Disc-Shaped Aircraft

An aircraft comprising:

• a motor housing having a curved outer surface, an upper opening, and a lower opening;
• a first propeller;
• a second propeller;
• a first electric motor within the motor housing, wherein the first electric motor is affixed to the motor housing and is configured to drive the first propeller;
• a second electric motor within the motor housing, wherein the second electric motor is affixed to the motor housing and is configured to drive the second propeller;
• an annular structure with a disc-shaped extension, wherein the annular structure encircles the motor housing;
• a first ring attached to an inner side of the annular structure;
• a second ring attached to the inner side of the annular structure, wherein the first ring and the second ring are rotatably coupled to the motor housing to support the motor housing and to enable the motor housing to rotate with respect to the first ring and the second ring;
• a third electric motor configured to drive a first roller to rotate the motor housing about a first axis when the first roller is engaged with the curved outer surface of the motor housing;
• and
• a first motor engagement mechanism comprising a first actuator that is configured to move a location of the third electric motor to cause the first roller to selectively contact and disengage from the curved outer surface of the motor housing.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device of an aircraft, and from a remote control device, a thrust command, wherein the aircraft comprises a motor housing having a curved outer surface, an upper opening, and a lower opening, wherein the motor housing contains a first electric motor and a second electric motor, wherein the first electric motor is affixed to the motor housing and is configured to drive a first propeller, and wherein the second electric motor is affixed to the motor housing and is configured to drive a second propeller;
• controlling, based on the thrust command, the first electric motor and the second electric motor to generate thrust;
• receiving, by the computing device and from the remote control device, a first directional command to cause the motor housing to rotate about a first axis with respect to an annular structure with a disc-shaped extension of the aircraft, wherein the annular structure encircles the motor housing and is positioned around a middle section of the motor housing between the upper opening and the lower opening, wherein a first ring is attached to an inner side of the annular structure, wherein a second ring is attached to the inner side of the annular structure, and wherein the first ring and the second ring are configured to hold the motor housing;
• controlling, based on the first directional command, a first actuator of a first motor engagement mechanism to move a third electric motor to cause a first friction ring driven by the third electric motor to contact the motor housing;
• controlling, based on the first directional command, the third electric motor to rotate the motor housing about the first axis to change a direction of thrust generated by the first electric motor and the second electric motor;
• and
• receiving, by the computing device and from the remote control device, a second directional command to cause the motor housing to rotate about a second axis with respect to the annular structure;
• controlling, based on the second directional command,
• a second actuator of a second motor engagement mechanism to move a fourth electric motor to cause a second friction ring driven by the fourth electric motor to contact the motor housing, and
• the first actuator to move the third electric motor to disengage the motor housing;
• and
• controlling, based on the second directional command, the fourth electric motor to rotate the motor housing about the second axis to change a direction of thrust generated by the first electric motor and the second electric motor.