Active maple seed flyer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for flight comprising:
- an elongated airfoil portion having a tip end and a root end defined in longitudinal direction and a leading edge and a trailing edge defined in transverse direction;
a body portion rigidly affixed to the root end of the airfoil portion;
a propulsion means for generating a thrust jet of pressurized gas, the propulsion means provided within the body portion and the airfoil portion;
a thrust delivering orifice located near the tip end of the air foil portion for delivering the thrust jet of pressurized gas away from the leading edge and along a tangent to the tip end of the airfoil portion, wherein the apparatus'"'"' center of mass is located in the body portion whereby the thrust jet of pressurized gas causes the body portion and the airfoil portion of the apparatus to rotate together about the center of mass and enables the airfoil to generate lift for the apparatus; and
at least one upwardly-directed jet provided immediately adjacent to the trailing edge of the airfoil for delivering a flow of gas for adjusting the lift of the airfoil, wherein the flow of gas is a portion of the pressurized gas generated by the propulsion means that has been redirected to the at least one upwardly-directed jet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a payload or body affixed at one end of an elongated airfoil. The entire airfoil/payload combination rotates about a center of mass to define a rotor disk. Thrust is provided by air-augmented rocket engine thrusting tangentially at a location remote from the payload. A control system maintains knowledge of its environment, as by a camera, to produce directional control signals which actuate lift control means in synchronism with the rotational position of the vehicle. A deployable object may be carried. Protection of the stowed vehicle is provided by blister packaging.
66 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for flight comprising:
-
an elongated airfoil portion having a tip end and a root end defined in longitudinal direction and a leading edge and a trailing edge defined in transverse direction; a body portion rigidly affixed to the root end of the airfoil portion; a propulsion means for generating a thrust jet of pressurized gas, the propulsion means provided within the body portion and the airfoil portion; a thrust delivering orifice located near the tip end of the air foil portion for delivering the thrust jet of pressurized gas away from the leading edge and along a tangent to the tip end of the airfoil portion, wherein the apparatus'"'"' center of mass is located in the body portion whereby the thrust jet of pressurized gas causes the body portion and the airfoil portion of the apparatus to rotate together about the center of mass and enables the airfoil to generate lift for the apparatus; and at least one upwardly-directed jet provided immediately adjacent to the trailing edge of the airfoil for delivering a flow of gas for adjusting the lift of the airfoil, wherein the flow of gas is a portion of the pressurized gas generated by the propulsion means that has been redirected to the at least one upwardly-directed jet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification