Winged multi-rotor flying craft with payload accomodating shifting structure and automatic payload delivery

• US 9,714,087 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2014
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hari Matsuda
• Original Assignee: Hari Matsuda
• Inventors: Matsuda, Hari
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giczy, Alexander V
• Application Number:
  US14/583,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20150284079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/02 having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]

Abstract

A vertical takeoff/landing capable, multi-engine aircraft with an airfoil without elevator or rudder surfaces is provided. Strut apertures accommodate vertical and horizontal translation of the airfoil in reference to engine supporting struts which are disposed through the apertures, opposite ends of the struts extending to opposite sides of the airfoil, wherein the struts are adjustably attached to the airfoil. A first and second plurality of engines are attached to ends of the struts, an attachment position of the plurality of engines to the struts is horizontally adjustable. A computerized engine controller, controls thrusts of the engines, to enable the aircraft to vertically lift off/land and re-orient itself to horizontally fly, and perform thrust-initiated elevator and rudder emulating flight. An external payload-to-delivery mating mechanism is attached to the bottom of the payload, which mates to a pole leading to the payload receptacle. Transceivers facilitate precise transfer of the payload.

Claims

1. A vertical takeoff/landing capable flying multi-engine aircraft without elevator or rudder surfaces, comprising:

at least one lifting airfoil without elevator or rudder surfaces;

first and second strut apertures disposed in the airfoil, opposite each other from a vertical bisecting plane of the airfoil;

struts disposed through the strut apertures, first and second ends of each of the struts disposed on opposite vertical sides of the airfoil, wherein the struts are adjustably attached to the airfoil,

wherein the strut apertures are adapted to accommodate vertical translation and horizontal translation of the airfoil in reference to the struts disposed through the strut apertures;

a first plurality of engines attached to the first end of the struts, wherein an attachment position of the first plurality of engines to the struts is horizontally adjustable;

a second plurality of engines attached to the opposite second end of the struts, wherein an attachment position of the second plurality of engines to the struts is horizontally adjustable; and

a computerized engine controller, controlling respective thrusts of the first and second plurality of engines to enable the aircraft to vertically lift off/land and re-orient the aircraft to horizontally fly, and perform thrust-initiated elevator and rudder emulating flight.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is a quadrarotor aircraft.

3. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is a bi-plane aircraft.

4. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the airfoil further comprises removable or addable wing extensions.

5. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising an externally attached payload, attached to a bottom and center portion of the airfoil.

6. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein the payload is attached to the airfoil at an incline to the airfoil'"'"'s surface.

7. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein the airfoil is in a first position prior to flight and at a second different position in at least one of horizontally and vertically, to accommodate the payload.

8. The aircraft of claim 7, wherein the first and second plurality of engines are in a first engine position prior to flight and in a second different engine position horizontally, when in flight.

9. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein the payload is a surveillance device.

10. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising an external payload-to-delivery system transfer mating mechanism, attached to a bottom of the payload.

11. An automatic payload delivery system, comprising:

a vertical takeoff/landing capable flying multi-engine aircraft without elevator or rudder surfaces, comprising;

at least one lifting airfoil without elevator or rudder surfaces;

first and second strut apertures disposed in the airfoil, opposite each other from a vertical bisecting plane of the airfoil;

struts disposed through the strut apertures, first and second ends of each of the struts disposed on opposite vertical sides of the airfoil, wherein the struts are adjustably attached to the airfoil,

wherein the strut apertures are adapted to accommodate vertical translation and horizontal translation of the airfoil in reference to the struts disposed through the strut apertures;

a first plurality of engines attached to the first end of the struts, wherein an attachment position of the first plurality of engines to the struts is horizontally adjustable;

a second plurality of engines attached to the opposite second end of the struts, wherein an attachment position of the second plurality of engines to the struts is horizontally adjustable; and

a computerized engine controller, controlling respective thrusts of the first and second plurality of engines to enable the aircraft to vertically lift off/land and re-orient the aircraft to horizontally fly, and perform thrust-initiated elevator and rudder emulating flight;

a payload, attached to a bottom and center portion of the airfoil;

an external payload-to-receiver system transfer mating mechanism, attached to a bottom of the payload;

a location assistance receiver in the aircraft, adapted to provide location accuracy and docking precision for the aircraft when transferring the payload to a receiver system.

12. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the receiver system comprises:

a payload receptacle;

a pole extending from an interior of the payload receptacle and rising above the payload receptacle;

a payload cushion at a terminal end of the payload receptacle, to cushion the payload when entering the payload receptacle;

a lockable payload receptacle door; and

a location assistance transmitter attached to a top of the pole.

13. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 12, wherein the mating mechanism is configured to automatically release the payload from the aircraft when the mating mechanism is attached to the pole.

14. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 12, wherein the location assistance receiver in the aircraft and the location assistance transmitter attached to the top of the pole utilize at least one of radio, optic, and sonic signals for mating the payload to the pole.

15. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the aircraft is a quadrarotor aircraft.

16. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the aircraft is a bi-plane aircraft.

17. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the airfoil further comprises removable or addable wing extensions.

18. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the payload is attached to the airfoil at an incline to the airfoil'"'"'s surface.

19. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the airfoil is in a first position prior to flight and at a second different position in at least one of horizontally and vertically, to accommodate the payload.

20. The automatic payload delivery system of claim 11, wherein the first and second plurality of engines are in a first engine position prior to flight and in a second different engine position horizontally, when in flight.