An aerial vehicle has a passenger cabin for receiving at least one passenger, a load-bearing structure beneath the cabin, and a propulsion system including a number of propulsion units, which propel the aerial vehicle for powered flight and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). The propulsion units are preferably carried by support arms attached to the load-bearing structure and extending upwards therefrom so as to support the propulsion units at a level above the cabin. The aerial vehicle is preferably reconfigurable to a compact configuration after landing, with at least some of the propulsion units overlapping the cabin and/or each other, while still allowing passenger transfer in and out of the vehicle, thereby facilitating efficient use of space for implementing a vertiport.

An aeronautical car includes a ground-travel system including a drivetrain; an air-travel system including a detachable portion configured to house a propulsion device configured to provide thrust and to be driven by the drivetrain when the detachable portion is connected to the aeronautical car, and at least one flight mechanism configured to provide lift once the aeronautical car is in motion; and a weather manipulation device. The weather manipulation device may be configured to manipulate at least one aspect of a weather condition while the aeronautical car is in the air.

An aeronautical car includes a ground-travel system including a drivetrain; an air-travel system including a detachable portion configured to house a propulsion device configured to provide thrust and to be driven by the drivetrain when the detachable portion is connected to the aeronautical car, and at least one flight mechanism configured to provide lift once the aeronautical car is in motion; and a weather manipulation device. The weather manipulation device may be configured to manipulate at least one aspect of a weather condition while the aeronautical car is in the air.

A takeoff and landing control method of a multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle includes: receiving dynamic parameters of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle; processing the dynamic parameters by a coupled dynamic model of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle to obtain dynamic control parameters of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle, wherein the coupled dynamic model of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle comprises a motion equation of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle in a touchdown state; and the motion equation of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle in a touchdown state is determined by a two-degree-of-freedom suspension dynamic equation and a six-degree-of-freedom motion equation of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle in the touchdown state; and controlling takeoff and landing of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle according to the dynamic control parameters of the multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle. The method is used for takeoff and landing control of a multimodal air-ground amphibious vehicle.

A central wing panel for a hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air transportation configured to enable transitioning between an air mode and a ground mode. The central wing panel has a front frame section and a rear frame section connected by one or more cross members. The central wing panel is configured to rotate enabling adjustment of an angle of attack of the vehicle. The rear frame section is configured to rotate enabling coupling and uncoupling of the rear frame section from a first wing and a second wing for transitioning between the air mode and the ground mode. The central wing panel is also configured to allow rotation of ailerons and flaps so that they fold over onto the top front portion of the wings.

A central wing panel for a hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air transportation configured to enable transitioning between an air mode and a ground mode. The central wing panel has a front frame section and a rear frame section connected by one or more cross members. The central wing panel is configured to rotate enabling adjustment of an angle of attack of the vehicle. The rear frame section is configured to rotate enabling coupling and uncoupling of the rear frame section from a first wing and a second wing for transitioning between the air mode and the ground mode. The central wing panel is also configured to allow rotation of ailerons and flaps so that they fold over onto the top front portion of the wings.

The present invention relates to an electronic gear shifter assembly for a dual-mode flying and driving vehicle. The electronic gear shifter assembly may include a lever moveable between a first shifting path that includes at least one drive-related operating position, and a second shifting path that includes at least one flying-related operating position.

The present invention relates to an electronic gear shifter assembly for a dual-mode flying and driving vehicle. The electronic gear shifter assembly may include a lever moveable between a first shifting path that includes at least one drive-related operating position, and a second shifting path that includes at least one flying-related operating position.

A directional control system for a hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air transportation. The vehicle has at least one steerable wheel for use in ground operation, the wheel being connected to a steering mechanism, wings having moveable control surfaces, and a tail having a moveable control surface. The system has a first shaft having a first control input at one end, wherein the first shaft is linked to the steering mechanism and a second shaft that extends through the first shaft and is independently rotatable and slidable with respect to the first shaft. The second shaft has a second control input at one end, a first linkage configured to transmit a rotational movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surfaces on the wings, and a second linkage configured to transmit an axial movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surface on the tail.

A directional control system for a hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air transportation. The vehicle has at least one steerable wheel for use in ground operation, the wheel being connected to a steering mechanism, wings having moveable control surfaces, and a tail having a moveable control surface. The system has a first shaft having a first control input at one end, wherein the first shaft is linked to the steering mechanism and a second shaft that extends through the first shaft and is independently rotatable and slidable with respect to the first shaft. The second shaft has a second control input at one end, a first linkage configured to transmit a rotational movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surfaces on the wings, and a second linkage configured to transmit an axial movement of the second shaft to control the moveable control surface on the tail.