Towable autogyro having a re-positionable mast
AssigneeHeliplane, LLC
InventorsJohn William Morris, Charles A. Jarnot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unmanned, towable air vehicle is described and includes electronic sensors to increase the detection range relative to the horizon detection limitations of a surface craft, an autogyro assembly to provide lift, and a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight. A forward motive force powers the autogyro assembly to provide lift. In an example, the autogyro assembly includes a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub for rotation to provide lift to the vehicle. In an example, an electrical motor rotates the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off. The electrical motor does not have enough power to sustain flight of the vehicle in an example.
Claims16
An air vehicle towed in flight by a towing vehicle, comprising:
- an unmanned flight body;
- a plurality of weight sensors configured to sense weight of the air vehicle;
- an autogyro assembly connected to the flight body;
- an electric motor-generator connected to provide mechanical power to the autogyro assembly in a motor mode and convert power from the autogyro assembly to electrical power in a generator mode;
- an actuator connected to the autogyro assembly that is actuated to move the location of the autogyro assembly relative to the flight body;
- and
- a controller programmed to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight, wherein the controller receives weight data provided the plurality of weight sensors, calculates a center of gravity associated with the towed air vehicle in response to the received weight data, and in response to the calculated center of gravity controls the actuator to change the location of the autogyro assembly in response to the received weight data.
An air vehicle towed in flight by a marine vessel, the air vehicle comprising:
- a flight body;
- a plurality of legs extending from the flight body to support the towed air vehicle when on the ground;
- a weight sensor attached to each of the plurality of legs for sensing weight loaded on each of the plurality of legs;
- an autogyro assembly connected to the flight body;
- wherein the autogyro assembly comprises:
- a mast,
- a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and
- a plurality of blades connected to the hub;
- an electric motor-generator connected to selectively provide motive force to the rotatable hub in a motor mode and generate electrical power from the rotatable hub in the generator mode;
- at least one actuator connected to the autogyro assembly to change the location of the autogyro assembly relative to the flight body;
- a controller programmed to control operation of the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight, wherein the controller receives weight data provided the plurality of weight sensors, calculates a center of gravity associated with the towed air vehicle in response to the received weight data, and in response to the calculated center of gravity is programmed to control the actuator to change the location of the autogyro assembly in response to the received weight data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.