Cycloidal Rotor Micro-Air Vehicle
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsMoble Benedict, Carl C. Runco, David A. Coleman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cycloidal rotor air vehicle includes an airframe, a first cycloidal rotor assembly supported by the airframe and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation relative to the airframe, the first cycloidal rotor assembly including a blade having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the first axis of rotation, a first motor configured to rotate the first cycloidal rotor assembly about the first axis of rotation, a first servo coupled to the blade of the first cycloidal rotor assembly and configured to adjust the pitch of the blade, and a control system supported on the airframe and configured to control the operation of the first motor and the first servo.
Claims20
A cycloidal rotor air vehicle, comprising:
- an airframe;
- a first cycloidal rotor assembly supported by the airframe and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation relative to the airframe, the first cycloidal rotor assembly comprising a blade having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the first axis of rotation;
- a first motor configured to rotate the first cycloidal rotor assembly about the first axis of rotation;
- a first servo coupled to the blade of the first cycloidal rotor assembly and configured to adjust the pitch of the blade;
- and
- a control system supported on the airframe and configured to control the operation of the first motor and the first servo.
A cycloidal rotor air vehicle, comprising:
- an airframe;
- a first cycloidal rotor assembly supported by the airframe and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation, the first cycloidal rotor assembly comprising a blade having a longitudinal axis parallel with of the first cycloidal rotor assembly;
- and
- a first motor configured to rotate the first cycloidal rotor assembly about the first axis of rotation;
- wherein the blade of the first cycloidal rotor assembly comprises a material formed from unidirectional pre-impregnated carbon fiber.
A method for forming a cycloidal rotor air vehicle, comprising:
- (a) laying a strip of unidirectional pre-impregnated carbon fiber onto a mold;
- (b) clamping first and second plates against the pre-impregnated carbon fiber to push the pre-impregnated carbon fiber into the mold;
- and
- (c) curing the pre-impregnated carbon fiber in the mold to form a rotor blade of the cycloidal rotor air vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.