Long range electric aircraft and method of operating same

• US 9,340,299 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ampaire, Inc.
• Original Assignee: W.Morrison Consulting Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Byron, Yates, William M., Ussery, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanderson, Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US13/852,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/60 Take-off or landing of UAVs from a runway using their own power

Abstract

Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, through the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying independent of and in proximity to the electric aircraft. The electric aircraft and methods of operating and recharging same may involve establishing, in-flight, an electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV flying in proximity to the aircraft and transferring electricity from an electricity source associated with the UAV to the aircraft through the electrical connection.

Claims

1. An in-flight charging method for an aircraft having an electrically powered propulsion system and at least one battery, said method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication connection between the aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying in proximity to the aircraft;

transmitting, over the wireless communication connection, flight control input signals from the aircraft to the UAV, wherein the flight control input signals control the UAV'"'"'s flight control surfaces;

establishing an electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV; and

transferring electricity from an electricity source associated with the UAV to the aircraft through the electrical connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing an electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV comprises:

extending one of a charging cable or a boom between the aircraft and the UAV, and wherein the electricity is transferred from the electricity source associated with the UAV to the aircraft through the charging cable or boom.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein extending the charging cable or boom between the aircraft and the UAV comprises:

extending the charging cable or boom from the UAV to the aircraft, and wherein the aircraft is behind the UAV and the charging cable or boom becomes mechanically connected to the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the UAV tows the aircraft after the charging cable or boom becomes mechanically connected to the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein extending the charging cable or boom between the aircraft and the UAV comprises:

extending the charging cable or boom from the aircraft to the UAV, and wherein the UAV is behind the aircraft and the charging cable or boom becomes mechanically connected to the UAV.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring electricity from the electricity source associated with the UAV to the aircraft comprises:

transferring electricity to the aircraft propulsion system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein transferring electricity from the electricity source associated with the UAV to the aircraft further comprises:

transferring electricity to the at least one aircraft battery.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control input signals are transmitted to the UAV prior to and after the establishment of the electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV, and wherein the control input signals reflect inputs pilot control inputs on the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing an electrical connection between the aircraft and the UAV comprises extending a charging cable between the aircraft and the UAV, and wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the tension on the charging cable; and

maintaining a desired tension level on the charging cable by adjusting the forward propulsion of the aircraft, UAV or both.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the tension on the charging cable comprises:

determining the tension using a strain gauge.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the tension on the charging cable comprises:

determining and comparing the relative positions of the UAV and the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

transmitting position information between the aircraft and the UAV over a wireless connection.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the tension on the charging cable comprises:

determining and comparing the relative speeds of the UAV and the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

transmitting speed information between the aircraft and the UAV over a wireless connection.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the control input signals are processed by a flight computer on the aircraft prior to transmission to the UAV.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the control input signals are transmitted to actuators on the UAV which control the movement of the fight control surfaces on the UAV.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control input signals are received and processed by an flight computer onboard the UAV prior to being transmitted to the actuators.