# US 10,870,485 B2 · Multicopter with wide span rotor configuration

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- Number: US 10,870,485 B2
- Document ID: US10870485B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/115,427
- Filed: 2018-08-28
- Published: 2018-12-27
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-26
- Assignees: Kitty Hawk Corporation
- Applicants: Kitty Hawk Corporation
- Inventors: Todd Reichert; Cameron Robertson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870485B2

## CPC

- B64C 29/0025: {the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage}
- B64C 35/00: Flying-boats; Seaplanes
- B64D 27/34: All-electric aircraft
- 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
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A multicopter aircraft with a wide span rotor configuration is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. The plurality of rotors includes inner rotors and outer rotors, with the inner rotors being substantially surrounded by the outer rotors or the fuselage. The inner rotors and the outer rotors may be tilted based at least in part on their arrangement in relation to the fuselage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multicopter comprising:
a fuselage; and
a plurality of rotors,
wherein the plurality of rotors comprises inner rotors and outer rotors, and
wherein the inner rotors are substantially surrounded by one or more other rotors, the fuselage, or a combination of one or more other rotors and the fuselage,
wherein the plurality of rotors are arranged to provide an overall width to length ratio ranging from 1.7 to 3 for the multicopter, wherein a first flotation device is attached to a first side of the fuselage and a second flotation device is attached to a second side of the fuselage, wherein at least a first inner rotor is attached to the first flotation device and at least a second inner rotor is attached to the second flotation device, and wherein the inner rotors alone are used during lift off of the multicopter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors are tilted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, comprising a wide span rotor configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, comprising ten rotors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The multicopter of claim 4, comprising three rotors adjacent to a side of the fuselage, two rotors adjacent to the three rotors, three rotors adjacent to an opposite side of the fuselage, and two rotors adjacent to the three rotors adjacent to the opposite side of the fuselage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The multicopter of claim 4, wherein the inner rotors comprise a middle rotor of the three rotors adjacent to the side of the fuselage and a middle rotor of the three rotors adjacent to the opposite side of the fuselage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the multicopter is optimized to fly over water.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer rotors is attached to the first or second flotation devices.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein a corresponding height of the first and second flotation devices is greater than a corresponding width of the first and second flotation devices.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the multicopter is able to be driven by the inner rotors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors are tilted forwards.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the inner rotors and the outer rotors rotate in differing planes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein tips of the inner rotors and the outer rotors are overlapped.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein four rotors closest to a front of the multicopter are tilted backwards, four rotors adjacent to the four rotors closest to the front of the multicopter are tilted forwards, and two rotors closest to a back of the multicopter are tilted backwards.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the fuselage comprises an enclosed cabin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The multicopter of claim 1, comprising a steering mechanism.