A rocket or ballistic launch rotary wing air vehicle may include a rocket or ballistic launch propulsion system for launching the vehicle, a rotary wing flight system for providing powered flight comprising dual counter rotating coaxial rotors, and a control system programmed to adjust the pitch of a rotor to anyh determined degree of pitch independently of a flap angle of the flap hinge during a transition of the dual counter rotating coaxial rotors from a stowed position to a deployed position.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided a monocopter. The monocopter may include a body chassis. The monocopter may further include a wing structure extending from the body chassis, the body chassis being at a root of the wing structure. The wing structure may include a plurality of rigid wing segments distributed along a spanwise direction extending between the root and a tip of the wing structure. The wing structure may further include a plurality of flexible wing segments, each flexible wing segment adjoining a pair of adjacent rigid wing segments of the plurality of rigid wing segments. The monocopter may further include a propulsion unit coupled to a rigid wing segment of the plurality of rigid wing segments between a midspan of the wing structure and the tip of the wing structure.

According to various embodiments, there may be provided a monocopter. The monocopter may include a body chassis. The monocopter may further include a wing structure extending from the body chassis, the body chassis being at a root of the wing structure. The wing structure may include a plurality of rigid wing segments distributed along a spanwise direction extending between the root and a tip of the wing structure. The wing structure may further include a plurality of flexible wing segments, each flexible wing segment adjoining a pair of adjacent rigid wing segments of the plurality of rigid wing segments. The monocopter may further include a propulsion unit coupled to a rigid wing segment of the plurality of rigid wing segments between a midspan of the wing structure and the tip of the wing structure.

A control system of a flight vehicle automatically varies the relationship between the center of gravity and the center of pressure of the flight vehicle. The control system automatically adjusts a center of pressure of the flight vehicle depending on a varying payload or payload type that is removably couplable to the flight vehicle. The control system automatically limits translational movement of the one or more wings of the flight vehicle in response to coupling of a payload to a fuselage of the flight vehicle.

An aircraft includes a fuselage having a longitudinal axis, a wing assembly, and a fuselage positioning mechanism operatively connecting the fuselage to the wing assembly. The fuselage positioning mechanism is operable to move the fuselage relative to the wing assembly in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis between a fuselage maximum forward position and a fuselage maximum aft position. When the aircraft for flight, a position of a center of gravity of the aircraft relative to a center of lift is determined. The fuselage can be moved relative to the wing assembly to bring the center of gravity within an allowable range of distances from the center of lift to balance the aircraft for flight. The fuselage positioning mechanism can be automated to allow adjustment of the fuselage position during the flight of the aircraft.

A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core, and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors with each rotor having a separate motor to drive the rotors about a common rotor axis of rotation. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.

An aircraft includes a body defining an interior compartment configured to hold at least one of a passenger and a payload, a battery system, a plurality of arms coupled to and extending from the body, and a plurality of propulsion devices configured to provide thrust to fly the aircraft. Each of the plurality of propulsion devices is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of arms. The plurality of propulsion devices are powered by the battery system. Each of the plurality of propulsion devices is selectively pivotable about at least one axis. The plurality of propulsion devices include at least one of (i) counter rotating ducted fans and (ii) ionizing electrode engines.

An aircraft includes a body defining an interior compartment configured to hold at least one of a passenger and a payload, a battery system, a plurality of arms coupled to and extending from the body, and a plurality of propulsion devices configured to provide thrust to fly the aircraft. Each of the plurality of propulsion devices is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of arms. The plurality of propulsion devices are powered by the battery system. Each of the plurality of propulsion devices is selectively pivotable about at least one axis. The plurality of propulsion devices include at least one of (i) counter rotating ducted fans and (ii) ionizing electrode engines.

A robust amphibious air vehicle incorporates a fuselage with buoyant stabilizers and wings extending from the fuselage. At least one lift fan is mounted in the fuselage. Movable propulsion units carried by the wings are rotatable through a range of angles adapted for vertical and horizontal flight operations.

An aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, a wing, and a wing shift device. The wing shift device is configured to be coupled to the fuselage. The wing shift device comprises a plurality of apertures for coupling the wing to the aerial vehicle. The plurality of apertures are configured to permit the wing to be shifted in a forward or aft direction along the fuselage based on a center of gravity of the aerial vehicle.