Flight duration enhancement for single rotorcraft and multicopters
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
InventorWolfgang Fink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various examples are provided related to flight duration enhancement for rotorcraft and multicopters. In one example, a rotorcraft or multicopter includes one or more rotors, and one or more nozzles positioned in relationship to at least one corresponding rotor. The one or more nozzles can modulate, reshape, redirect, or adjust downwash produced by the corresponding rotor. The one or more nozzles can dynamically modulate, reshape, redirect, or adjust the downwash below the rotorcraft or multicopter. The one or more nozzles can be morphed or reshaped to dynamically modulate, reshape, redirect, or adjust the downwash using, e.g., a stochastic optimization framework and/or a motif-based auto-controller.
Claims18
A rotorcraft or multicopter, comprising:
- one or more rotors, each rotor configured to rotate about a different axis;
- and
- one or more nozzles positioned in relationship to at least one corresponding rotor of the one or more rotors, the one or more nozzles comprising a downwash path having a shape configured to modulate, reshape or redirect downwash produced by the at least one corresponding rotor, where the shape of the downwash path of the one or more nozzles is configured to concentrate the downwash produced by the at least one corresponding rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.