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US 9,610,817 B1Granted
Modular and morphable air vehicle
OwnerJohn W. Piasecki, Frederick W. Piasecki +3inventors
InventorsJohn W. Piasecki, Frederick W. Piasecki, Brian Geiger, Douglas Johnson, David Pitcairn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unmanned air module includes one or more rotors, engines, a transmission and avionics. Any of several different ground modules may be attached to the air module. The air module may fly with and without the ground module attached. The ground module may be manned. The air module may have two rotors, which may be ducted fans. The air module may include a parachute, an airbag and landing gear.
Claims19
A personal air vehicle apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a. an air module, said air module being unmanned;
- b. a first rotor and a second rotor operably attached to said air module, said first rotor having a first rotor axis of rotation, said second rotor having a second rotor axis of rotation, said first and second rotor axes of rotation being selectably tiltable about an axis of rotor tilt between a horizontal position and a vertical position;
- c. a ground module, said ground module and said air module being configured to be selectably attached one to the other, said first and second rotors in combination being configured to support said ground module and said air module in a flight when said ground module and said air module are attached, said first and second rotors in combination being configured to support said air module in said flight when said ground module and said air module are not attached;
- d. a first circular duct surrounding a periphery of said first rotor;
- e. a second circular duct surrounding said periphery of said second rotor, said first rotor in combination with said first circular duct defining a first ducted fan, said second rotor in combination with said second circular duct defining a second ducted fan, said first circular duct and said second circular duct defining a first and a second circular wing, said first and said second circular wings providing a lift to said air module when said air module is flying and said first and second rotor axes of rotation are in said horizontal position;
- f. a control system, said control system being configured to detect an aircraft condition of said air module during flight;
- g. a ballistic parachute configured to lower said air module or said ground module to a ground, said control system being configured to trigger said ballistic parachute if said control system detects said aircraft condition.
4 more elements
A personal air vehicle apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a. an air module;
- b. at least one rotary wing operably attached to said air module, said at least one rotary wing comprises a first rotor and a second rotor, said first rotor having a first rotor axis of rotation, said second rotor having a second rotor axis of rotation, said first and second rotor axes of rotation being selectably tiltable about an axis of rotor tilt between a horizontal position and a vertical position;
- c. a ground module, said ground module and said air module being configured to be selectably attached one to the other, said at least one rotary wing being configured to support said ground module and said air module in a flight when said ground module and said air module are attached, said rotary wing being configured to support said air module in said flight when said ground module and said air module are not attached;
- d. a first circular duct surrounding a periphery of said first rotor;
- e. a second circular duct surrounding said periphery of said second rotor, said first rotor in combination with said first circular duct defining a first ducted fan, said second rotor in combination with said second circular duct defining a second ducted fan, said first circular duct and said second circular duct defining a first and a second circular wing, said first and said second circular wings providing a lift to said air module when said air module is flying and said first and second rotor axes of rotation are in said horizontal position;
- f. a first wing extension and a second wing extension, said first wing extension being attached to said first circular duct, said second wing extension being attached to said second circular duct, said first and second wing extensions providing said lift to said air module when said air module is flying with said first and second rotor axes of rotation are in said horizontal position;
- g. a control system, said control system being configured to detect an aircraft condition of said air module during flight;
- h. a ballistic parachute configured to lower said air module or said ground module to a ground, said control system being configured to trigger said ballistic parachute if said control system detects said aircraft condition.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.