RECONFIGURABLE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An aircraft for unmanned flight that is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics comprising:
- (a) a base;
(b) a first rotor on a first boom coupled to the base;
(c) a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base;
(d) a third rotor on a third boom coupled to the base;
wherein position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom;
(2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base;
(3) translation of the boom relative to the base;
so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration and reconfiguration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. A system and method for configuring a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft and system and method for operation and management of a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft in an airspace are also disclosed. The aircraft is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics. The aircraft comprises a set of rotors. The position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of translation of the rotor relative to the boom, pivoting of the boom relative to the base, and translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base. A method of configuring an aircraft having a set of rotors on a mission to carry a payload comprises the steps of determining properties of the payload including at least mass properties, determining the manner in which the payload will be coupled to the aircraft, determining configuration for each of the rotors in the set of rotors at least partially in consideration of the properties of the payload, and positioning the set of rotors in the configuration for the aircraft to perform the mission.
86 Citations
319 Claims
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1. An aircraft for unmanned flight that is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) a first rotor on a first boom coupled to the base; (c) a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base; (d) a third rotor on a third boom coupled to the base; wherein position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom;
(2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base;
(3) translation of the boom relative to the base;so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration and reconfiguration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 9, 19, 32, 37, 38, 39, 42, 52, 55, 56, 70, 78, 86, 92, 96, 108, 115, 128, 138, 139)
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3-8. -8. (canceled)
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10-18. -18. (canceled)
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20-31. -31. (canceled)
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33-36. -36. (canceled)
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40-41. -41. (canceled)
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43-51. -51. (canceled)
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53-54. -54. (canceled)
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57-69. -69. (canceled)
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71-77. -77. (canceled)
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79-85. -85. (canceled)
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87-91. -91. (canceled)
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93-95. -95. (canceled)
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97-107. -107. (canceled)
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109-114. -114. (canceled)
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116-127. -127. (canceled)
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129-137. -137. (canceled)
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140-142. -142. (canceled)
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143. A selectively reconfigurable aircraft for unmanned flight providing flight characteristics comprising:
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[1] a base; [2] a first rotor on a first boom coupled to the base; [3] a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base; wherein position of the first rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom;
(2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base;
(3) translation of the boom relative to the base;wherein position of the second rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom;
(2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base;
(3) translation of the boom relative to the base;so that flight characteristics can be modified by reconfiguration of the position of at least one rotor relative to the base. - View Dependent Claims (144, 148, 159, 160, 161, 162)
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145-147. -147. (canceled)
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149-158. -158. (canceled)
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163-306. -306. (canceled)
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307. A selectively reconfigurable aircraft for unmanned flight providing flight characteristics comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) a first rotor on a first boom coupled to the base; (c) a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base; wherein position of the first rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom;
(2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base;
(3) translation of the boom relative to the base;wherein position of the second rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom;
(2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base;
(3) translation of the boom relative to the base;wherein the first rotor and the second rotor are coupled so the first rotor and the second rotor can be repositioned in coordinated movement relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by reconfiguration of the position of at least one rotor relative to the base. - View Dependent Claims (308, 309, 311, 314, 318)
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310. (canceled)
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312-313. -313. (canceled)
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315-317. -317. (canceled)
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319-322. -322. (canceled)
Specification