Tripodal modular unmanned rotorcraft

A tripodal unmanned rotorcraft comprising:

• a central core structure having a vertically mounted engine;
• a main rotor driven by said engine;
• first, second, and third arms attached to said central core structure, each of said first, second and third arms having a storage region therein;
• tip jets at a distal end of each of said first, second and third arms wherein an air stream passing through select tip jets provide anti-torque and attitude control for said rotorcraft;
• tip jet plumbing for supplying said air stream to said tip jets from an engine bleed;
• and
• a compressor bleed plenum for collecting and evenly distributing said engine bleed to said tip jet plumbing.

A tripodal unmanned rotorcraft for delivering a payload to a remote location, comprising:

• a central core structure having a vertically mounted engine;
• a main rotor driven by said engine;
• first, second, and third arms attached to said central core structure, each of said first, second and third arms being equally spaced about said central core structure and having a storage region therein for containing said payload;
• tip jets at a distal end of each of said first, second and third arms wherein an air stream passing through select tip jets provide anti-torque, attitude control, and directional maneuvering for said rotorcraft;
• and
• tip jet plumbing for supplying said air stream to said tip jets from an engine bleed;
• a compressor bleed plenum for collecting and evenly distributing said engine bleed to said tip jet plumbing;
• and
• an internal fan/rotor in said central core structure rotating in a direction opposite that of said rotor to provide an anti-torque element as well as an additional cooling air flow to said central core structure.

A tripodal modular unmanned rotorcraft comprising:

• a central core structure having a vertically mounted engine;
• a main rotor driven by said engine;
• first, second, and third arms detachably connected to said central core structure, each of said first, second and third arms being equally spaced about said central core structure and having a storage region therein;
• landing gear located at a distal end of each of said first, second and third arms;
• tip jets at a distal end of each of said first, second and third arms wherein an air stream passing through select tip jets provide anti-torque, attitude control, and directional maneuvering for said rotorcraft;
• tip jet plumbing for supplying said air stream to said tip jets from an engine bleed;
• a compressor bleed plenum for collecting and evenly distributing said engine bleed to said tip jet plumbing;
• and
• an internal rotor/fan in said central core structure, rotating opposite that of said rotor, to provide an anti-torque element as well as an additional cooling air flow to said central core structure.

A method for making a rotorcraft, comprising:

• vertically mounting an engine in a central core structure of said rotorcraft, said engine driving a main rotor;
• detachably connecting a first arm, a second arm and a third arm to said central core structure, each of said first arm, said second arm and said third arm having a storage region therein;
• providing means for generating pressurized air in said central core;
• delivering said pressurized air to tip jets located at a distal end of each of said first arm, said second arm, and said third arm, whereby when said pressurized air passes through said tip jets, anti-torque, attitude control, and directional maneuvering is provided for said rotorcraft.