Unmanned aerial vehicle with electrically powered, counterrotating ducted rotors
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsAdam S. Ehrmantraut, Andrew M. Maust, Peter K. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle having counterrotating ducted rotors that are driven by electric motors. The vehicle has a low weight and a small profile. The unmanned aerial vehicle is suitable for a number of different tasks, including control, surveillance and reconnaissance, communication, and other tasks without exposing personnel to dangerous situations. The vehicle is particularly suited for entering buildings and other enclosed structures and spaces such as caves. The unmanned aerial vehicle can also be equipped for potential offensive actions.
Claims19
An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a shroud that is concentric about an axis, the shroud having an interior space;
- a hub disposed on the axis;
- a first bladed rotor rotatably mounted on the hub within the shroud for rotation in a first direction about an axis of rotation concentric with the axis of the shroud;
- a second bladed rotor rotatably mounted on the hub within the shroud for rotation in a second direction about an axis of rotation concentric with the axis of the shroud, the second rotation direction being opposite the first rotation direction;
- a first electric motor disposed in the hub and in driving engagement with the first bladed rotor for rotating the first bladed rotor in the first rotation direction;
- a second electric motor disposed in the hub and in driving engagement with the second bladed rotor for rotating the second bladed rotor in the second rotation direction;
- the first electric motor and the second electric motor are disposed between the first bladed rotor and the second bladed rotor, the first and second electric motors are arranged relative to each other such that in side view the first and second electric motors overlap each other in the vertical direction, and the first and second electric motors are disposed on opposite sides of the shroud axis;
- and
- at least one battery disposed in the interior space of the shroud providing electrical power to the first and second electric motors.
An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a shroud that is concentric about an axis, the shroud includes a plurality of shroud sections each of which is separately detachable from the vehicle;
- a hub disposed on the axis;
- a first bladed rotor rotatably mounted on the hub within the shroud for rotation in a first direction about an axis of rotation concentric with the axis of the shroud;
- a second bladed rotor rotatably mounted on the hub within the shroud for rotation in a second direction about an axis of rotation concentric with the axis of the shroud, the second rotation direction being opposite the first rotation direction;
- a first electric motor disposed in the hub and in driving engagement with the first bladed rotor for rotating the first bladed rotor in the first rotation direction;
- a second electric motor disposed in the hub and in driving engagement with the second bladed rotor for rotating the second bladed rotor in the second rotation direction;
- the first electric motor and the second electric motor are disposed between the first bladed rotor and the second bladed rotor, the first and second electric motors are arranged relative to each other such that in side view the first and second electric motors overlap each other in the vertical direction, and the first and second electric motors are disposed on opposite sides of the shroud axis;
- and
- at least one battery providing electrical power to the first and second electric motors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.