AERIAL VEHICLES AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
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1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal body axis, the body including;
a plurality of forward wings, each wing extending in a forward wing plane that contains the longitudinal body axis and is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the longitudinal body axis, anda plurality of aft wings, each wing extending in an aft wing plane that contains the longitudinal body axis or is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the longitudinal body axis;
at least one motor supported by the body; and
at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by the at least one motor, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being located between the plurality of forward wings and the plurality of aft wings, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw, and roll control.
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Abstract
An aerial vehicle capable of convertible flight from hover to linear flight includes a body having a longitudinal body axis, a plurality of forward wings, a plurality of aft wings, at least one motor, and at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by the at least one motor. Each forward wing extends a forward wing plane. Each aft wing extends from an aft wing plane. The aerodynamic propulsors are mounted longitudinally between the plurality of forward wings and plurality of aft wings.
79 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a body having a longitudinal body axis, the body including; a plurality of forward wings, each wing extending in a forward wing plane that contains the longitudinal body axis and is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the longitudinal body axis, and a plurality of aft wings, each wing extending in an aft wing plane that contains the longitudinal body axis or is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the longitudinal body axis; at least one motor supported by the body; and at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by the at least one motor, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being located between the plurality of forward wings and the plurality of aft wings, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw, and roll control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a body having a longitudinal body axis, the body including; a plurality of forward wings, each wing extending in a forward wing plane that contains the body axis and is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the body axis, and a plurality of aft wings, each wing extending in an aft wing plane that contains the body axis or is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the body axis; at least three aerodynamic propulsors, each of the aerodynamic propulsors having a motor associated therewith and driving the aerodynamic propulsor, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being located between the plurality of forward wings and the plurality of aft wings, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw, and roll control; a communication module capable of receiving a command signal from a human-operated transmitter or satellite and providing the command signal to at least one of the motors; and a flight director in data communication with at least one of the motors associated with the at least three aerodynamic propulsors, the flight director having a stability augmentation system configured to receive flight state information and pilot commands and to output flight control commands based at least partially upon the flight state information and pilot commands. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a body having a longitudinal body axis and a forward end and an aft end, the body including; a plurality of forward wings, each wing extending in a forward wing plane that contains the body axis and is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the body axis, wherein the forward wings have a structural leading edge that is configured to structurally support landing gear and extends through a radially outwardmost point of the aerial vehicle, and a plurality of aft wings, each wing extending in an aft wing plane that contains the body axis or is tilted no more than 15 degrees from the body axis; at least three aerodynamic propulsors, each of the aerodynamic propulsors having a motor associated therewith and driving the aerodynamic propulsor, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being located longitudinally between the plurality of forward wings and the plurality of aft wings and within the radially outwardmost point such that the structural leading edge forms a propulsor cage that provides protection for the aerodynamic propulsors from impact, the at least three aerodynamic propulsors being configured to provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw, and roll control; and a flight director in data communication with each of the motors associated with the at least three aerodynamic propulsors, the flight director having a stability augmentation system configured to receive flight state information and pilot commands and to output flight control commands based at least partially upon the flight state information and pilot commands. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification