# US 11,077,938 B1 · Rotation-stabilized beamed-energy receiver, and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,938 B1 - Document ID: US11077938B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/870,547 - Filed: 2018-01-12 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-13 - Assignees: Electric Sky Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Electric Sky Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Greason - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077938B1 ## CPC - F03H 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - B64C 27/06: with single rotor - B64C 27/12: Rotor drives - B64C 27/24: with rotor blades fixed in flight to act as lifting surfaces - B64C 27/32: Rotors - B64C 27/52: Tilting of rotor bodily relative to fuselage (of see-saw type construction B64C27/43) - B64C 39/001: {Flying saucers} - B64C 39/06: having disc- or ring-shaped wings - B64D 27/16: of jet type - B64D 47/00: Equipment not otherwise provided for - B64G 1/4282: {for transmitting power to earth or other spacecraft} - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - B64G 1/409: {Unconventional spacecraft propulsion systems} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - F03H: PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (from combustion products F02K) - 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 - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A rotation-stabilized beamed-energy receiver, and associated systems and methods, including an aircraft carrying a rotating electromagnetic energy receiver that, when rotated, is supported by centripetal force in a selected shape and/or orientation. Accordingly, the receiver can be made from very thin and/or otherwise lightweight/flexible materials, while performing an energy-receiving function. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating an aircraft, comprising: rotating an electromagnetic energy receiver aboard the aircraft to provide centripetal force on the receiver to support the receiver in a selected shape and/or orientation, wherein the aircraft includes a fuselage and a propulsion system, and wherein the receiver is operatively coupled to the fuselage, further wherein the receiver is configured to receive energy directed to it from off-board the aircraft, and direct the energy to the propulsion system, the receiver being rotatable relative to the fuselage and including a plurality of moveable segments having an airfoil shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the aircraft is in flight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein a separate tracking beam is used to track a location of the aircraft as it moves in flight, and wherein the method further comprises decreasing the power of an electromagnetic energy beam when it is not aimed at the same location as the aircraft's receiver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the receiver has openings and wherein rotating the receiver includes providing thrust. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 in which the receiver is used to collect electromagnetic energy beamed to the aircraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the thrust is provided generally downward to provide lift to the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the thrust is greater than the weight of the aircraft to cause the aircraft to ascend. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the thrust is approximately equal to the weight of the aircraft to cause the aircraft to hover. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the thrust is less than the weight of the aircraft to slow the descent of the aircraft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein an angle between the rotating receiver and the aircraft fuselage can be varied to provide pitch and roll control. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising at least partially closing the openings to provide lift in horizontal flight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising at least partially closing the openings to provide lift in horizontal flight. ### Claim 13 An aircraft system, comprising: an aircraft, having: a fuselage; a propulsion system; and a receiver operatively coupled to the fuselage, the receiver being configured to receive energy directed to it from off-board the aircraft, and direct the energy to the propulsion system, the receiver being rotatable relative to the fuselage and including a plurality of movable segments having an airfoil shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The aircraft system of claim 13 wherein the movable segments are positionable to direct thrust downwardly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The aircraft system of claim 13 wherein the receiver includes a plurality of distributed energy storage elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The aircraft system of claim 13 wherein the receiver includes at least one Fresnel lens positioned to redirect incoming energy to the propulsion system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The aircraft system of claim 13, further comprising a beam energy source positioned to direct energy to the receiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The aircraft system of claim 17 wherein the beam energy source is ground-based. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The aircraft system of claim 17 wherein the beam energy source is space-based.