuator to change the location of the autogyro.

15. The air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the actuator is capable of moving the autogyro assembly forward, aft, left, and right.

20. The air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the flight body includes a connection to connect to the marine vehicle to provide forward motive force to power the autogyro assembly.

21. The air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the autogyro assembly comprises a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub.

22. The air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the autogyro assembly comprises a motor to rotate the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off, and wherein the motor does not have enough power to power the air vehicle through takeoff absent a further motive force.

23. The air vehicle of claim 22, wherein the controller is to sense forward motion to control the autogyro assembly.

24. The air vehicle of claim 23, wherein the controller is to receive signal from a propulsion device and to control the autogyro assembly using the received signal.

25. The air vehicle of claim 23, wherein the controller is to control the rotational speed of the hub.

26. The air vehicle of claim 23, wherein the autogyro assembly comprises actuators to control angle of the plurality of airfoil blades, and wherein the controller controls the actuators.

27. The air vehicle of claim 26, wherein the controller is to issue control signals to position airfoil blades for different stages of flight.

30. The air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller prevents initiation of flight if the location of the autogyro cannot be located at the calculated center of gravity.

16-19. -19. (canceled)

28-29. -29. (canceled)