Control surfaces for use with high speed vehicles, and associated systems and methods
US9580191B2 · kind B2 · utility
5Cited by
93References
43Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/401
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Vehicles with control surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a rocket can include a plurality of bidirectional control surfaces positioned toward an aft portion of the rocket. In this embodiment, the bidirectional control surfaces can be operable to control the orientation and/or flight path of the rocket during both ascent, in a nose-first orientation, and descent, in a tail-first orientation for, e.g., a tail-down landing. Launch vehicles with fixed and deployable deceleration surfaces and associated systems and methods are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.