Reconfigurable unmanned vehicles
AssigneeTexas Tech University System
InventorsVictor Maldonado, Yao Ma, Donald Docimo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed embodiments are directed to a modular autonomous vehicle system comprising a blended wing body module, at least two high speed long range wing panel modules configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, at least two low speed high endurance wing panel modules configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, a vertical tails module configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, a vertical takeoff and landing fin module configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, a power train, and a wheels module with a plurality of wheels operably connected to the power train.
Claims9
A modular UAV system comprising:
- a blended wing body module;
- at least two first wing panel modules configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, the at least two first wing panel modules comprising symmetric blended wing panels, comprising Eppler 171 wing root airfoils, blended with Eppler 182 wing tip airfoils;
- at least two second wing panel modules configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, the at least two second wing panel modules comprising symmetric blended wing panels, comprising Eppler 171 wing root airfoils, blended with Eppler 330 wing tip airfoils wherein a root chord of the at least two first wing panel modules and a root chord of the at least two second wing panel modules is the same;
- a vertical tails module configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, with a vertical tail airfoil comprising an NACA 0006 vertical tail airfoil;
- and
- a vertical takeoff and landing fin module configured to interchangeably mount to the blended wing body module, with a vertical takeoff and landing airfoil comprising an NACA 0010 vertical takeoff and landing airfoil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.