Compound wing vertical takeoff and landing small unmanned aircraft system

• US 9,708,059 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Motter, Mark A., Deloach, Richard, Logan, Michael J., Vranas, Thomas L., Prendergast, Joseph M., Lipp, Brittney N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hawk, Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/625,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 244 7 R, 244 7 C, 244 8, 244 124, 244 39
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 15/00 Attitude, flight direction, or altitude control by jet reaction
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/80 UAVs characterised by their small size, e.g. micro air vehicles [MAV]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that enable robust operations of a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) using a compound wing. The various embodiments may provide a sUAS with vertical takeoff and landing capability, long endurance, and the capability to operate in adverse environmental conditions. In the various embodiments a sUAS may include a fuselage and a compound wing comprising a fixed portion coupled to the fuselage, a wing lifting portion outboard of the fixed portion comprising a rigid cross member and a controllable articulating portion configured to rotate controllable through a range of motion from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and a freely rotating wing portion outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to rotate freely based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion.

Claims

1. A compound wing for a fuselage, comprising:

a fixed wing portion couplable to the fuselage;

a wing lifting portion coupled to and disposed outboard of the fixed wing portion, comprising;

a rigid cross member configured not to articulate; and

a single controllably articulating portion configured to rotate controllably through a range of motion from a horizontal position in line with the fixed wing portion to a vertical position perpendicular to the fixed wing portion; and

a freely rotating wing portion coupled to and disposed outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to freely rotate based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion.

2. The compound wing of claim 1, wherein the controllably articulating portion includes a lifting motor.

3. The compound wing of claim 2, wherein the fixed wing portion is configured to be coupled to the fuselage of a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS).

4. A small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), comprising:

a fuselage; and

a compound wing, comprising;

a fixed wing portion coupled to the fuselage;

a wing lifting portion coupled to and disposed outboard of the fixed wing portion, comprising;

a rigid cross member configured not to articulate; and

a single controllably articulating portion configured to rotate controllably through a range of motion from a horizontal position in line with the fixed wing portion to a vertical position perpendicular to the fixed wing portion; and

a freely rotating wing portion coupled to and disposed outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to rotate freely based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion.

5. The sUAS of claim 4, wherein the controllably articulating portion includes a lifting motor.

6. The sUAS of claim 5, further comprising:

an aft propulsor configured to be articulated through a range of motion from a second horizontal position to a downward position.

7. The sUAS of claim 6, wherein during a forward flight mode the controllably articulating portion is in the horizontal position, the aft propulsor is in the second horizontal position, and the freely rotating wing portion is free to rotate.

8. The sUAS of claim 7, wherein during a vertical takeoff and landing (V/TOL) flight mode the controllably articulating portion is in the vertical position, the aft propulsor is in the downward position, and the freely rotating wing portion is free to rotate.

9. A small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), comprising:

a fuselage;

independently controllable first and second lift engines or motors configured to provide vertical lift in a vertical takeoff and landing mode and forward propulsion in a forward flight mode;

an aft propulsor configured to be articulated through a range of motion from a second horizontal position to a downward position;

first and second compound wings positioned on opposite sides of the fuselage, each of the first and second compound wings including;

a fixed wing portion coupled to the fuselage;

a wing lifting portion coupled to and disposed outboard of the fixed wing portion and having;

a rigid cross member configured not to articulate; and

a single controllably articulating portion to which is mounted a different one of the first and second lift engines or motors, wherein the single controllably articulating portion is configured to rotate through a range of motion from a horizontal position in line with the fixed wing portion to a vertical position perpendicular to the fixed wing portion; and

a freely rotating wing portion coupled to and disposed outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to rotate freely based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion; and

a control system configured to control operations of the aft propulsor, the first and second lifting engines or motors, and the controllably articulating wing portions, including independently controlling the first and second lifting engines or motors.