Convertible unmanned vehicle
AssigneeHyalta Aeronautics, Inc.
InventorScott R. Kempshall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unmanned vehicle having a launch configuration and one or more operational configurations. In the launch configuration, one or more engines resides within an engine bay. The unmanned vehicle is generally shaped like a projectile and can be launch from any tube-shaped deployment system using an initial propulsor. The engine bay can be opened, and the engines can be moved into a generally external position with respect to the engine bay for operation of said engines. In some embodiments, the one or more engines can pivot to direct thrust in multiple directions. In some embodiments, the unmanned vehicle includes flight control surfaces to further improve the flight characteristics of the vehicle.
Claims20
An unmanned vehicle, comprising:
- a launch configuration and at least one operational configuration;
- a main body, the main body including:
- a structural support extending generally between a fore end and an aft end of the unmanned vehicle;
- an outer surface having a generally cylindrical shape with an engine bay established within the outer surface of the main body;
- a door leading to the engine bay, the door configured to be opened to expose an engine residing within the engine bay when the unmanned vehicle is in the launch configuration;
- a first articulating arm operably connected to the structural support, the first articulating arm pivotably connected to the engine and configured to move at least a portion of the engine outside of the engine bay;
- wherein the at least one operational configuration of the unmanned vehicle includes the engine residing at least partially outside of the engine bay.
An unmanned vehicle, comprising:
- a launch configuration and at least one operational configuration;
- a main body, the main body including:
- a structural support extending generally between a fore end and an aft end of the unmanned vehicle;
- an outer surface having a generally cylindrical shape with an engine bay established within the outer surface of the main body;
- a door leading to the engine bay, the door configured to be opened to expose engines residing within the engine bay when the unmanned vehicle is in the launch configuration;
- a first articulating arm operably connected to the structural support, the first articulating arm pivotably connected to a first pair of engines configured to reside within the engine bay when the unmanned vehicle is in the launch configuration and configured to move at least a portion of each of the first pair of engines outside of the engine bay;
- a second articulating arm operably connected to the structural support, the second articulating arm pivotably connected to a second pair of engines configured to reside within the engine bay when the unmanned vehicle is in the launch configuration and configured to move at least a portion of each of the second pair of engines outside of the engine bay;
- wherein the at least one operational configuration of the unmanned vehicle includes at least the first pair of engines or the second pair of engines residing at least partially outside of the engine bay.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.