Vertical take-off and landing vehicle with increased cruise efficiency

US9475579B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• William J. Fredericks · Hampton, US
• Mark Moore · Henderson, US
• Ronald C. Busan · Newport News, US
• Paul M. Rothhaar · Newport News, US
• David D. North · North Palm Beach, US
• William M. Langford · Hampton, US
• Christopher T. Laws · Yorktown, US
• William Todd Hodges · Yorktown, US
• Zachary R. Johns · Virginia Beach, US
• Sandy R. Webb · Hampton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 13, 2014
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S903/903
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.