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US 12,583,582 B2Granted
VTOL transport clusters
AssigneeGeorge J. Syrovy
InventorGeorge J. Syrovy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heavier-than-air aircraft is enabled or aided in vertical take-off by a plurality of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft attached to the heavier-than-air aircraft by tethers and flying in formation. In embodiments, the tethers comprise winches. In embodiments, the VTOL aircraft are attached individually to points on the heavier-than-air aircraft spaced both laterally and in the direction of flight.
Claims8
A system comprising,
- a heavier-than-air aircraft capable of carrying passengers or cargo, the heavier-than-air aircraft comprising a propulsion system which provides an upward force on the heavier-than-air aircraft while the heavier-than-air aircraft is not moving horizontally;
- at least one VTOL aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing;
- and
- at least one tether connecting the VTOL aircraft to the heavier-than-air aircraft so as to enable the at least one VTOL aircraft to aid in lifting the heavier-than-air aircraft from a stationary position;
- wherein the at least one VTOL aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing comprise at least three VTOL aircraft attached to the heavier-than-air aircraft by tethers at points spaced from a center of gravity of the heavier-than-air aircraft to permit the at least three VTOL aircraft to control pitch, yaw, and roll of the heavier-than-air aircraft.
2 more elements
A system comprising,
- at least three VTOL aircraft and a heavier-than-air aircraft attached to the VTOL aircraft by tethers, the tethers being attached to the heavier-than-air aircraft at points spaced from a center of gravity of the heavier-than-air aircraft, the tethers comprising winches, and a control system programmed to control pitch, yaw, and roll of the heavier-than-air aircraft by controlling the VTOL aircraft, the winches, or both, to maintain the heavier-than-air aircraft substantially level during vertical take-off.
A method of moving a passenger cabin from a first place to a second place comprising:
- bringing a cluster of eVTOL aircraft toward the passenger cabin,
- attaching each eVTOL aircraft to the passenger cabin with a tether wrapped on a winch,
- after the tether is attached, playing out the tether from the winch while the eVTOL aircraft rises, and
- after all the eVTOL aircraft have risen, utilizing the eVTOL aircraft to raise or help raise the passenger cabin from the first place,
- wherein the eVTOL aircraft fly to the passenger cabin in response to a signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.