# US 10,246,185 B2 · Aircraft system and method for vertical takeoff and landing

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,246,185 B2
- Document ID: US10246185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/633,174
- Filed: 2017-06-26
- Published: 2017-12-28
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-27
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Casey Joseph Carlin; Luca Rigazio; Alexander Joseph Romelfanger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246185B2

## CPC

- B64C 29/02: having its flight directional axis vertical when grounded
- B64C 11/48: Units of two or more coaxial propellers
- B64C 25/32: characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface (arrester hooks B64C25/68)
- B64U 10/20: Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17)
- B64U 30/10: Wings
- B64U 30/24: Coaxial rotors
- B64U 30/40: Empennages, e.g. V-tails (foldable or collapsible UAVs B64U20/50)
- B64U 50/13: using external fans or propellers
- G05D 1/0858: {specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft}
- B64U 60/40: foldable or retractable
- B64U 70/30: for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
- B64U 80/25: for recharging batteries; for refuelling
- B64U 80/30: with arrangements for data transmission
- B64U 80/70: in containers (B64U80/60 takes precedence)
- B64U 2101/31: for surveillance
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

An aircraft having a fixed wing is operative to perform vertical takeoff and landing while positioned in a nose-down orientation. The aircraft has a fixed wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge; a propulsion system operative to selectively provide forward propulsion and rearward propulsion; and a controller operative to control operation of the propulsion system. The propulsion system provides rearward propulsion during takeoff of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the trailing edge of the fixed wing, and provides forward propulsion during flight of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the leading edge of the fixed wing. The aircraft maintains the wing substantially vertical with the trailing edge facing upwards during takeoff, and transitions to having the wing substantially horizontal during flight. A vertical landing procedure is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aircraft comprising:
a fixed wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge;
a propulsion system operative to selectively provide forward propulsion and rearward propulsion; and
a controller operative to control operation of the propulsion system to provide rearward propulsion during takeoff of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the trailing edge of the fixed wing, and to provide forward propulsion during flight of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the leading edge of the fixed wing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to control positioning of the aircraft to maintain the aircraft with the trailing edge of the fixed wing facing upwards during takeoff of the aircraft when the propulsion system provides rearward propulsion, and to maintain the aircraft with the wing substantially horizontal during flight when the propulsion system provides forward propulsion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system is operative to provide rearward propulsion sufficient to lift the aircraft vertically with the trailing edge of the fixed wing facing upwards, and
the controller is operative to control operation of the propulsion system to provide rearward propulsion to lift the aircraft vertically with the trailing edge of the fixed wing facing upwards during takeoff of the aircraft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises at least two contra-rotating propellers configured to rotate in opposite directions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The aircraft of claim 4, wherein the at least two propellers are co-axial contra-rotating propellers that rotate in opposite directions about a same axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising:
movable control surfaces disposed on the trailing edge of the fixed wing and operative to control movement of the aircraft during flight when the propulsion system provides forward propulsion,
wherein the movable control surfaces are disposed within a line of thrust of the propulsion system and are operative to control movement of the aircraft during takeoff when the propulsion system provides rearward propulsion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system is fixed relative to the fixed wing and provides forward and rearward propulsion along an axis parallel to an axis extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the fixed wing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the fixed wing is shaped to provide lift as a result of airflow around the wing from the leading edge towards the trailing edge.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
activating a propulsion system of an aircraft having a fixed wing to provide rearward propulsion of the aircraft during takeoff and move the aircraft vertically upward in a direction of a trailing edge of the fixed wing;
monitoring an altitude of the aircraft during the takeoff; and
upon determining that the aircraft has reached a predetermined altitude threshold, causing the propulsion system to provide forward propulsion to the aircraft and move the aircraft in a direction of a leading edge of the fixed wing opposite to the trailing edge.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
during activation of the propulsion system to provide rearward propulsion, controlling positioning of the aircraft to maintain the aircraft with the fixed wing substantially vertical during takeoff of the aircraft when the propulsion system provides rearward propulsion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
upon determining that the aircraft has reached a predetermined altitude threshold, controlling positioning of the aircraft to position the aircraft with the wing substantially horizontal during flight when the propulsion system provides forward propulsion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the wing is shaped to provide lift as a result of airflow around the wing from the leading edge towards the trailing edge.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein:
the propulsion system comprises at least two contra-rotating propellers configured to rotate in opposite directions,
the activating the propulsion system to provide rearward propulsion comprises causing a first propeller of the at least two propellers to turn in a first direction, and
the causing the propulsion system to provide forward propulsion comprises causing the first propeller of the at least two propellers to turn in a direction opposite to the first direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the at least two propellers comprise co-axial contra-rotating propellers that rotate in opposite directions about a same axis.

### Claim 15

A method comprising:
activating a propulsion system of an aircraft having a fixed wing to provide forward propulsion of the aircraft during flight of the aircraft and maintaining the fixed wing in a substantially horizontal position; and
transitioning the aircraft to a hovering or vertically descending mode by performing steps for:
de-activating the propulsion system providing forward propulsion;
controlling the aircraft to perform a nose-dive with the fixed wing in a substantially vertical position and a nose of the aircraft pointed downwards; and
activating the propulsion system to provide rearward propulsion to the aircraft to slow movement of the aircraft vertically downwards with the nose of the aircraft pointed downwards.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the fixed wing is shaped to provide lift as a result of airflow around the wing during flight of the aircraft under forward propulsion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the propulsion system comprises at least two contra-rotating propellers configured to rotate in opposite directions,
the activating the propulsion system to provide forward propulsion comprises causing a first propeller of the at least two propellers to turn in a first direction, and
the causing the propulsion system to provide rearward propulsion comprises causing the first propeller of the at least two propellers to turn in a direction opposite to the first direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the at least two propellers comprise co-axial contra-rotating propellers that rotate in opposite directions about a same axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
controlling movement of movable control surfaces disposed on a trailing edge of the fixed wing to control movement of the aircraft during flight when the propulsion system provides forward propulsion,
wherein the movable control surfaces are disposed within a line of thrust of the propulsion system and are operative to control movement of the aircraft when in the hovering or vertically descending mode when the propulsion system provides rearward propulsion.