The present invention relates to a vertical take-off and landing method and apparatus for an automobile, capable of vertically taking off and landing an automobile using the exhaust gas generated during operation of an engine in the automobile, which consists of an internal combustion engine. The vertical take-off and landing apparatus S for an automobile includes: a branched pipe 20 connected to an engine of an automobile that consists of a 4-stroke internal combustion engine and enables the exhaust gas generated during operation of the engine 50 to be ventilated to mufflers 10, each of which is installed at one side of each of four corners of the automobile; the muffler 10 connected to the branched pipe 20 and installed at one side of each of the four corners of the automobile, which has an outlet 11 in a direction of the ground so as to discharge the exhaust gas in the ground direction; plural pressure control means 30, each of which is provided between the muffler 10 and the branched pipe 20, so that the exhaust gas discharged to each of the mufflers 10 maintains the same pressure during take-off and landing of the automobile, and enables the pressure of the exhaust gas to be differentially applied at the time of changing directions; and a controller 60 consisting of a vertical take-off and landing lever 61 and a direction-switching lever 62, which is connected to the pressure control means 30 by signals to control the operation of the pressure control means 30 and, at the same time, is operated only when a gear of the automobile is in the neutral (N) state.

The present invention relates to a vertical take-off and landing method and apparatus for an automobile, capable of vertically taking off and landing an automobile using the exhaust gas generated during operation of an engine in the automobile, which consists of an internal combustion engine. The vertical take-off and landing apparatus S for an automobile includes: a branched pipe 20 connected to an engine of an automobile that consists of a 4-stroke internal combustion engine and enables the exhaust gas generated during operation of the engine 50 to be ventilated to mufflers 10, each of which is installed at one side of each of four corners of the automobile; the muffler 10 connected to the branched pipe 20 and installed at one side of each of the four corners of the automobile, which has an outlet 11 in a direction of the ground so as to discharge the exhaust gas in the ground direction; plural pressure control means 30, each of which is provided between the muffler 10 and the branched pipe 20, so that the exhaust gas discharged to each of the mufflers 10 maintains the same pressure during take-off and landing of the automobile, and enables the pressure of the exhaust gas to be differentially applied at the time of changing directions; and a controller 60 consisting of a vertical take-off and landing lever 61 and a direction-switching lever 62, which is connected to the pressure control means 30 by signals to control the operation of the pressure control means 30 and, at the same time, is operated only when a gear of the automobile is in the neutral (N) state.

A control system and method relating to operation of an internal combustion engine, particularly an engine for powering an unmanned aerial vehicle. The engine has a combustion chamber and a throttle for regulating fluid flow to the combustion chamber, the throttle being operable under the control of an electronic control unit. With the control system and method there are first and second modes optionally available for operation of the engine. In the first mode the engine is operable at a throttle setting set by a request from a first remote controller (e.g. a ground-based controller) via a second on-board controller. In the second mode the engine is operable at a prescribed minimum throttle setting asserted by the electronic control unit which limits the authority of the on-board controller. The engine is caused to operate in the second mode if a particular throttle setting determined from a request of the remote controller is less than the prescribed minimum throttle setting.

An engine assembly includes an intermittent internal combustion engine having an engine shaft, a turbine having a turbine shaft, an output shaft for driving a load, and a gearbox having a first portion and a second portion. The engine shaft is in engagement with an accessory via the first portion. The turbine shaft is in driving engagement with the output shaft via the second portion. The gearbox is configurable between an engaged and a disengaged configurations. In the disengaged configuration, the first and second portions are decoupled, and the engine shaft and the turbine shaft are rotatable independently from each other. In the engaged configuration, the first and second portions are coupled, and the engine shaft and the turbine shaft are drivingly engaged with each other via the coupled first and second portions.

An engine assembly includes an intermittent internal combustion engine having an engine shaft, a turbine having a turbine shaft, an output shaft for driving a load, and a gearbox having a first portion and a second portion. The engine shaft is in engagement with an accessory via the first portion. The turbine shaft is in driving engagement with the output shaft via the second portion. The gearbox is configurable between an engaged and a disengaged configurations. In the disengaged configuration, the first and second portions are decoupled, and the engine shaft and the turbine shaft are rotatable independently from each other. In the engaged configuration, the first and second portions are coupled, and the engine shaft and the turbine shaft are drivingly engaged with each other via the coupled first and second portions.

