System and method for compact and combinable aerial vehicle capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said wings comprise two swept backward wings joined at a head of the vehicle and located on a left and a right side with respect to a center rolling axis;
• said power plants comprise three or more gas-powered or electric engines;
• said thrust generators comprise three or more propellers driven by said engines;
• said airframe comprises said wings, a front and a rear beam to mount said engines;
• said front beam is mounted laterally to front parts of said two wings to support one or more of said engines;
• said rear beam is mounted laterally to rear parts of said two wings to support two or more of said engines;
• said thrust vectoring means are located inside said wings, and are attached to ends of said front and rear beams to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring.

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• and optionally comprising:
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for folding and unfolding said wings, whereby size of said vehicle becomes compact when said wings are folded;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said thrust generators comprise three or more thrust generators driven by three or more engines;
• components of said airframe are arranged on periphery of said thrust generators;
• said airframe comprises a front beam, a rear beam, a left and a right side fuselage, a center fuselage, a left and a right swept backward minor wing, a left and a right swept backward major wing, a left and a right vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer;
• said front beam is mounted laterally to front parts of said left and right side fuselage to support one or more of said engines;
• said rear beam is mounted laterally to rear parts of said left and right side fuselages to support two or more of said engines;
• said thrust vectoring means are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage, and are optionally-attached to ends of said front and rear beams to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring;
• rear portions of roots of said two swept backward major wings are attached to front ends of said left and right side fuselages;
• front portions of roots of said two major wings are attached to tips of said two swept backward minor wings;
• roots of said two swept backward minor wings are connect to two sides of said center fuselage;
• said left and right vertical stabilizers are generally vertically attached to tips of said left and right swept backward major wing respectively;
• said horizontal stabilizer is horizontally attached to tips of said two swept backward major wings, bottom ends of said vertical stabilizers and rear ends of said left and right side fuselages;
• said means for folding and unfolding two said major wings, said horizontal stabilizer and said vertical stabilizers are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage;
• said means for attaching and detaching similarly equipped vehicles are optionally located at head of said vehicle and at tips of said horizontal stabilizer.

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• and optionally comprising:
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for folding and unfolding said wings, whereby size of said vehicle becomes compact when said wings are folded;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said thrust generators comprise three or more thrust generators;
• components of said airframe are arranged on periphery of said thrust generators;
• said airframe comprises a left and a right side fuselage, a center fuselage, a left and a right swept backward minor wing, a left and a right swept backward major wing, a left and a right vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer;
• one or more of said thrust generators are mounted at a rear end of said center fuselage;
• said horizontal stabilizer is mounted laterally to rear ends of said left and right side fuselages to support two or more of said thrust generators;
• said thrust vectoring means are optionally located inside said fuselages to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring;
• rear portions of roots of said left and right swept backward major wings are attached to front ends of said left and right side fuselages respectively;
• front portions of roots of said left and right swept backward major wings are attached to tips of said left and right swept backward minor wings respectively;
• roots of two said minor wings are connect to two sides of front parts of said center fuselage;
• said left and right vertical stabilizers are generally vertically attached to rear ends of said left and right side fuselage respectively;
• said means for folding and unfolding said two swept backward major wings are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage;
• said means for attaching and detaching similarly equipped vehicles are optionally located at head of said vehicle and at tips of said major wings.

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• and optionally comprising:
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for folding and unfolding said wings, whereby size of said vehicle becomes compact when said wings are folded;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said thrust generators comprise three or more thrust generators;
• components of said airframe are arranged on periphery of said thrust generators;
• said airframe comprises a front beam, a left and a right side fuselage, a center fuselage, a left and a right swept backward front minor wing, a left and a right swept backward major wing, a left and a right vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer;
• one or more of said thrust generators are mounted at a rear end of said center fuselage;
• said front beam is attached laterally to front ends of said left and right side fuselages to support said center fuselage and one or more said thrust generators;
• said horizontal stabilizer is mounted laterally to rear ends of said left and right side fuselages to support two or more said thrust generators;
• said thrust vectoring means are optionally located inside said fuselages to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring;
• a root of said left swept backward major wing is attached laterally to a left side of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right swept backward major wing is attached laterally to a right side of said right side fuselage;
• a tip of said left swept backward minor wing is attached laterally to a right side of said left side fuselage;
• a tip of said right swept backward minor wing is attached laterally to a left side of said right side fuselage;
• roots of said two swept backward minor wings are connected to two sides of a front part of said center fuselage;
• said left and right vertical stabilizers are generally vertically attached to tips of said left and right major wings;
• said means for folding and unfolding two said major wings and said vertical stabilizers are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage;
• said means for attaching and detaching similarly equipped vehicles are located at head of said vehicle and at tips of said major wings.

