INVERTIBLE AIRCRAFT
First Claim
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1. A method of gathering intelligence prior to entering a room, comprising:
- a) delivering a rotorcraft into the room, the rotorcraft includinga fuselage defining a vertical dimension with respect to the fuselage,one or more rotors generally oriented for vertical thrust with respect to the fuselage,one or more motors configured to drive the one or more rotors in rotation, anda control system configured to control the speed with which the one or more motors drives the one or more rotors in rotation,wherein the one or more motors are configured to drive the one or more rotors in either of two directions of rotation, andwherein the control system is configured to control the one or more motors such that it can change a primary direction of thrust with respect to the fuselage developed by the one or more of rotors;
b) adapting the rotorcraft to have a primary direction of thrust based on the orientation of the rotorcraft with respect to gravity once it has come to rest in the room;
c) instructing the rotorcraft to fly; and
d) scanning the room using a sensor on the rotorcraft to gather intelligence.
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Abstract
A rotorcraft including a fuselage, one or more motor-driven rotors for vertical flight, and a control system. The motors drive the one or more rotors in either of two directions of rotation to provide for flight in either an upright or an inverted orientation. An orientation sensor is used to control the primary direction of thrust, and operational instructions and gathered information are automatically adapted based on the orientation of the fuselage with respect to gravity. The rotors are configured with blades that invert to conform to the direction of rotation.
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6 Claims
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1. A method of gathering intelligence prior to entering a room, comprising:
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a) delivering a rotorcraft into the room, the rotorcraft including a fuselage defining a vertical dimension with respect to the fuselage, one or more rotors generally oriented for vertical thrust with respect to the fuselage, one or more motors configured to drive the one or more rotors in rotation, and a control system configured to control the speed with which the one or more motors drives the one or more rotors in rotation, wherein the one or more motors are configured to drive the one or more rotors in either of two directions of rotation, and wherein the control system is configured to control the one or more motors such that it can change a primary direction of thrust with respect to the fuselage developed by the one or more of rotors; b) adapting the rotorcraft to have a primary direction of thrust based on the orientation of the rotorcraft with respect to gravity once it has come to rest in the room; c) instructing the rotorcraft to fly; and d) scanning the room using a sensor on the rotorcraft to gather intelligence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification