US 2021/0229825 A1 · PROVIDING A LOAD FROM A MOTOR TO INHIBIT FURTHER ROTATION OF A PROPELLER OF AN AERIAL VEHICLE WHILE IN FLIGHT

Abstract

A technique for operating an aerial vehicle involves enabling a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) propeller of the aerial vehicle to rotate freely. The VTOL propeller is coupled with a VTOL motor (e.g., a 3-phase brushless DC motor). The technique further involves detecting when the VTOL propeller rotates to a predefined position relative to a direction of flight for the aerial vehicle (e.g., when blades of the VTOL propeller extend along an axis that is parallel to the direction of flight). The technique further involves, in response to detecting that the VTOL propeller has rotated to the predefined position, providing a load from the VTOL motor that inhibits further rotation of the VTOL propeller. Accordingly, while the aerial vehicle is in fixed wing horizontal flight, the controller is able to align the VTOL propeller in the direction of horizontal flight to minimize drag from the VTOL propeller.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An aerial vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, the aerial vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a set of VTOL motors supported by the frame;
a set of VTOL propellers coupled with the set of VTOL motors;
and
a controller supported by the frame, the controller being constructed and arranged to operate each VTOL motor of the set of VTOL motors by:
enabling a VTOL propeller coupled with the VTOL motor to rotate freely,
detecting when the VTOL propeller coupled with the VTOL motor rotates to a predefined position relative to a direction of flight for the aerial vehicle, and
in response to detecting that the VTOL propeller coupled with the VTOL motor has rotated to the predefined position, providing a load from the VTOL motor that inhibits further rotation of the VTOL propeller coupled with the VTOL motor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Providing a load from a motor to inhibit further rotation of a propeller of an aerial vehicle while in flight

Life of this patent

Providing a load from a motor to inhibit further rotation of a propeller of an aerial vehicle while in flight

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20