Six degree of freedom aerial vehicle having reconfigurable propellers

US11249477B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 17, 2018
• Grant date: Feb 15, 2022
• Expiry date: Nov 3, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U30/297
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Various reconfigurations of propellers, propeller blades, and/or blade sections of propulsion mechanisms of an aerial vehicle are described. For example, responsive to a fault or failure of a propulsion mechanism, propellers, propeller blades, and/or blade sections of the remaining propulsion mechanisms may be modified to maintain control and safety of the aerial vehicle. In example embodiments, angular orientations, positions, and/or lengths of one or more propellers, propeller blades, and/or blade sections of propulsion mechanisms may be modified to maintain control and safety in either a horizontal, wingborn flight orientation, or a vertical, VTOL flight orientation.