Spin stabilized aerial aircraft

• US 9,764,828 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Sutton, Stewart, Panevsky, Martin, Ulrich, Evan R., Dunbar, Christopher B, Jyothindran, Vishnu
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldemaryam, Assres H
• Application Number:
  US14/822,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/16 Drive of rotors by means, e.g. propellers, mounted on rotor blades
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 31/00 Aircraft intended to be sustained without power plant; Powered hang-glider-type aircraft; Microlight-type aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/33 generated by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/08 Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00

Abstract

A spin stabilized aircraft may include a plurality of wings that passively spin stabilize the aircraft, causing the apparatus to move in a direction opposite that of a wind source. The aircraft may also include two or more propulsive arms that actively stabilize the aircraft in absence of wind or a decrease in altitude.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of wings configured to spin stabilize the apparatus, causing the apparatus to move in a direction of wind; and

a propulsive arm configured to actively stabilize the apparatus in absence of wind or a decrease in altitude; and

two or more engines opposed to each other on opposite ends of the propulsive arm to create a force causing the apparatus to spin, wherein the force allows the plurality of wings to create a lift for the apparatus, and

the plurality of wings attached to a center cross section of the propulsive arm and to a center of rotation for the apparatus, such that each of the plurality of wings move relative to the plurality of motors, thereby decoupling the plurality of wings from the propulsive arm, and

a sensor configured to track a location and a rotation rate of the apparatus to measure wind shear, wherein the sensor spins in a direction relative to the apparatus to achieve a fixed inertial rate and the sensor spins in opposition or in addition to a rotation rate of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spin stabilization of the apparatus comprises a specific mass distribution such that the primary inertial axis is coincident with the primary axis of rotation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the specific mass distribution comprises a constraint on inertial distribution such that I_Z>

I_X and I_Z>

I_Y with a primary spin about an I_Z axis, wherein

I_X is a principal inertial x-axis, I_Y is a principal inertial y-axis, and I_Z a principal inertial z-axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the two or more engines are further configured to control a rotation rate of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the force generated by the two or more engines applies a torque to the apparatus causing apparatus to spin stabilize.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wings cause the apparatus to spin stabilize when the wind impinges upon the plurality of wings.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of wings configured to cause the apparatus to spin in a windy environment and maintain altitude;

a propulsive arm extending through rotation axis Iz configured to cause the apparatus to spin in a calm environment; and

two or more engines opposed to each other on opposite ends of the plurality of propulsive arms to create a force causing the apparatus to spin, wherein

the force allows the plurality of wings to create a lift of the apparatus, and the plurality of wings being perpendicular to the propulsive arm are attached to a center cross section of the propulsive arm and to a center of rotation for the apparatus, such that each of the plurality of wings move relative to the two or more motors, thereby decoupling the plurality of wings from the propulsive arm, and

a sensor configured to track a location and a rotation rate of the apparatus to measure wind shear, wherein the sensor spins in a direction relative to the apparatus to achieve a fixed inertial rate and the sensor spins in opposition or in addition to a rotation rate of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the spin stabilization of the apparatus comprises a specific mass distribution such that the primary inertial axis is coincident with the primary axis of rotation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the specific mass distribution comprises a constraint on inertial distribution such that I_Z>

I_X and I_Z>

I_Y with a primary spin about an I_Z axis, wherein

I_X is a principal inertial x-axis, I_Y is a principal inertial y-axis, and I_Z a principal inertial z-axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the two or more engines are further configured to control a rotation rate of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the force generated by the two or more engines applies a torque to the apparatus causing apparatus to spin stabilize.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of wings cause the apparatus to spin stabilize when the wind impinges upon the plurality of wings.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a sensor configured to track a location and a rotation rate of the apparatus to measure wind shear.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor spins in a direction relative to the apparatus to achieve a fixed inertial rate.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensor spins in opposition or in addition to a rotation rate of the apparatus.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

at least two wings attached to a body of the apparatus;

a propulsive arm extending through rotation axis Iz; and

two or more engines opposed to each other on opposite ends of the propulsive arm to create a force causing the apparatus to spin, the force causing the wings to create a lift for the apparatus, wherein

the at least two wings are configured to spin stabilize the apparatus without power,

the at least two propulsive arm are configured to actively stabilize the apparatus in absence of wind, a decrease in altitude, or both, and

the plurality of wings are attached to the center cross section of the propulsive arm and to a center of rotation for the apparatus, such that each of the plurality of wings move relative to the plurality of motors, thereby decoupling the plurality of wings from the propulsive arm, and

a sensor configured to track a location and a rotation rate of the apparatus to measure wind shear, wherein the sensor spins in a direction relative to the apparatus to achieve a fixed inertial rate and the sensor spins in opposition or in addition to a rotation rate of the apparatus.