Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft having variable center of gravity
US10807707B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2017 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64U2201/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) configured for both vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing flight operations includes forward and aft wing assemblies mounted to the fuselage, each wing assembly including port and starboard nacelles terminating in motor-driven rotors powered by an onboard control system capable of adjusting rotor speeds. The UAS may transition between a powered-lift VTOL configuration to a winged-flight configuration by shifting its center of gravity forward, pivoting the wing assemblies from a powered-lift position perpendicular to the fuselage to a winged-flight position parallel to the fuselage. The forward rotor blades may be folded back so that the aft rotors may provide primary thrust for winged flight operations. Onboard attitude sensors may detect rotor or control failures, to which the control system responds by triggering a conversion to the winged-flight configuration for recovery operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.