Hybrid aerial and terrestrial vehicle
AssigneeIllinois Institute of Technology
InventorsArash Kalantari, Matthew Spenko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle capable of both aerial and terrestrial locomotion. The terrestrial and aerial vehicle includes a flying device and a rolling cage connected to the flying device by at least one revolute joint. The rolling cage at least partially surrounds the flying device and is free-rolling and not separately powered.
Claims20
A terrestrial and aerial vehicle, comprising a flying device and a non-actuated rolling cage connected to the flying device by at least one revolute joint, the rolling cage comprising two opposing hubs and a plurality of rails each connected at a first end to one of the two opposing hubs and at a second end to an other of the two opposing hubs, wherein the rolling cage rolls against a terrestrial surface and rolls about the flying device.
A terrestrial and aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a flying device with a first side and a second side opposite the first side and including a plurality of rotors;
- and
- a non-actuated rolling cage connected to the flying device by a first revolute joint and a second resolute joint, and at least partially enclosing or surrounding the flying device, the rolling cage including:
- a first hub connected to the first side of the flying device by the first resolute joint, a second hub connected to the second side of the flying device by the second resolute joint, and a plurality of rails each connected at a first end to the first hub and at a second end to the second hub, wherein the plurality of rotors is disposed within the rolling cage and the rolling cage rolls freely about the flying device.
A terrestrial and aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a rotorcraft including four actuated rotors;
- a non-actuated rolling cage connected to and enclosing the rotorcraft, wherein the rolling cage rolls about the rotorcraft upon movement of the rotorcraft and contact with a terrestrial surface, the rolling cage including:
- two opposing hubs each connected to the rotorcraft by a shaft and a revolute joint, and a plurality of rails each connected at a first end to one of the two opposing hubs and at a second end to an other of the two opposing hubs, wherein each of the plurality of rails includes at least a portion that is parallel to the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.