A vehicle having a first configuration for road use and a second configuration for air use, comprising: road wheels; a traction drive propulsion unit for driving road wheels when in contact with the ground; a thrust propulsion unit for driving a propeller to drive the vehicle through the air; and wherein, when the vehicle is configurable into any of: the first configuration, in which the traction drive propulsion unit is engaged to drive the road wheels on the ground, and the thrust propulsion unit is disengaged from the propeller; the second configuration, in which the traction drive propulsion unit is disengaged such that no drive is provided to the road wheels, and the thrust propulsion unit is engaged with the propeller to drive the vehicle thorough the air; or an intermediate configuration in which the traction drive propulsion unit is engaged to drive the road wheels on the ground, and the thrust propulsion unit is engaged with the propeller to drive the vehicle through the air. A method of operating the vehicle comprises: placing the vehicle in the intermediate configuration with the road wheels in contact with the ground; operating the thrust propulsion unit to drive the propeller, and simultaneously operating the traction drive propulsion unit to drive the wheels, so as to accelerate the vehicle to a predetermined airspeed; and disengaging the traction drive propulsion unit such that no drive is provided to the road wheels, and the propeller drives the vehicle thorough the air.

A vehicle having a first configuration for road use and a second configuration for air use, comprising: road wheels; a traction drive propulsion unit for driving road wheels when in contact with the ground; a thrust propulsion unit for driving a propeller to drive the vehicle through the air; and wherein, when the vehicle is configurable into any of: the first configuration, in which the traction drive propulsion unit is engaged to drive the road wheels on the ground, and the thrust propulsion unit is disengaged from the propeller; the second configuration, in which the traction drive propulsion unit is disengaged such that no drive is provided to the road wheels, and the thrust propulsion unit is engaged with the propeller to drive the vehicle thorough the air; or an intermediate configuration in which the traction drive propulsion unit is engaged to drive the road wheels on the ground, and the thrust propulsion unit is engaged with the propeller to drive the vehicle through the air. A method of operating the vehicle comprises: placing the vehicle in the intermediate configuration with the road wheels in contact with the ground; operating the thrust propulsion unit to drive the propeller, and simultaneously operating the traction drive propulsion unit to drive the wheels, so as to accelerate the vehicle to a predetermined airspeed; and disengaging the traction drive propulsion unit such that no drive is provided to the road wheels, and the propeller drives the vehicle thorough the air.

An internal combustion engine for use with a propeller driven aircraft includes a camshaft adapted to function as an output shaft that rotates a propeller to provide propulsive thrust. A gear set is configured to transfer rotational power from the crankshaft to the camshaft and to rotate the camshaft at a velocity that is proportional to the rotational velocity of the crankshaft. The gear set is disposed rearward of the engine housing rearward wall and is configured to rotate the camshaft in a direction opposite the crankshaft rotation. The length of the camshaft reduces engine torsional vibration. In one embodiment, the engine is a six-cylinder compression ignition engine having a boxer configuration and can generate a peak output power within a range from about 300 horsepower to about 350 horsepower.

An internal combustion engine for use with a propeller driven aircraft includes a camshaft adapted to function as an output shaft that rotates a propeller to provide propulsive thrust. A gear set is configured to transfer rotational power from the crankshaft to the camshaft and to rotate the camshaft at a velocity that is proportional to the rotational velocity of the crankshaft. The gear set is disposed rearward of the engine housing rearward wall and is configured to rotate the camshaft in a direction opposite the crankshaft rotation. The length of the camshaft reduces engine torsional vibration. In one embodiment, the engine is a six-cylinder compression ignition engine having a boxer configuration and can generate a peak output power within a range from about 300 horsepower to about 350 horsepower.

A personal flight vehicle including a platform base assembly that provides a surface upon which the feet of an otherwise free-standing person are positionable, and including a plurality of axial flow propulsion systems positioned about a periphery of the platform base assembly. The propulsion systems generate a thrust flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the platform base assembly, where the thrust flow is unobstructed by the platform base assembly. The thrust flow has a sufficient intensity to provide vertical takeoff and landing, flight, hovering and locomotion maneuvers. The vehicle allows the pilot to control the spatial orientation of the platform base assembly by the movement, preferably direct, of at least part of his or her body, and the spatial movement of the vehicle is thus controlled