Active maple seed flyer

• US 8,205,822 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Jameson, Stephen M., Boesch, Brian P., Allen, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/786,075
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137.4, 244/17.11, 244/207, 244/23.R
• US Class Current: 244/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/00 Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/297 Tilting rotors

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.

Claims

1. A monocopter, said monocopter comprising:

an airfoil with a body attached to a first end of the airfoil, the body including an exterior surface;

a propulsion device associated with said airfoil for rotating said air foil and said body, for thereby defining a rotor disk;

a controller for causing lift adjustment of said airfoil to tilt the rotor disk; and

a holder for a deployable payload object, the holder including at least one fixed wall extending outwardly from the exterior surface of said body, said wall and said exterior surface of said body defining a cavity of the body, said cavity dimensioned to accommodate said deployable payload object.

2. A monocopter according to claim 1, wherein said holder further includes:

a retainer for retaining said deployable payload object within said cavity during stowed operation, and for releasing said deployable payload object from said cavity for deployment.

3. A monocopter according to claim 2, wherein said retainer comprises a latch which withdraws to release said deployable payload object.

4. A monocopter according to claim 2, wherein said retainer comprises a lip on said at least one wall.

5. A monocopter according to claim 2, wherein said retainer comprises an electromagnet.