Embodiments of a propulsion system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a propulsion system for an aircraft may include an electrical power supply; a motor coupled to the electrical power supply, wherein the electrical power supply provides power to the motor; and a fan disposed proximate a rear portion of an aircraft and rotatably coupled to the motor, wherein the fan is driven by the motor.

A system for providing regenerative power for an aircraft to sustain flight includes multiple energy cells disposed within the aircraft, the energy cells being configured to supply power to a propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, a fan generator harnessing propeller blast created by an aircraft propeller and converting kinetic energy of the propeller blast into electrical energy, a charger receiving the electrical energy generated by the fan generator and using the electrical energy to recharge one or more of the energy cells, and a power transfer switch selectively connecting one of the energy cells to the propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, such that the energy cells are rotated one at a time to power the propulsion motor and electronics. During recharging, the one or more of the energy cells are disconnected by the power transfer switch.

The invention relates to a method for providing predefined desired drive characteristics (38, 50) in an aircraft, characterized by the following steps: driving a thrust generation element of the aircraft by means of an electric motor that has actual drive characteristics (34) which include at least some of the desired drive characteristics (38, 50) but are also partly different therefrom; andhaving a control device adjust operating points of the electric motor exclusively according to the desired drive characteristics (38, 50).

Embodiments refer generally to systems and methods for providing autorotative enhancement for helicopters using an autorotative assist unit coupled to the transmission of the helicopter. Methods of utilizing an autorotative assist unit as well as retrofitting an autorotative assist unit to an existing helicopter are also disclosed. By employing an autorotative assist unit, improved autorotation can be achieved without the need to increase the weight of the rotor.

An electrical power supply device for electric propulsion aircraft includes first and second electric motors configured to ensure the propulsion of the aircraft. First and second high-voltage electrical circuits are connected respectively to the two electric motors. A low-voltage electrical circuit is connected to at least one control and/or command facility of the aircraft. First and second pack of batteries are connected respectively to the two high-voltage electrical circuits. First and second battery management systems are connected to the low voltage circuit. Two battery management systems are linked respectively to the two packs of batteries. An electrical converter is connected to the first high-voltage electrical circuit and to the low-voltage electrical circuit.

A solar powered aircraft having segmented wings that can be reconfigured during flight to optimize collection of solar energy are described. The aircraft have rigid construction that is resistant to inclement weather and is configured to rely on free flight control at high altitude and under conventional conditions, thereby providing flight duration in excess of 2 months. The aircraft is particularly suitable for use as part of a telecommunications network. A telecommunications network incorporating such aircraft is also discussed.

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.

An electrically powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS or drone) including a propeller including a core formed by battery material layers as a power source and integrated as a structural component of the drone. The battery material layers can be a graphene super capacitor or a nanopore battery structure. Power available from the integrated battery material layers can be used to power an electric motor included with the drone and operating to rotate the propeller.

A system for providing regenerative power for an aircraft to sustain flight includes multiple energy cells disposed within the aircraft, the energy cells being configured to supply power to a propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, a fan generator harnessing propeller blast created by an aircraft propeller and converting kinetic energy of the propeller blast into electrical energy, a charger receiving the electrical energy generated by the fan generator and using the electrical energy to recharge one or more of the energy cells, and a power transfer switch selectively connecting one of the energy cells to the propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, such that the energy cells are rotated one at a time to power the propulsion motor and electronics. During recharging, the one or more of the energy cells are disconnected by the power transfer switch.

A deployment mechanism for use on an aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using deployable thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. The deployment mechanism may use linear actuation of a linkage assembly to deploy thrust producing rotor assemblies from a vertical thrust hove configuration to a horizontal thrust forward flight configuration. The aerial vehicle may include left side rotor assemblies and right side rotor assemblies which may be deployed by deployment mechanisms.