Systems and methods are provided for aircraft attitude control. The aircraft attitude control may take physical parameters of the aircraft into account. For example, one or more aircraft configuration parameters, such as moment of inertia, motor lift curve, and/or axial distance may be calculated and/or taken into account based on the aircraft physical parameters. The aircraft configuration parameters may include non-linear parameters. The control systems may include feedback control systems, and may optionally use a feedforward and feedback control for angular acceleration.

Systems and methods are provided for aircraft attitude control. The aircraft attitude control may take physical parameters of the aircraft into account. For example, one or more aircraft configuration parameters, such as moment of inertia, motor lift curve, and/or axial distance may be calculated and/or taken into account based on the aircraft physical parameters. The aircraft configuration parameters may include non-linear parameters. The control systems may include feedback control systems, and may optionally use a feedforward and feedback control for angular acceleration.

A vehicle, includes a main body. A fluid generator is coupled to the main body and produces a fluid stream. At least one fore conduit and at least one tail conduit are fluidly coupled to the generator. First and second fore ejectors are fluidly coupled to the fore conduit, coupled to the main body and respectively coupled to a starboard side and port side of the vehicle. The fore ejectors respectively comprise an outlet structure out of which fluid flows. At least one tail ejector is fluidly coupled to the tail conduit. The tail ejector comprises an outlet structure out of which fluid flows. A primary airfoil element is coupled to the tail portion. A surface of the primary airfoil element is located directly downstream of the first and second fore ejectors such that the fluid from the first and second fore ejectors flows over the such surface.

A vehicle, includes a main body. A fluid generator is coupled to the main body and produces a fluid stream. At least one fore conduit and at least one tail conduit are fluidly coupled to the generator. First and second fore ejectors are fluidly coupled to the fore conduit, coupled to the main body and respectively coupled to a starboard side and port side of the vehicle. The fore ejectors respectively comprise an outlet structure out of which fluid flows. At least one tail ejector is fluidly coupled to the tail conduit. The tail ejector comprises an outlet structure out of which fluid flows. A primary airfoil element is coupled to the tail portion. A surface of the primary airfoil element is located directly downstream of the first and second fore ejectors such that the fluid from the first and second fore ejectors flows over the such surface.

The invention provides a fluid propulsion augmentation arrangement and method, capable of also generating control moments (23), providing increased thrust (45) at reduced speed, reduced drag at increased speed, under conditions in which traditional approach cannot provide sufficient performance. It consists of a wing (10) located in a propulsion system (11) fluid intake region (13), having a slanted trailing edge (16) coinciding with a fraction of the propulsion intake (17), pivotally connected (14), allowing position adjustments. At reduced speed, the wing (10) and the propulsion system intake (17) are placed adjacently, the intake low pressure determines wing (10) fluid-dynamic force (44) generation. Increasing speed, wing (10) position varies, following fluid stream (15) convergence change, maintaining an angle of attack for increased L/D, ensuring increased performance, and also varying control moments (23).

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that enable robust operations of a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) using a compound wing. The various embodiments may provide a sUAS with vertical takeoff and landing capability, long endurance, and the capability to operate in adverse environmental conditions. In the various embodiments a sUAS may include a fuselage and a compound wing comprising a fixed portion coupled to the fuselage, a wing lifting portion outboard of the fixed portion comprising a rigid cross member and a controllable articulating portion configured to rotate controllable through a range of motion from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and a freely rotating wing portion outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to rotate freely based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that enable robust operations of a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) using a compound wing. The various embodiments may provide a sUAS with vertical takeoff and landing capability, long endurance, and the capability to operate in adverse environmental conditions. In the various embodiments a sUAS may include a fuselage and a compound wing comprising a fixed portion coupled to the fuselage, a wing lifting portion outboard of the fixed portion comprising a rigid cross member and a controllable articulating portion configured to rotate controllable through a range of motion from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and a freely rotating wing portion outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to rotate freely based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion.

The present invention is a winged VTOL aircraft of novel configuration that utilizes a single-axis rotor mounted at an oblique angle within a forward-facing, bifurcating duct, that is controlled by a plurality of servo driven vanes, producing a mechanically simple, redundantly controlled vehicle that can carry cargo, people, or otherwise, directly from point to point. The configuration uses sets of vanes to produce both moments and forces referenced around the vehicle's center of gravity, thereby, allowing the vehicle to translate in a level position, or stay stationary relative to the ground while at a slight pitch or roll attitude. This feature is very important for autonomous vehicles to accurately pick up and drop off payloads on unlevel terrain or in windy conditions. Other rotor vehicles require pitch or roll attitude to translate or compensate for wind. Complementing this vehicle's mechanically simple rotor system is a novel mechanism that collectively drives the pitch of the rotor blades by combining the input from three separate servos. Each servo can be controlled by redundant fight control systems.

The present invention is a winged VTOL aircraft of novel configuration that utilizes a single-axis rotor mounted at an oblique angle within a forward-facing, bifurcating duct, that is controlled by a plurality of servo driven vanes, producing a mechanically simple, redundantly controlled vehicle that can carry cargo, people, or otherwise, directly from point to point. The configuration uses sets of vanes to produce both moments and forces referenced around the vehicle's center of gravity, thereby, allowing the vehicle to translate in a level position, or stay stationary relative to the ground while at a slight pitch or roll attitude. This feature is very important for autonomous vehicles to accurately pick up and drop off payloads on unlevel terrain or in windy conditions. Other rotor vehicles require pitch or roll attitude to translate or compensate for wind. Complementing this vehicle's mechanically simple rotor system is a novel mechanism that collectively drives the pitch of the rotor blades by combining the input from three separate servos. Each servo can be controlled by redundant fight control systems.

A mechanically simple rotor system is a novel mechanism that collectively drives the pitch of the rotor blades by combining the input from three separate servos. Each servo can be controlled by redundant control systems. This configuration reduces total error caused by any one system and allows the continuation of rotor pitch control in the event of one or more servo or system failures.