This invention discloses an aerial device (AD) for manned or unmanned flight, comprising a fuselage main body coupled with two or more aerodynamic units via bearings. Each aerodynamic unit is independently moveable and controllable, and thus able to create their own unique aerodynamic vectors, all of which are combined in varying manners to control the flight of the AD. Each unit comprises a structural part, a thruster with a propeller, and a servo wing positioned behind the propeller. More aerodynamic units may be combined with the main body in order to create more control. The units may be programmed or controlled manually to offset or otherwise account for varying environmental conditions such as slope, wind, and turbulence. The apparatus may further be coupled with a PID controller with a multidimensional field of input and output parameters.

A control augmentation system for high aspect ratio aircraft has aileron/flaperon and throttle position sensors; spoiler and flap controls; a mode switch with manual, and landing modes; and a controller driving left and right spoiler and flap servos, the controller including at least one processor with memory containing firmware configured to: when the mode switch is in manual mode, drive both spoiler servos to a symmetrical position according to the spoiler control; when the mode switch is in landing mode, drive the left spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, and the right spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, the left and right spoiler positions differing whenever ailerons are not centered, and an average of spoiler positions is more fully deployed when the throttle position is at a low-power setting than when the throttle position is at a high-power setting.

A control augmentation system for high aspect ratio aircraft has aileron/flaperon and throttle position sensors; spoiler and flap controls; a mode switch with manual, and landing modes; and a controller driving left and right spoiler and flap servos, the controller including at least one processor with memory containing firmware configured to: when the mode switch is in manual mode, drive both spoiler servos to a symmetrical position according to the spoiler control; when the mode switch is in landing mode, drive the left spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, and the right spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, the left and right spoiler positions differing whenever ailerons are not centered, and an average of spoiler positions is more fully deployed when the throttle position is at a low-power setting than when the throttle position is at a high-power setting.

A system for mechanical operation of an aircraft wing includes a torque tube rotatable at a first rate of rotation to cause a downward rotation of a control surface relative to the aircraft wing. A gearing assembly including an output shaft is coupled to the torque tube. The torque tube is configured to rotate the output shaft, via the gearing assembly, at a second rate of rotation less than the first rate of rotation. A rotational member is coupled to the output shaft, and the output shaft is configured to drive a rotation of the rotational member. A first end of a linear actuator is coupled to the rotational member at a forward attach point, which is eccentric to a rotational center of the rotational member. The rotational member is rotatable to cause a translation of the forward attach point relative to the aircraft wing.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for noise reduction for lift-augmentation wing-sections (e.g., flaps, slats, elevons, etc.) by the use of flow disruption devices placed upstream of vortex generation locations. The flow disruption devices may reduce the noise radiating from side edges of lift-augmentation control wing sections. An embodiment flow disruption device may include a body configured to protrude into a flow over a vehicle's surface, wherein the body is coupled to the vehicle upstream of a side edge of a structure of the vehicle such that a wake produced by the body introduces unsteadiness and a flow velocity deficit in a vortex formation region of the side edge of the structure.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for noise reduction for lift-augmentation wing-sections (e.g., flaps, slats, elevons, etc.) by the use of flow disruption devices placed upstream of vortex generation locations. The flow disruption devices may reduce the noise radiating from side edges of lift-augmentation control wing sections. An embodiment flow disruption device may include a body configured to protrude into a flow over a vehicle's surface, wherein the body is coupled to the vehicle upstream of a side edge of a structure of the vehicle such that a wake produced by the body introduces unsteadiness and a flow velocity deficit in a vortex formation region of the side edge of the structure.

The disclosed systems and methods for controlling a variable camber (VC) flight control system of an aircraft in a cruise flight phase, comprising: i) in response to a first input from a user, operating the VC flight control system in a first mode, the first mode configured to operate the aircraft according to a passenger comfort goal, by maintaining a deck angle of the aircraft at a low and substantially constant value; and ii) in response to a second input from the user, operating the VC flight control system in a second mode, the second mode configured to operate the aircraft according to an efficiency goal.

A winged vertical take-off and landing aircraft with compound control surfaces comprising flaps and ailerons which can be operated simultaneously with each other offers improved aerodynamic performance and maneuverability. Configuration of the compound control surfaces may be varied to optimize performance in hovering (vertical) flight modes, cruising (horizontal) flight modes, and transitional flight modes.

A winged vertical take-off and landing aircraft with compound control surfaces comprising flaps and ailerons which can be operated simultaneously with each other offers improved aerodynamic performance and maneuverability. Configuration of the compound control surfaces may be varied to optimize performance in hovering (vertical) flight modes, cruising (horizontal) flight modes, and transitional flight modes.

A control augmentation system for high aspect ratio aircraft has aileron/flaperon and throttle position sensors; spoiler and flap controls; a mode switch with manual, and landing modes; and a controller driving left and right spoiler and flap servos, the controller including at least one processor with memory containing firmware configured to: when the mode switch is in manual mode, drive both spoiler servos to a symmetrical position according to the spoiler control; when the mode switch is in landing mode, drive the left spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, and the right spoiler to a position dependent on aileron and throttle position, the left and right spoiler positions differing whenever ailerons are not centered, and an average of spoiler positions is more fully deployed when the throttle position is at a low-power setting than when the throttle position is at a high-power setting.