In a hybrid flight vehicle, having multiple rotors attached to a frame, a gas turbine engine to drive the rotors; a generator connected to the gas engine to generate electric power, a battery store the electrical power generated by the generator. multiple first electric motors connected to the rotors to drive the same by the electric power supplied from the battery, a second electric motor connected to the gas turbine engine to motor the engine by the electric power supplied from the battery and a control unit to control flight, wherein the control unit stops supply of the fuel to the engine when a detected residual of the battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and supplies electric power to the second electric motor to motor the engine when a detected temperature of the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

A power plant for an aircraft such as a UAV with a gas turbine engine that drives an electric generator to produce electrical power. The electric generator is rotatably supported by two foil bearings. A centrifugal compressor is secured to a forward side of the generator rotor shaft. The centrifugal compressor draws in cooling air that flows through the two foil bearings and between a space formed between the rotor coil and the stator coil of the electric generator to provide for cooling of both foil bearings and the coils of the generator.

A technique is directed to operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a fuselage defining a flight direction of the UAV and wing-plate assemblies that propel the UAV in the flight direction defined by the fuselage. The technique involves providing, while the flight direction defined by fuselage of the UAV points vertically from a takeoff location on the ground, thrust from propulsion units of the wing-plate assemblies to fly the UAV along a vertical takeoff path. The technique further involves maneuvering, after the UAV flies along the vertical takeoff path, the UAV to align the flight direction along a horizontal flight path that is perpendicular to the vertical takeoff path. The technique further involves providing, after the UAV flies along the horizontal flight path, thrust from the propulsion units of the wing-plate assemblies to land the UAV along a vertical landing path that is perpendicular to the horizontal flight path.

Systems, methods, and devices provide a vehicle, such as an aircraft, with rotors configured to function as a tri-copter for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and a fixed-wing vehicle for forward flight. One rotor may be mounted at a front of the vehicle fuselage on a hinged structure controlled by an actuator to tilt from horizontal to vertical positions. Two additional rotors may be mounted on the horizontal surface of the vehicle tail structure with rotor axes oriented vertically to the fuselage. For forward flight of the vehicle, the front rotor may be rotated down such that the front rotor axis may be oriented horizontally along the fuselage and the front rotor may act as a propeller. For vertical flight, the front rotor may be rotated up such that the front rotor axis may be oriented vertically to the fuselage, while the tail rotors may be activated.

UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.

In a hybrid flight vehicle, having multiple rotors attached to a frame, a gas turbine engine to drive the rotors; a generator connected to the gas engine to generate electric power, a battery store the electrical power generated by the generator. multiple first electric motors connected to the rotors to drive the same by the electric power supplied from the battery, a second electric motor connected to the gas turbine engine to motor the engine by the electric power supplied from the battery and a control unit to control flight, wherein the control unit stops supply of the fuel to the engine when a detected residual of the battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and supplies electric power to the second electric motor to motor the engine when a detected temperature of the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

In a hybrid flight vehicle, having multiple rotors attached to a frame, a gas turbine engine to drive the rotors; a generator connected to the gas engine to generate electric power, a battery store the electrical power generated by the generator. multiple first electric motors connected to the rotors to drive the same by the electric power supplied from the battery, a second electric motor connected to the gas turbine engine to motor the engine by the electric power supplied from the battery and a control unit to control flight, wherein the control unit stops supply of the fuel to the engine when a detected residual of the battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and supplies electric power to the second electric motor to motor the engine when a detected temperature of the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

An unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a central body; at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate, rotation of the at least one propeller generating thrust and causing the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly; and an integrated micro hybrid generator system configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor. The integrated micro hybrid generator system includes an engine configured to generate mechanical energy, and a generator motor directly coupled to the engine and configured to generate AC power using the mechanical energy generated by the engine.

Provided are a hybrid engine system capable of protecting an engine from overspeeding when the load of a generator rapidly decreases, and a method of controlling the hybrid engine system.

The hybrid engine system includes: an engine; a generator driven by the engine to output electrical energy; a battery configured to store electrical energy produced by the generator or supply electrical energy together with the generator; and a controller configured to control the engine, wherein the controller includes a torque meter for measuring torque of an output shaft of the engine and a current meter for measuring output current of the generator, and is further configured to change a control mode of the engine when a reduction rate of at least one of the torque and the current is greater than a set value while the engine is operating in a fly mode.

UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed, A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.