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Insect-like micro air vehicle having perching, energy scavenging, crawling, and offensive payload capabilities

  • US 8,167,234 B1
  • Filed: 03/21/2010
  • Issued: 05/01/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2010
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An insect-like micro air vehicle (MAV) and supporting mission apparatus, comprising:

  • a central, dangling, three part body comprised of upper, middle and lower sections;

    left and right rotor tilt actuators positioned on either side of the body, capable of independent or coordinated motion;

    left and right rotor arms extending from and capable of being positioned by the rotor tilt actuators;

    left and right rotor teeter actuators attached to the left and right rotor arms, capable of independent or coordinated motion;

    left and right propulsion motors, capable of independent or coordinated operation, attached to and capable of being positioned by the left and right teeter actuators;

    left and right propulsion motor controllers and regenerators, connected to the left and right propulsion motors, capable of independent or coordinated operation;

    left and right rotors having a plurality of fixed or adjustable blades and a circumferential rim, shroud, or other similar circumferential features capable of serving as a wheel contact surface, attached to and driven in the same or opposing directions by the left and right propulsion motors;

    left and right elevator actuators, attached to either side of the body, capable of independent or coordinated motion;

    left and right elevators, having conformal solar panels and winglets, attached to and capable of being positioned by the left and right elevator actuators;

    left and right perch hangers capable of coordinated or independent motion, attached to the body or rotor arms, having the ability to be positioned by the tilt actuators;

    left and right perch hanger grapples of a plurality of designs, attached to the perch hangers, individually capable of mechanically and electrically engaging various perches, individually capable of motion relative to the perch hangers;

    a plurality of landing tail skids, repositionable whips, antennas, and electromagnetic energy scavenging nodes;

    microprocessor based circuitry for implementing control of vectored thrust and body position and reaction, stabilization for flight and perching, and management of surveillance, energy scavenging, and energy replenishment;

    control and stabilization sensors and circuitry;

    GPS and navigational circuitry and devices;

    audio and video sensors, circuitry, transmitters, and surveillance relaying devices;

    an expellable, offensive payload;

    spark gap or solid state power line and electromagnetic energy scavenging circuitry and devices;

    corona based virtual ground circuitry and devices;

    solar energy scavenging circuitry and devices;

    long term energy storage that is capable of being replenished through energy scavenging capabilities;

    integrated strengthening features, including rings and cooling fins, deliberately visible and capable of deception and camouflage in order to mimic a power distribution apparatus;

    anda single or plurality of operator possessed and manipulated control transmitters and surveillance receivers, not carried onboard the MAV.

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