Drone systems and methods
AssigneeDuplicent, LLC
InventorCurren Krasnoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft includes a body defining an interior compartment configured to hold at least one of a passenger and a payload, a battery system, a plurality of arms coupled to and extending from the body, and a plurality of propulsion devices configured to provide thrust to fly the aircraft. Each of the plurality of propulsion devices is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of arms. The plurality of propulsion devices are powered by the battery system. Each of the plurality of propulsion devices is selectively pivotable about at least one axis. The plurality of propulsion devices include at least one of (i) counter rotating ducted fans and (ii) ionizing electrode engines.
Claims20
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage defining a passenger cabin configured to accommodate one or more passengers;
- a battery system disposed within the fuselage, the battery system comprising a plurality of lithium-ion batteries configured to store and discharge electrical energy;
- a plurality of arms coupled to and extending from the fuselage;
- a plurality of propulsion devices, each of which is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of arms;
- and
- a controller configured to control operation of the plurality of propulsion devices,
- wherein:
- each propulsion device comprises a duct, a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a first propeller disposed within the duct and coupled to the first electric motor, and a second propeller disposed within the duct and coupled to the second electric motor,
- the first propeller and the second propeller are configured to rotate in opposite directions within the duct,
- the first electric motor and the second electric motor are powered by the battery system, and
- each propulsion device is pivotable about two orthogonal axes to change a direction of thrust provided by the respective propulsion device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.