Unmanned aerial vehicle with twin-engine fore/AFT configuration and associated systems and methods
First Claim
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- a fuselage having a longitudinal axis;
a payload bay in the fuselage;
a first engine positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the payload bay and coupled to a first propeller to drive the first propeller; and
a second engine positioned along the longitudinal axis aft of the payload bay and the first engine, the second engine being coupled to a second propeller to drive the second propeller, wherein the first and second engines are of different types, and wherein one of the engines is a four-cycle engine and the other engine is a two-cycle engine.
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Abstract
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for use in military and civilian functions, including a UAV being optimized by utilizing a front and a rearmost engine positioning in addition to an engine operating system for maximum fuel efficiency and performance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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a fuselage having a longitudinal axis; a payload bay in the fuselage; a first engine positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the payload bay and coupled to a first propeller to drive the first propeller; and a second engine positioned along the longitudinal axis aft of the payload bay and the first engine, the second engine being coupled to a second propeller to drive the second propeller, wherein the first and second engines are of different types, and wherein one of the engines is a four-cycle engine and the other engine is a two-cycle engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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a fuselage having a longitudinal axis; a payload bay within the fuselage; a first engine positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the payload bay; a second engine positioned along the longitudinal axis aft of the payload bay and the first engine; a first fuel tank positioned between the first engine and the payload bay; a second fuel tank positioned between the second engine and the payload bay; a control system coupled to the first and second engines and configured to shut down one of the first and second engines at cruise altitude; and
wherein;a center of gravity of the UAV is located within the payload bay; one of the first engine and the second engine has a two-cycle configuration, a first power capability and a first specific fuel consumption; and the other of the first engine and the second engine has a four-cycle configuration, a second power capability less than the first power capability, and a second specific fuel consumption lower than the first. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for operating a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
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directing the UAV to take off under the power of a first engine and a second engine, the UAV including a fuselage having a longitudinal axis, the first and second engines being located along the longitudinal axis, wherein one of the engines is a four-cycle engine and the other engine is a two-cycle engine; after takeoff, shutting down one of the first and second engines; and cruising or loitering under the power of the other of the first and second engines. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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a fuselage having a longitudinal axis; a payload bay in the fuselage; a first engine positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the payload bay; and a second engine positioned along the longitudinal axis aft of the payload bay and the first engine, wherein one of the engines is a four-cycle engine and the other engine is a two-cycle engine.
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20. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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a fuselage having a longitudinal axis; a payload bay in the fuselage; a first engine positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the payload bay; and a second engine positioned along the longitudinal axis aft of the payload bay and the first engine, wherein; the first and second engines form a twin-engine configuration; one of the first engine and the second engine is located at the front-most extreme of the fuselage, and the other is located at the rear-most extreme of the fuselage; one of the first engine and the second engine is a two-cycle engine with a first specific fuel consumption; and the other of the first engine and the second engine is a four-cycle engine with a second specific fuel consumption lower than the first.
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Specification