A method for controlling a flying projectile which rotates during flight, comprising: determining an angle of rotation of an inertial mass spinning about an axis during flight; and controlling at least one actuator for altering at least a portion of an aerodynamic structure, selectively in dependence on the determined angle of rotation and a control input, to control aerodynamic forces during flight. An aerodynamic surface may rotate and interact with surrounding air during flight, to produce aerodynamic forces. A sensor determines an angular rotation of the spin during flight. A control system, responsive to the sensor, produces a control signal in dependence on the determined angular rotation. An actuator selectively alters an aerodynamic characteristic of the aerodynamic surface in response to the control signal.

A gas or liquid foil propulsion system is disclosed with internal wings or flaps which are positioned within a looped device. The ambient fluid (e.g. water of a body of water) or gas (e.g. air) flows through this loop and past at least one foil or air foil which is the wing or flap. This creates lift in the entire device. In some embodiments, the air foils are preceded by guide vanes which direct the flow of the ambient fluid or gas. In some embodiments, the loop is bifurcated creating two different paths of flow with the wings/flaps only in the outer sections of the bifurcation. In some embodiments, vents are used to allow inflow of the ambient medium. The device can be made of modular units which connect to each other to form, for example, a rectangular, circular, square or other shaped flow path.

The present invention is directed to a saucer type hovercraft having at least a pair of selectively counter-rotating lift and stabilization rings. The rings are held in place by correspondingly shaped circular bearing tracks and are powered by thrusters and electromagnets such that a central shaft is not needed. A wireless control system is used to control both speed and direction of rotation of the wings.

A device for the transportation of people and cargo is described. The device is a gyro-rotating flying device including a pod structure configured to transport one or more contents. The pod structure includes a gyro pod to contain the one or more contents. An engine is included to propel the pod structure into flight. A power supply provides energy for the engine and a control unit. The control unit allows a user the ability to regulate operation of the engines. Manipulation of the engine adjusts the orientation of the pod structure and engine around the gyro pod. The gyro pod is configured to remain level during flight.

Some embodiments described herein relate to an aircraft that includes a support frame, at least one gas compartment, and multiple propulsion units. The gas compartment(s) can be coupled to the support frame and configured to contain a gas having a gas density less than the density of atmospheric air surrounding the aircraft during operation. Similarly stated, the gas-filled gas compartment(s) can produce a gas lifting force on the support frame. The propulsion units can each be configured to selectively produce a propulsive force with a thrust vector with a non-zero component along a vertical axis of the support frame. The maximum gross weight of the aircraft can be greater than either the gas lifting force of the maximum vertical propulsion force and less than the sum of the gas lifting force and the maximum vertical propulsion force.

The invention relates to an aircraft having a supporting structure (12) and a shell (10) that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure (12). According to the invention, said supporting structure (12) comprises a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections (24-30) which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell (10).

A rotary wing with a curved outer surface, inlet openings and an edge foil for use in helicopters to improve lift and efficiency, maximizing the gross weight lift and the horizontal flight speed capabilities and minimizing performance penalties and unstable, inefficient operation.

The embodiments of the present invention provide a navigator, comprising a gyro flying device and a cover that seals and encloses the gyro flying device. The gyro flying device is connected to the cover by a retaining mechanism. The gyro flying device comprises: a gyrorotor having an axisymmetric structure and rotatable around a central axis thereof; and a driving mechanism coaxially mounted with the gyrorotor to drive the gyrorotor to rotate around the central axis thereof, thereby manipulating rise and fall of the navigator. The retaining mechanism is further disposed to adjust an inclination angle of the gyro flying device, so as to adjust a flying direction of the navigator. The navigator has the advantages of quiet, safe, frictionless, extensive uses, etc.

A peripheral propulsion system having a propulsion unit, an upper section, and a lower section. The propulsion unit has a motor, a motor engagement section, an extension coupled to the motor engagement section, and two or more blades coupled to the extension. The extension is located between the upper section and the lower section. The output section is located about at least a portion of the lower section, and the two or more blades are located outside a periphery of the vehicle. When the motor is running, the two or more blades are capable of drawing fluid from about the periphery of the vehicle and through the output section.

This application is for specifying the basic physics behind a propulsion system based upon using rotational energy in place of kinetic energy to induce a new kind of orbit that resembles levitation. Evidence from an experiment is presented showing that the author was able to measure a small upwards force on a spinning gyroscope in a vacuum to justify the physics. A plan for building a flying craft using this mechanism is shown where the upwards force opposing gravity is from the centrifugal forces of rapidly rotating flywheels that rotate at speeds comparable to orbital velocity speeds. Rotational energy can be translated into kinetic energy by selectively exposing small portions of the spinning flywheels to the atmosphere, which allows for the craft to accelerate in any direction.