Six degree of freedom aerial vehicle having pivoting wing sections

US11014669B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III · Seattle, US
• Omri Rand · Seattle, US
• Ricky Dean Welsh · Seattle, US
• Gur Kimchi · Bellevue, US
• Sebastian Fischer · Lennestadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 17, 2018
• Grant date: May 25, 2021
• Expiry date: Jul 27, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2101/64
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods to improve stability and control of an aerial vehicle are described. For an aerial vehicle having a ring wing around a fuselage and a plurality of propulsion mechanisms, one or more sections of the ring wing may be pivotable to reduce vibrations and forces transferred to the aerial vehicle, and to prevent stall and minimize turbulence experienced by the aerial vehicle. The pivotable sections of the ring wing may be freely pivotable, may include locking elements to prevent or allow pivoting, may include bias elements or dampening elements to partially control the free pivoting, or may include actuators to effect desired pivoting.