# US 10,308,346 B2 · Solar-powered aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,346 B2 - Document ID: US10308346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/134,938 - Filed: 2016-04-21 - Published: 2016-10-27 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-21 - Assignees: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation - Applicants: Aurora Flight Sciences - Inventors: Robert W. Parks; Francesco Giannini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308346B2 ## CPC - B64C 3/42: Adjusting about chordwise axes - B64C 3/38: Adjustment of complete wings or parts thereof - B64C 5/02: Tailplanes - B64C 23/072: {the wing tip airfoil devices being moveable in their entirety} - B64C 29/0033: {the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage} - B64D 27/353: using solar cells - B64U 50/31: generated by photovoltaics - B64C 39/04: having multiple fuselages or tail booms - Y02T 50/10: Drag reduction - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - Y02T 50/50: On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The present invention is directed to a solar-powered aircraft comprising a fixed wing panel, a motor driven propeller, a plurality of secondary wing panels, and a tail assembly having a first tail panel and a second tail panel. Each secondary wing panel being configured to rotate about a first longitudinal pivot axis extending from a distal end of the fixed wing panel through a central transverse portion of the secondary wing panel. The secondary wing panels may comprise an array of solar panels on its surface. The first tail panel comprises a second array of solar panels located on a surface of the first tail panel, the first tail panel being configured to rotate about a second longitudinal pivot axis through a central transverse portion of the first tail panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar-powered aircraft comprising: a fixed wing panel; a motor-driven propeller; a plurality of secondary wing panels, each of the plurality of secondary wing panels configured to rotate about a longitudinal pivot axis extending from the fixed wing panel through a central transverse portion of said secondary wing panel, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels comprises one or more moveable control surfaces configured to manipulate airflow to alter or maintain flight characteristics of the solar-powered aircraft, and wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels comprises a first array of solar panels on its surface; and a tail assembly having a first tail panel and a second tail panel, wherein the first tail panel comprises a second array of solar panels located on a surface of the first tail panel, the first tail panel being configured to rotate about a second longitudinal pivot axis through a central transverse portion of said first tail panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal pivot axis of at least one of the plurality of secondary wing panels coincides with the second longitudinal pivot axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary wing panels, the first tail panel, or the second tail panel is configured to rotate at least 180 degrees relative to a transverse axis of the fixed wing panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels is configured to rotate about its longitudinal pivot axis based on measurements determined by an onboard solar position sensor. ### Claim 5 A solar-powered aircraft comprising: a fixed wing panel; a motor-driven propeller; a plurality of secondary wing panels, each of the plurality of secondary wing panels configured to rotate about a longitudinal pivot axis extending from the fixed wing panel through a central transverse portion of said secondary wing panel, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels comprises one or more moveable control surfaces to alter or maintain flight characteristics of the solar-powered aircraft, and wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels comprises an array of solar panels on its surface; and a tail assembly having a first tail panel, wherein the first tail panel comprises a second array of solar panels located on a surface of the first tail panel, the first tail panel being configured to rotate about a second longitudinal pivot axis through a central transverse portion of said first tail panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein the plurality of secondary wing panels is configured to rotate in unison. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels is configured to rotate at least 180 degrees about its longitudinal pivot axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 7, further comprising a solar position sensor to determine an elevation of the sun relative to the solar-powered aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels is configured to rotate about its longitudinal pivot axis based on measurements determined by the solar position sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein the tail assembly further comprises a second tail panel, wherein the second tail panel is configured to rotate about a second longitudinal pivot axis through a central transverse portion of said second tail panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 10, wherein the second tail panel comprises an array of solar panels on a surface of the second tail panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels is configured to rotate via a pivot assembly, the pivot assembly having a pivot brake to lock the pivot assembly at a predetermined angle relative to the fixed wing panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein the motor-driven propeller is coupled to the fixed wing panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein the fixed wing panel is sized and shaped to define at each of its wing tips a cutout, each cutout being sized and shaped to nest a portion of the secondary wing panels when the fixed wing panel and the plurality of secondary wing panels reside in the same plane. ### Claim 15 A method of continuously operating a solar-powered aircraft having a fixed wing panel, a motor-driven propeller, a secondary wing panel, and a tail panel, the method comprising: (i) collecting and storing solar energy via an array of solar panels positioned on the secondary wing panel, wherein the secondary wing panel is positioned in a first position; (ii) rotating the secondary wing panel from the first position to a second position about a first longitudinal pivot axis extending from the fixed wing panel through a central transverse portion of said secondary wing panel; (iii) altering a flight characteristic of the solar-powered aircraft via one or more movable control surfaces positioned on the secondary wing panel; (iv) rotating the tail panel about a second longitudinal pivot axis through a central transverse portion of said tail panel, wherein the tail panel comprises a second array of solar panels located on a surface of the tail panel; and (v) using the solar energy to operate the solar-powered aircraft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the secondary wing panel is substantially co-planar to the fixed wing panel when the secondary wing panel is in the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the secondary wing panel is not co-planar to the fixed wing panel when the secondary wing panel is in the first position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the secondary wing panel is positioned (a) in the first position during daytime and (b) in the second position during nighttime. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the solar-powered aircraft is configured to use the solar energy stored at step (i) during nighttime operation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 5, wherein the solar-powered aircraft defines a longitudinal roll axis, wherein the longitudinal pivot axis of at least one of the plurality of secondary wing panels coincides substantially with longitudinal roll axis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of secondary wing panels is configured to rotate independently of one another to improve energy collection efficiency. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The solar-powered aircraft of claim 12, wherein (1) at least one of the plurality of secondary wing panels is pivotally coupled to the fixed wing panel via a first pivot assembly positioned at a first wing tip and (2) at least one of the plurality of secondary wing panels is pivotally coupled to the fixed wing panel via a second pivot assembly positioned at a second wing tip.