UAV with distributed propulsion for short takeoffs and landings

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adapted for a package delivery mission, the UAV comprising:

• a fuselage;
• a pair of fixed wings attached to the fuselage;
• a plurality of distributed propulsion units mounted below the fixed wings and having first propellers mounted fore of the fixed wings, and wherein three or more of the distributed propulsion units are mounted to each of the fixed wings;
• a pair of outboard propulsion units each mounted to a corresponding one of the fixed wings outboard of the distributed propulsion units, wherein the outboard propulsion units include outboard propellers having a larger diameter than the first propellers;
• a tail assembly attached to an aft portion of the fuselage and including at least two stabilizers;
• a plurality of tail propulsion units having second propellers that rotate about second rotational axes each positioned inline with one of the stabilizers, wherein the second propellers are mounted fore of a corresponding one of the stabilizers;
• and
• a controller coupled to the distributed propulsion units and the outboard propulsion units, the controller including logic that when executed causes the UAV to perform operations comprising:
• powering the distributed propulsion units during takeoff and landing segments of the package delivery mission;
• and
• idling at least a portion of the distributed propulsion units while powering the outboard propulsion units during a cruise segment of the package delivery mission.

A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adapted for a package delivery mission, the method comprising:

• powering distributed propulsion units during takeoff and landing segments of the package delivery mission, wherein the distributed propulsion units are mounted below fixed wings of the UAV and have first propellers mounted fore of the fixed wings;
• idling at least a portion of the distributed propulsion units while powering a pair of outboard propulsion units during a cruise segment of the package delivery mission, wherein the outboard propulsion units are each mounted to a corresponding one of the fixed wings outboard of the distributed propulsion units, wherein the outboard propulsion units include outboard propellers having a larger diameter than the first propellers;
• and
• reverse spinning at least a portion of the first propellers after touchdown to reduce a ground roll during the landing segment of the UAV.