# US 11,440,671 B2 · Adjustable motor fairings for aerial vehicles

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

- Number: US 11,440,671 B2
- Document ID: US11440671B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/256,279
- Filed: 2019-01-24
- Published: 2020-07-30
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-24
- Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Gur Kimchi; Louis LeGrand, III; Shmuel Eisenmann; Dominic Shiosaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440671B2

## CPC

- B64D 29/06: Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings
- B64C 39/062: {having annular wings}
- B64U 10/20: Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft (flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17)
- B64U 30/294: Rotors arranged in the UAV body
- B64U 30/297: Tilting rotors
- B64U 50/23: with each propulsion means having an individual motor
- B64C 29/0016: {the lift during taking-off being created by free or ducted propellers or by blowers}
- B64C 29/0033: {the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage}
- B64C 29/0075: {the motors being tiltable relative to the fuselage}
- B64U 30/10: Wings
- B64U 50/13: using external fans or propellers
- B64U 70/60: Take-off or landing of UAVs from a runway using their own power
- B64U 2101/64: for parcel delivery or retrieval
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

Systems and methods to reduce aerodynamic drag and/or affect flight characteristics of an aerial vehicle may include adjustable fairings associated with one or more components of the aerial vehicle. The adjustable fairings may be coupled to and at least partially surround a motor, propulsion mechanism, motor arm, strut, or other component of an aerial vehicle. In addition, the adjustable fairings may be passively movable between two or more positions responsive to airflow around the fairings, and/or the adjustable fairings may be actively moved between two more positions to affect flight characteristics. Further, the adjustable fairings may include actuatable elements to alter a portion of an outer surface of the fairings to thereby affect flight characteristics. In this manner, adjustable fairings associated with various components of an aerial vehicle may reduce aerodynamic drag and/or may improve control and safety of an aerial vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aerial vehicle, comprising:
a body;
a plurality of motor arms extending from the body;
a plurality of motors, each motor coupled to a respective motor arm of the plurality of motor arms;
a plurality of propellers, each propeller coupled to and rotated by a respective motor of the plurality of motors; and
a plurality of motor fairings, each motor fairing movably coupled to and completely surrounding a respective motor of the plurality of motors, wherein each motor fairing as a whole is movable relative to a respective motor to which each motor fairing is coupled.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each motor fairing is rotatable relative to an axis of a respective motor arm to which the respective motor is coupled.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each motor fairing is rotatable in substantially 360 degrees of rotational freedom relative to the respective motor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein each motor fairing includes at least one of a vane, a fin, or a tail.

### Claim 5

A propulsion apparatus, comprising:
a propulsion mechanism; and
a fairing movably coupled to and completely surrounding the propulsion mechanism, wherein the fairing as a whole is movable relative to the propulsion mechanism;
wherein the fairing is movable between at least two positions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fairing is movably coupled to the propulsion mechanism by a rotatable joint defining an axis of rotation; and
wherein the fairing is rotatable between the at least two positions relative to the axis of rotation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fairing is movably coupled to the propulsion mechanism by a spherically rotatable joint; and
wherein the fairing is rotatable between the at least two positions relative to the spherically rotatable joint.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 5, wherein a first position of the at least two positions of the fairing is associated with a vertical flight configuration, and wherein a second position of the at least two positions of the fairing is associated with a horizontal flight configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fairing includes at least one of a vane, a fin, a tail, a flap, or a tab.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
an actuator coupled to the fairing and configured to move the fairing between the at least two positions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to move the fairing to alter an aerodynamic characteristic associated with the propulsion apparatus.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
at least one actuatable element associated with an outer surface of the fairing and configured to alter the outer surface of the fairing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one actuatable element includes at least one of a vane, a fin, a tail, a flap, or a tab.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one actuatable element is movable between a retracted position substantially flush with the outer surface of the fairing and an extended position at least partially protruding from the outer surface of the fairing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 14, wherein in the retracted position, the at least one actuatable element forms a portion of a tapered end at a trailing surface of the fairing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The propulsion apparatus of claim 14, wherein in the extended position, the at least one actuatable element forms a portion of cross shape at a trailing surface of the fairing.

### Claim 17

A method to operate an aerial vehicle, comprising:
instructing adjustment, by an actuator, of a fairing associated with a propulsion mechanism, the fairing movably coupled to and completely surrounding the propulsion mechanism, wherein the fairing as a whole is movable relative to the propulsion mechanism;
wherein the adjustment of the fairing alters an aerodynamic characteristic associated with the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein instructing adjustment of the fairing comprises changing a position of the fairing relative to the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein instructing adjustment of the fairing comprises modifying an outer surface of the fairing by at least one actuatable element.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one actuatable element includes at least one of a vane, a fin, a tail, a flap, or a tab.