Modular, configurable airframe system for heavy lift rotary wing UAV
AssigneeSurgeon Autonomous Vehicles and Equipment L.L.C
InventorBrian Riskas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle includes an airframe and a plurality of rotor assemblies operatively connected to the airframe and configured to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle. The air frame includes a plurality of tubes and a plurality of hardpoints. Each of the plurality of hardpoints may include a tubular protrusion for receiving one of the plurality of tubes. The unmanned aerial vehicle may further include structural adhesive bonding the tubular protrusion of each of the plurality of hardpoints to a corresponding one of the plurality of tubes.
Claims20
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- an airframe;
- a plurality of rotor assemblies operatively connected to the airframe and configured to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- the airframe comprising a plurality of tubes and a plurality of hardpoints;
- wherein each of the plurality of hardpoints comprise a tubular protrusion for receiving one of the plurality of tubes;
- and
- structural adhesive bonding the tubular protrusion of each of the plurality of hardpoints to a corresponding one of the plurality of tubes;
- and
- at least one fracture plate operatively connected to one of the plurality of tubes.
A method of configuring an unmanned aerial vehicle in a first configuration, the method comprising:
- providing plurality of carbon tubes and a plurality of metallic hardpoints, wherein the plurality of metallic hardpoints comprises a first subset having at least one tubular protrusion at a first angle and a second subset having at least one tubular protrusion at a second angle, the first angle different from the second angle;
- assembling an airframe by structurally bonding individual ones of the carbon tubes to corresponding ones of the plurality of metallic hardpoints to form an airframe of a desired configuration;
- and
- routing at least one of tubing, wiring, and fuel lines through the plurality of carbon tubes;
- and
- reconfiguring the unmanned aerial vehicle after a mission by heating structural bonds between the carbon tubes and the plurality of metallic hardpoints to separate and assembling the airframe in a second configuration, the second configuration different from the first configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.