Walking VTOL drone and related systems and methods
AssigneeAigen Inc.
InventorRichard Wurden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Walking VTOL vehicles and related systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system can include one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems for providing vertical thrust for the vehicle, one or more horizontal thrust propulsion systems for providing horizontal thrust for the vehicle, and leg elements that are rotatable between a first configuration in which each leg element extends downwardly and a second configuration different from the first configuration. A representative method of operating a vehicle includes using vertical thrust to raise the vehicle upward, rotating a leg element forward, lowering the vehicle, and then rotating the leg element rearward to propel the vehicle forward.
Claims29
A vertical take-off and landing vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage extending along a longitudinal axis;
- one or more wings connected to the fuselage;
- a propeller positioned to provide thrust for the vehicle along a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a landing gear assembly;
- wherein:
- the landing gear assembly comprises a leg element and an aerodynamic control surface;
- the aerodynamic control surface carries the leg element;
- and
- the landing gear assembly is rotatable between a first configuration in which the leg element extends downwardly and a second configuration different from the first configuration.
A vertical take-off and landing vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage;
- one or more wings connected to the fuselage;
- one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems carried by the vehicle and positioned to provide vertical thrust for the vehicle;
- one or more horizontal thrust propulsion systems carried by the vehicle and positioned to provide horizontal thrust for the vehicle;
- a plurality of leg elements rotatable between a first configuration in which each leg element extends downwardly and a second configuration different from the first configuration;
- and
- a controller programmed with instructions that, when executed:
- operate the one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems to lift a first leg element of the plurality of leg elements off of a surface;
- then
- cause the first leg element to rotate along a first direction;
- then
- operate the one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems to lower the first leg element back on to the surface;
- and then
- cause the first leg element to rotate along a second direction that is opposite the first direction, to propel the vehicle along the surface.
A method of operating a vertical take-off and landing vehicle, the method comprising:
- operating one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems carried by the vehicle to raise at least a first portion of the vehicle upward;
- rotating a first leg element carried by the vehicle, wherein rotating the first leg element comprises rotating the first leg element along a first direction;
- operating the one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems to lower the first portion of the vehicle to allow the first leg element to contact a surface;
- rotating the first leg element along a second direction opposite the first direction to propel the vehicle along the surface via contact between the first leg element and the surface;
- operating the one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems to raise at least a second portion of the vehicle upward;
- rotating a second leg element carried by the vehicle, wherein rotating the second leg element comprises rotating the second leg element along the first direction;
- operating the one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems to lower the second portion of the vehicle to allow the second leg element to contact the surface;
- and
- rotating the second leg element along the second direction to propel the vehicle along the surface via contact between the second leg element and the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.