A fluid ice protection system for an aircraft includes a plenum back wall and a fluid delivery network. The plenum back wall is affixed to an interior surface of an inlet cowl of a nacelle of the aircraft to define a plenum between the interior surface and a front surface of the plenum back wall. The nacelle surrounds a rotor assembly of an aircraft propulsion system. The inlet cowl defines a plurality of perforations through a thickness of the inlet cowl. The perforations are fluidly connected to the plenum. The fluid delivery network is coupled to the plenum back wall and configured to supply an anti-ice liquid into the plenum for the anti-ice liquid to penetrate through the perforations onto an exterior surface of the inlet cowl along a leading edge section of the inlet cowl.

A power distribution circuit for an electrically powered aircraft includes a plurality of batteries and a plurality of electric propulsion systems. A plurality of isolated power distribution circuits each couple a battery of the plurality of batteries to two or more electric propulsion systems. The plurality of electric propulsion systems are positioned on the aircraft to apply balanced forces to the aircraft such that in the event of a failure, the aircraft remains stable and only experiences a loss in altitude or speed.

An example method of managing power in a hybrid propulsion system includes receiving, by one or more processors, a power demand that specifies an amount of power to be used to propel a vehicle that includes an electrical energy storage system (ESS) and one or more electrical generators, wherein the one or more electrical generators are configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy; determining, based on the power demand and a predetermined ESS output limit, a first amount of power to be sourced from the ESS and a second amount of power to be sourced from the one or more generators; and causing, by the one or more processors, the ESS to output the first amount of power onto a direct current (DC) electrical distribution bus and the one or more generators to output the second amount of power onto the DC electrical distribution bus.

A fuel cell system configured to provide electrical power to an electrical motor producing propulsive thrust for an aircraft includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks radially arranged about a central cavity. Fuel cell plates within each of the fuel cell stacks are oriented such that major surfaces of the fuel cell plates are parallel to an airflow created by the aircraft as it moves through the air. The fuel cell system further includes a plurality of cooling devices disposed in radial cavities located between at least two fuel cell stacks in the plurality of fuel cell stacks.

A fuel cell system configured to provide electrical power to an electrical motor producing propulsive thrust for an aircraft includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks radially arranged about a central cavity. Fuel cell plates within each of the fuel cell stacks are oriented such that major surfaces of the fuel cell plates are parallel to an airflow created by the aircraft as it moves through the air. The fuel cell system further includes a plurality of cooling devices disposed in radial cavities located between at least two fuel cell stacks in the plurality of fuel cell stacks.

A flight control device performs a flight control process for causing an eVTOL to fly. In a step of the flight control process, the flight control device determines whether the eVTOL is capable of maintaining a stable attitude. In the step, it is determined whether the eVTOL is capable of maintaining the stable attitude even if driving of an abnormal motor is stopped. In the step, it is determined whether the eVTOL is capable of maintaining the stable attitude even if the abnormal motor continues driving. When it is determined that the eVTOL is capable of maintaining the stable attitude, the flight control device performs output adjustment of at least one of a normal motor and the abnormal motor to maintain the eVTOL at the stable attitude.

A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (101) for transporting persons or loads, including a plurality of preferably equivalent and redundant electric motors (3) and propellers (2), substantially arranged in one surface, wherein each propeller is assigned an individual electric motor to drive the propeller, the aircraft being characterized in that at least one attitude sensor is provided for attitude control of the aircraft (101) in an active signal connection to at least one signal processing unit which is designed or set up to automatically perform the attitude control based on measurement data from the attitude sensor by regulating the speed of at least some of the electric motors (3), preferably with signal actions of the speed controller assigned to each electric motor such that the aircraft (101) is positioned in space with the surface defined by the propeller (2) substantially horizontal at all times, without control input by a pilot or a remote control.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.

Disclosed herein are a vehicle system and method for VTOL. The vehicle system includes: a carrier vehicle and a cruise vehicle. The carrier vehicle includes one or more fuselages, one or more wings, one or more attach units coupled to the one or more fuselages or to the one or more wings, and propulsion systems operable to provide, at least, substantially vertical thrust and substantially horizontal thrust. The cruise vehicle includes one or more fuselages for carrying passengers or cargo and one or more wings. The one or more attach units of the carrier vehicle are adapted to couple to the cruise vehicle to detachably engage.

A ground effect flight vehicle comprising, a fuselage (1), a wing assembly (4, 5), an engine assembly comprising one or more engines or engine sets (6, 7, 8), and a hull (2) for enabling floatation of the vehicle; wherein the wing assembly (4, 5) comprises stabilizer wings (4) and/or the one or more engines (6, 7, 8) are equipped to provide an airflow departing from the engines (6, 7, 8) which is positionable in one of multiple positions, a first position of the multiple positions which is arranged to generate lift for vertical take-off purpose, and a second position of the multiple positions which is for horizontal cruise flight.