Patent classifications
B64C29/00
Systems and methods for in-flight re-routing of an electric aircraft
In an aspect of the present disclosure is a system for in-flight re-routing of an electric aircraft including a battery pack configured to provide electrical power to the electric aircraft; a sensor configured to detect at least a temperature metric of the battery pack and generate a temperature datum based on the at least a temperature metric; a controller communicatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to: receive the temperature datum from the sensor; and re-route the electric aircraft based on the temperature datum.
System and Method for Safe Autonomous Light Aircraft
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles also known as UAVs or Drones, either autonomous or remotely piloted, are classified as drones by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as weighing under 212 pounds. The system described herein details Autonomous Flight Vehicles (AFV) which weigh over 212 pounds but less than 1,320 pounds which may require either a new classification or a classification such as Sport Light Aircraft, but without the requirement of a pilot due to the safe autonomous flight system such as the Safe Temporal Vector Integration Engine or STeVIE. Safe Autonomous Light Aircraft (SALA) are useful as drone carriers, large scale air package or cargo transport, and even human transport depending on the total lift capability of the platform.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING FLIGHT RANGE OF AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
A system for estimating flight range of an electric aircraft. The system generally includes at least a sensor and a computing device. The at least a sensor is communicatively connected to at least a flight component. The at least a sensor is configured to detect a performance datum of the at least a flight component. The computing device is communicatively connected to the at least a sensor. The computing device is configured to receive the performance datum from the at least a sensor, determine an energy performance datum from the performance datum, determine a flight performance datum from the performance datum, generate a projected flight range datum as a function of the energy performance datum and the flight performance datum, and display the projected flight range datum. A method for estimating flight range of an electric aircraft is also provided.
CONVERTIPLANE AND ASSOCIATED FOLDING METHOD
A method is described for the folding of a convertiplane with a fuselage having a first axis , a pair of wings and a pair of rotors arranged on respective mutually opposite sides of the respective wings; each rotor comprises a mast rotatable about a second axis and a plurality of blades; each wing comprises a first portion fixed with respect to the fuselage; a second tip portion opposite to the first portion; and a third intermediate portion, which is interposed between the associated first portion and second tip portion; the mast of each rotor is integrally tiltable with the second axis and associated second tip portion about a third axis transversal to the second axis and the fuselage so as to set said convertiplane between a helicopter configuration and an aeroplane configuration; the method comprises the steps i) of arranging the convertiplane in the helicopter configuration and ii) rotating a pair of assemblies of respective wings with respect to the fuselage and the associated first portion about respective fifth axes , so as to arrange the convertiplane in a stowage configuration. A convertiplane is also disclosed.
Rotor system with reconfigurable duct
A rotor system includes a rotor assembly and a duct system. The rotor assembly includes rotor blades extending from a mast axis and configured to rotate about the mast axis. The duct assembly includes a moveable duct portion and a stationary duct portion. In a first duct configuration, the moveable duct portion surrounds a first portion of the rotor assembly, the stationary duct portion surrounds a second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion and the stationary duct portion enclose the rotor assembly. In a second duct configuration, the stationary duct portion surrounds the second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion is moved away from the first portion of the rotor assembly, such that the rotor assembly is not enclosed.
Systems and methods for an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft braking system
Braking systems and methods for an electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are provided. A braking system may contain a pilot control device, brakes, wheels, sensors, and a controller. Pilot controls the pilot control device to transmit information to the controller such that the aircraft will slow down.
System for a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with an in-boom lift propulsor
An aircraft with an in-boom lift propulsor includes a fuselage, a boom with a recess in the upper surface, and a lift propulsor comprising of a motor assembly and a propulsive element. Motor on the aircraft is operated through an interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding to generate force on a shaft of the motor. The in-boom lift propulsor helps prevent damages to the motor assembly and the aircraft by absorbing torque from the rotor and absorbing moment from the mating flange 328, where the mating flange 328 joins the motor assembly to the boom. The boom includes an access panel to service the motor assembly and invertor during maintenance.
TILT-FRAME UAV FOR AGRICULTURAL AIR SAMPLING WITH A PROPELLER-THRUST-GOVERNING SYSTEM THAT FACILITATES VTOL CAPABILITY
We describe an aircraft design, which is capable of vertical takeoff and landing and also high-speed cruise on a fixed wing. The aircraft comprises a fuselage with a probe-deployment mechanism, which deploys a sample-gathering probe, located at a front end of the fuselage. A main wing is coupled to a middle section of the fuselage, wherein a right motor and right propeller are coupled to a right side of the main wing, and a left motor and left propeller are coupled to a left side of the main wing. The right and left propellers are angled with respect to the fuselage enabling the aircraft to pitch up to a vertical-takeoff mode and pitch down a horizontal-cruising mode. A pitch motor and pitch propeller are located at the rear end of the fuselage, wherein the pitch propeller is angled to provide substantially vertical thrust to control a pitch of the fuselage.
SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIMARY FUNCTION DISPLAY IN AN ELECTRICAL VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT
A system for establishing a primary function display for an electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The system further includes a plurality of sensors that detects at least a metric and generates at least a datum based on the at least a metric. Specifically, state of charge is at least generated based on the performance metric of an energy source. The system further includes a display to show the at least a datum. The system further includes a controller that receives the at least a datum and generates a visual to the pilot.
HIGH VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Provided in this disclosure is a high voltage distribution system of an electric aircraft. The system includes a power source mechanically connected to an electric aircraft, where the power source is configured to supply power to the electric aircraft. The system also includes a flight component mechanically connected to the electric aircraft. The system also includes a distribution component configured to control the providing of power to and from the power source and the flight component as needed during recharging and/or operation of the electric aircraft.