VTOL aircraft having fixed-wing and rotorcraft configurations

US11724801B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Textron Systems Corporation · US

Inventors

• Sean Marshall Baity · Westminster, US
• David D. Billingsley · Hanover Junction, US
• Brad S. Galloway · Hanover Junction, US
• Richard M. Chapman · Fort Mill, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 15, 2023
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/60
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An aircraft includes an airframe having a fixed-wing section and a plurality of articulated electric rotors, at least some of which are variable-position rotors having different operating configurations based on rotor position. A first operating configuration is a vertical-flight configuration in which the rotors generate primarily vertical thrust for vertical flight, and a second operating configuration is a horizontal-flight configuration in which the rotors generate primarily horizontal thrust for horizontal fixed-wing flight. Control circuitry independently controls rotor thrust and rotor orientation of the variable-position rotors to provide thrust-vectoring maneuvering. The fixed-wing section may employ removable wing panels so the aircraft can be deployed both in fixed-wing and rotorcraft configurations for different missions.