Retraction of a landing gear assembly on an aircraft is actuated by a hydraulic actuator. The actuator includes a piston that travels within a cylinder along a stroke length between a first position corresponding to the landing gear assembly when extended and a second position corresponding to the landing gear assembly when retracted. The movement of the piston along its stroke length is snubbed at one end by a different amount according to the direction of travel, for example by use of an orifice plate that has a discharge coefficient that is greater in one direction than in the opposite direction. Asymmetric snubbing is thus provided, which enables the landing gear to retract faster.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for an aircraft may be shown and described. An exemplary embodiment may be an autonomous aircraft which can vertically takeoff and land (VTOL). The VTOL aircraft may have a modular pod which carries a removable payload. The entire VTOL aircraft may be portable. An exemplary embodiment may fit into a standard sized freight container. A propulsion system may be based on distributed electric propulsion. An exemplary embodiment may implement variable pitch propellers and collective pitch variation.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for an aircraft may be shown and described. An exemplary embodiment may be an autonomous aircraft which can vertically takeoff and land (VTOL). The VTOL aircraft may have a modular pod which carries a removable payload. The entire VTOL aircraft may be portable. An exemplary embodiment may fit into a standard sized freight container. A propulsion system may be based on distributed electric propulsion. An exemplary embodiment may implement variable pitch propellers and collective pitch variation.

A public transportation system combines a unique combination of components that includes interoperable electric-powered vehicles, facilities, hardware and software having specifications, standards, processes, capabilities, nomenclature, and concepts of operations that together include a concerted, comprehensive, multi-modal, future system for moving people and goods that is herein named Quiet Urban Air Delivery (QUAD) and in which uniquely-capable, ultra-quiet, one to six-seat, electrically-powered, autonomous aircraft (SkyQarts) fly sub-193 kilometer trips on precise trajectories with negligible control latency and perform extremely short take-offs and landings (ESTOL) with curved traffic patterns at a highly-distributed network of very small, airports (“SkyNests”) that themselves have standardized compatible facilities that interoperate with SkyQarts as well as with versatile, autonomous electric-powered payload carts (EPCs) and robotic delivery carts (RDCs) to provide safe, fast, on-demand, community-acceptable, environmentally friendly, high-capacity, affordable door-to-door delivery of both passengers and cargo across urban, suburban and rural settings across the globe.

The present invention presents a vehicle that is capable of utilizing different methods of movement by rotating its propellers to accommodate air, ground, or water locomotion. The present invention includes being able to change the direction of the thrust mechanism, so that it creates thrust in the direction of flight, but it is hinged to provide full protection to the blades in the ground modality. In the case of the water implementation, these propellers are also used to provide horizontal thrust to the vessel.

The present invention presents a vehicle that is capable of utilizing different methods of movement by rotating its propellers to accommodate air, ground, or water locomotion. The present invention includes being able to change the direction of the thrust mechanism, so that it creates thrust in the direction of flight, but it is hinged to provide full protection to the blades in the ground modality. In the case of the water implementation, these propellers are also used to provide horizontal thrust to the vessel.

An electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (EVTOL) includes a payload module, a plurality of electrical power sources. a wing, and a plurality of electric thrust generators. The wing is pivotally attached to the payload module and is configured to pivot about a pivot axis, relative to the payload module, to transition between vertical flight and horizontal flight. The electric thrust generators are operatively attached to the wing, where each one is operatively connected to a different electrical power source. The electric thrust generators operate to provide thrust to the aircraft in response to receiving electric power from the electrical power sources. The electric thrust generators pivot, with the wing, about the pivot axis, relative to the payload.

An electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (EVTOL) includes a payload module, a plurality of electrical power sources. a wing, and a plurality of electric thrust generators. The wing is pivotally attached to the payload module and is configured to pivot about a pivot axis, relative to the payload module, to transition between vertical flight and horizontal flight. The electric thrust generators are operatively attached to the wing, where each one is operatively connected to a different electrical power source. The electric thrust generators operate to provide thrust to the aircraft in response to receiving electric power from the electrical power sources. The electric thrust generators pivot, with the wing, about the pivot axis, relative to the payload.

An image pickup apparatus is capable of decreasing a space capacity occupied by component elements and being downsized compared to a case where an actuator is arranged independently of a supporting unit. The image pickup apparatus has an image pickup unit driven by the actuator, a base unit, and the supporting unit provided in a standing manner from the base unit and rotatably supports the image pickup unit. The actuator has a piezoelectric element and an oscillator including a transmission unit which transmits driving force caused by vibration excited by the piezoelectric element. The transmission unit is arranged in the supporting unit so that it is in pressure contact with the image pickup unit. The image pickup unit has a transmitted plane with which the transmission unit is brought into pressure contact, and the vibration excited by the oscillator causes the transmitted plane to move relatively to the oscillator.

An image pickup apparatus is capable of decreasing a space capacity occupied by component elements and being downsized compared to a case where an actuator is arranged independently of a supporting unit. The image pickup apparatus has an image pickup unit driven by the actuator, a base unit, and the supporting unit provided in a standing manner from the base unit and rotatably supports the image pickup unit. The actuator has a piezoelectric element and an oscillator including a transmission unit which transmits driving force caused by vibration excited by the piezoelectric element. The transmission unit is arranged in the supporting unit so that it is in pressure contact with the image pickup unit. The image pickup unit has a transmitted plane with which the transmission unit is brought into pressure contact, and the vibration excited by the oscillator causes the transmitted plane to move relatively to the oscillator.