The present invention comprises a novel propulsion method and apparatus for personal air vehicles generally consisting of gyroscopic movable assembly containing a gyroscope flywheel that produces thrust. In a preferred embodiment the gyroscope is hubless. The gyroscope flywheel integrates permanent magnets along its perimeter ring while spokes with an airfoil cross-section and positive incidence angle create airflow when rotated. The spokes couple the gyroscope's perimeter ring with a smaller central hubless ring. Proximate to the gyroscope's flywheel is an electromagnet fixed assembly that produces phasing electromagnetic fields that rotate the gyroscopic movable assembly. The invention comprises a self-contained apparatus with no external motor because the assembly is a motor with a self-stabilizing gyroscope that produces directional airflow that can be used to propel air, land and sea vehicles.

A modular power plant for a rotorcraft comprising at least one lift rotor, the power plant comprising: at least one combustion or electric engine; a main gearbox, comprising a gearbox housing and a toothed wheel arranged in an internal space at least partially delimited by the gearbox housing, the toothed wheel having a degree of rotational freedom about a primary axis of rotation relative to the gearbox housing, the toothed wheel mechanically transmitting an engine torque generated by the at least one engine to the at least one lift rotor; and at least two mechanical connection interfaces, a first mechanical connection interface mechanically connecting the main gearbox to a first engine, and a second mechanical connection interface being left free or mechanically connecting the main gearbox to a second engine.

A modular power plant for a rotorcraft comprising at least one lift rotor, the power plant comprising: at least one combustion or electric engine; a main gearbox, comprising a gearbox housing and a toothed wheel arranged in an internal space at least partially delimited by the gearbox housing, the toothed wheel having a degree of rotational freedom about a primary axis of rotation relative to the gearbox housing, the toothed wheel mechanically transmitting an engine torque generated by the at least one engine to the at least one lift rotor; and at least two mechanical connection interfaces, a first mechanical connection interface mechanically connecting the main gearbox to a first engine, and a second mechanical connection interface being left free or mechanically connecting the main gearbox to a second engine.

A method for assisting piloting beyond an altitude that can be reached with only the capabilities of a thermal power plant of a rotorcraft, by supplying power from an electrical power plant. After defining a take-off point of the rotorcraft and a target point, and their respective altitudes, a determination of a first maximum altitude that can be reached by the rotorcraft using only the thermal power plant is carried out according to a first altitude law. Then, an estimate of a second maximum altitude that can be reached by the rotorcraft using the thermal power plant and the electrical power plant jointly driving each rotor of the rotorcraft is made according to a second altitude law. If the second maximum altitude is higher than the altitude of the target point, the rotorcraft can fly to the target point.

A method for assisting piloting beyond an altitude that can be reached with only the capabilities of a thermal power plant of a rotorcraft, by supplying power from an electrical power plant. After defining a take-off point of the rotorcraft and a target point, and their respective altitudes, a determination of a first maximum altitude that can be reached by the rotorcraft using only the thermal power plant is carried out according to a first altitude law. Then, an estimate of a second maximum altitude that can be reached by the rotorcraft using the thermal power plant and the electrical power plant jointly driving each rotor of the rotorcraft is made according to a second altitude law. If the second maximum altitude is higher than the altitude of the target point, the rotorcraft can fly to the target point.

An external power assist system for an eVTOL aircraft having one or more onboard batteries includes a subsurface power source and a power transfer interface electrically coupled to the subsurface power source. The power transfer interface is movable between various positions including a deployed position and a stowed position. The power transfer interface is configured to transfer power to the onboard batteries of the eVTOL aircraft in the deployed position. The power transfer interface is moved at least partially subsurface in the stowed position.

A rotorcraft having an aerodynamic device arranged below a rotor, which rotor participates at least in providing lift for the rotorcraft in the air, the rotor being mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation, the aerodynamic device having a fairing provided with at least one air inlet for enabling a stream of cool air to flow from a region that is situated outside the rotorcraft to another region that is situated inside the rotorcraft; at least at a mouth of the at least one air inlet in the fairing, the aerodynamic device has at least one moving flap that is mounted to move in rotation, the at least one moving flap having at least one degree of freedom of movement in rotation about a second axis of rotation relative to the fairing, and the at least one moving flap orienting itself automatically and passively.

A driving control device for a remote controlled helicopter includes an rpm detection unit that detects an rpm of a main rotor, a gyro sensor that detects angular velocities of control axes including roll, pitch and yaw axes, and a control unit that generates a control signal of a control actuator for controlling movements of the control axes based on the angular velocities detected by the gyro sensor and a steering signal sent from a transmitter. The control unit has information on the gyro sensitivities of the control axes and information on a set rpm of the main rotor which are preset for each of the flight states of the remote controlled helicopter, and corrects the gyro sensitivities based on a difference between the set rpm corresponding to a selected flight state among the flight states and an rpm of the main rotor detected by the rpm detection unit.

A driving control device for a remote controlled helicopter includes an rpm detection unit that detects an rpm of a main rotor, a gyro sensor that detects angular velocities of control axes including roll, pitch and yaw axes, and a control unit that generates a control signal of a control actuator for controlling movements of the control axes based on the angular velocities detected by the gyro sensor and a steering signal sent from a transmitter. The control unit has information on the gyro sensitivities of the control axes and information on a set rpm of the main rotor which are preset for each of the flight states of the remote controlled helicopter, and corrects the gyro sensitivities based on a difference between the set rpm corresponding to a selected flight state among the flight states and an rpm of the main rotor detected by the rpm detection unit.

A method for detecting wear before failure of a free-wheel, the free-wheel comprising a driving part integrated into an upstream mechanical power transmission system and a driven part integrated into a downstream mechanical power transmission system. The method comprises determining an oscillation measurement of a monitoring parameter within the upstream or downstream mechanical power transmission system, determining a value of at least one dynamic parameter characteristic of the oscillation measurement or of a transform of the oscillation measurement in a frequency reference frame, and generating an alarm when the value of the dynamic parameter reaches at least one wear threshold.