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• and optionally comprising:
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for folding and unfolding said wings, whereby size of said vehicle becomes compact when said wings are folded;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said thrust generators comprise a front, a rear, a left and a right nozzles driven by jet air streams produced by one jet engine;
• components of said airframe are arranged on periphery of said thrust generators;
• said airframe comprises a left and a right side fuselage, a center fuselage, a left and a right swept backward minor wing, a left and a right swept backward major wing, a left and a right vertical stabilizer, a left and a right horizontal stabilizer;
• said jet engine is optionally located at front end of said center fuselage;
• said front nozzle is mounted at a front portion of said center fuselage, and said rear nozzle is mounted at a rear end of said center fuselage, wherein in VTOL mode jet air stream exit from said front nozzle pointing downward, and in horizontal flight mode jet air stream exit from said rear nozzle pointing rearward;
• said left and right nozzles are mounted laterally between rear ends of said left and right side fuselages and said left and right horizontal stabilizers, wherein jet air stream come from said rear end of said center fuselage through pipes connecting to said left and said right nozzles pointing downward in VTOL mode and rearward in horizontal flight mode;
• said thrust vectoring means are optionally located inside said fuselages to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring;
• said center fuselage has a general cone shaped head at a location of a head of said vehicle with openings for air to enter said jet engine;
• said center fuselage has general cylinder shape at a middle and a cone shape nozzle at said rear end;
• a root of said left swept backward major wing is attached laterally to a left side of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right swept backward major wing is attached laterally to a right side of said right side fuselage;
• a tip of said left swept backward minor wing is attached laterally to a right side of said left side fuselage;
• a tip of said right swept backward minor wing is attached laterally to a left side of said right side fuselage;
• roots of said two swept backward minor wings are connected to two sides of a front part of said center fuselage;
• said left and right vertical stabilizers are generally vertically attached to tips of said left and right major wings respectively;
• said left and right horizontal stabilizers are horizontally attached to rear ends of said center fuselage and to said left and right nozzles;
• said means for folding and unfolding two said major wings and said vertical stabilizers are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage;
• said means for attaching and detaching similarly equipped vehicles are optionally located at head of said vehicle and at tips of said major wings.

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• and optionally comprising:
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for folding and unfolding said wings, whereby size of said vehicle becomes compact when said wings are folded;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said thrust generators comprise three or more thrust generators;
• components of said airframe are arranged on periphery of said thrust generators;
• said airframe comprises a front beam, a rear beam, a left and a right side fuselage, a left and a right front mini side fuselage, a center fuselage, a left and a right minor wing, a left and a right rear swept backward major wing, a left and a right front swept forward major wing, a left and a right vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer;
• two or more said thrust generators are mounted on a left and a right side of said front beam, which passes through a front section of said center fuselage, and two ends of said front beam are attached laterally to front ends of said front left and right mini side fuselages;
• one or more of said thrust generator are mounted at rear end of said center fuselage;
• said rear beam is mounted laterally to said left and right side fuselage to support said center fuselage and one or more said thrust generators;
• said thrust vectoring means are optionally located inside said fuselages to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring;
• a root of said left minor wing is attached laterally to a left side of said center fuselage;
• a root of said right minor wing is attached laterally to a right side of said center fuselage;
• a tip of said left minor wing is attached laterally to right side of said left side fuselage;
• a tip of said right minor wing is attached laterally to a left side of said right side fuselage;
• a rear end of left mini side fuselage is attached to a front end of said left side fuselage;
• a rear end of right mini side fuselage is attached to a front end of said right side fuselage;
• said horizontal stabilizer is horizontally attached to rear ends of said left and right side fuselage;
• a root of said left front swept forward major wing is attached laterally to a left side of a front end of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right front swept forward major wing is attached laterally to a right side of a front end of said right side fuselage;
• a root of said left rear swept backward major wing is attached laterally to a left side of a rear end of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right rear swept backward major wing is attached laterally to a right side of rear end of said right side fuselage, and therefore said four major wings form a general X shape;
• said left and right vertical stabilizer are generally vertically attached to tips of said rear left and right swept backward major wings respectively;
• said means for folding and unfolding said major wings and said vertical stabilizers are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage;
• said means for attaching and detaching similarly equipped vehicles are optionally located at tips of said four major wings.

A vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) enabled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of thrust generators which are powered by one or more power plants;
• means for said one or more power plants to drive said thrust generators directly or indirectly via transmission, and to change magnitudes of thrusts produced by said thrust generators;
• an airframe comprising a plurality of wings whose most portions are generally arranged on lateral or periphery of said thrust generators, wherein arrangements of said wings make it possible to optionally fold said wings without moving said thrust generators;
• means for mounting said thrust generators and said one or more power plants to said airframe in one of the following three configuration modes:
• VTOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing upward;
• STOL mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts with both upward components and forward components;
• horizontal flight mode wherein said thrust generators are configured in a way to generate thrusts generally pointing forward;
• whereby V/STOL enabled means that when said thrust generators are configured in VTOL mode to generate thrusts generally pointing upward, said vehicle is capable of takeoff and landing vertically and hovering;
• when said thrust generators are configured in STOL mode to generate thrusts with both upward component and forward component, said vehicle is capable of short takeoff and landing;
• when said thrust generators are configured in horizontal flight mode to generate thrusts generally pointing forward, said vehicle is capable of conventional horizontal takeoff and landing and conventional horizontal flight;
• and optionally comprising:
• thrust vectoring means for changing in flight from one of said three modes to any other one of said three modes whereby said vehicle becomes a V/STOL vehicle which is capable of in-flight transitions between any two of VTOL, STOL and horizontal flight mode;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for folding and unfolding said wings, whereby size of said vehicle becomes compact when said wings are folded;
• and optionally comprising:
• avionics and flight control system, whereby said vehicle is capable of unmanned flight and/or manned flight with autopilot system;
• and optionally comprising:
• means for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, whereby said vehicle is combinable so that multiple said vehicles can form a large composite V/STOL vehicle;
• said thrust generators comprise three or more thrust generators;
• components of said airframe are arranged on periphery of said thrust generators;
• said airframe comprises a front beam of aerodynamically efficient airfoil shape, a left and a right side fuselage, a center fuselage, a left and right minor wing, a left and right rear major wing, a left and right front major wing, a horizontal stabilizer and a left and a right vertical stabilizer;
• two or more of said thrust generators are mounted on said front beam, and two ends of said front beam are attached laterally to front ends of said left and right side fuselages;
• one or more thrust generator are mounted at horizontal stabilizer which is mounted laterally to rear ends of said left and right side fuselage;
• said thrust vectoring means are optionally located inside said fuselages to rotate said thrust generators to realize thrust vectoring;
• a root of said left minor wing is attached to said center fuselage;
• a tip of said left minor wing is attached to right side of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right minor wing is attached to said center fuselage;
• a tip of said right minor wing is optionally attached to left side of said right side fuselage;
• a root of said left front major wing is attached laterally to a left side of a front end of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right front major wing is attached laterally to a right side of a front end of said right side fuselage;
• a root of said left rear major wing is attached laterally to a left side of rear end of said left side fuselage;
• a root of said right rear major wing is attached laterally to a right side of a rear end of said right side fuselage;
• said left and right vertical stabilizer are generally vertically attached to tips of said rear left and right swept backward major wing respectively;
• said means for folding and unfolding said major wings and said vertical stabilizers are optionally located inside said left and right side fuselage;
• said means for attaching and detaching similarly equipped vehicles are optionally located at tips of said major wings.