Back to results
US 11,958,596 B2Granted
Systems and methods for reducing noise based on effective rotor area relative to a center of rotation
AssigneeMagLev Aero Inc.
InventorIan Morris Randall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods relate to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform that can include a stator and a rotor magnetically levitated by the stator. The rotor and stator can be annular, such that the rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The stator can include magnets that provide guidance, levitation, and drive forces to drive the rotor, as well as to control operation of rotor blades of the rotor that can be independently rotated to specific pitch angles to control at least one of lift, pitch, roll, or yaw of the VTOL platform. Various controllers can be used to enable independent and redundant control of components of the VTOL platform.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a controller comprising one or more processors to output a motor control signal indicating a blade pitch angle;
- a stator, comprising:
- a plurality of propulsion magnets circumferentially arranged along a surface of the stator;
- a power transmission circuit;
- and
- a first transceiver coupled to the blade controller to transmit the motor control signal;
- and
- a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, the rotor having an annular rotor base surrounding the stator and comprising a plurality of rotor segments, each rotor segment including
- a sidewall spaced from the rotational axis having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- at least one rotor magnet coupled to the sidewall along the first surface, the rotor configured to be driven by the plurality of propulsion magnets via respective magnetic fields of the plurality of propulsion magnets interacting with the at least one rotor magnet;
- at least one rotor blade having a first blade end coupled with the second surface of the sidewall and a second blade end, the first end and second defining a rotor blade length, the second end and rotational axis defining a radius of rotation, a ratio of the rotor blade length to the radius of rotation being less than or equal to 0.75;
- at least one motor coupled to the first blade end, the at least one motor configured to rotate the at least one rotor blade about a blade axis perpendicular to the rotational axis, to change a blade surface area of the at least one rotor blade relative to a first plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and in which the blade axis lies;
- a power receiving circuit configured to supply power to the at least one motor using corresponding power wirelessly received over a distance from the power transmission circuit;
- and
- a second transceiver coupled to the motor to provide the motor control signal to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the at least one rotor blade, using the power received from the power transmission circuit, based on the blade pitch angle indicated by the motor control signal.
12 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a controller comprising one or more processors to output a motor control signal indicating a blade pitch angle;
- a stator, comprising:
- a plurality of propulsion magnets circumferentially arranged along a surface of the stator;
- and
- a power transmission circuit;
- and
- a first transceiver coupled to the blade controller to transmit the motor control signal;
- and
- a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, the rotor having an annular rotor base surrounding the stator and comprising a plurality of rotor segments, each rotor segment including
- a sidewall spaced from the rotational axis having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- at least one rotor magnet coupled to the sidewall along the first surface, the rotor configured to be driven by the plurality of propulsion magnets via respective magnetic fields of the plurality of propulsion magnets interacting with the at least one rotor magnet;
- at least one rotor blade having a first blade end coupled with the second surface of the sidewall and a second blade end, the first end and second defining a rotor blade length, the second end and rotational axis defining a radius of rotation, a ratio of the rotor blade length to the radius of rotation being less than or equal to 0.75;
- at least one axle coupled to the first blade end, the at least one axle configured to rotate the at least one rotor blade about a blade axis perpendicular to the rotational axis, to change a blade surface area of the at least one rotor blade relative to a first plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and in which the blade axis lies;
- a power receiving circuit configured to supply power to the at least one motor using corresponding power wirelessly received over a distance from the power transmission circuit;
- and
- a second transceiver coupled to the motor to provide the motor control signal to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the at least one rotor blade, using the power received from the power transmission circuit, based on the blade pitch angle indicated by the motor control signal.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.