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US 9,975,448 B2Granted
Control of translating hover engines to obtain zero drag
AssigneeArx Pax Labs, Inc.
InventorsDavid P. Olynick, D. Gregory Henderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electromechanical systems using magnetic fields to induce eddy currents and generate lift are described. Magnet configurations which can be employed in the systems are illustrated. The magnet configuration can be used to generate lift and/or thrust. Arrangements of hover engines, which can employ the magnet configurations, are described. Methods of controlling translating hover engines to operate at a zero drag condition are described.
Claims22
A device comprising:
- a hover engine having,
- an electric motor including a winding, a first set of permanent magnets and a first structure which holds the first permanent magnets wherein an electric current is applied to the winding to cause one of the winding or the first set of permanent magnets to rotate;
- a second structure, configured to receive a rotational torque from the electric motor to rotate the second structure,
- the second structure holding a second set of permanent magnets wherein the second set of permanent magnets are rotated to induce eddy currents in a substrate such that the induced eddy currents and the second set of permanent magnets interact to generate forces which cause the device to hover above the substrate;
- a control system coupled to the hover engine configured to determine a translation velocity of the device and control a rotation rate of the hover engine to output approximately zero magnetic forces in a translational direction of the translational velocity.
2 more elements
A method of controlling a translating hover engine comprising:
- receiving a translational velocity including a translation direction;
- controlling a rotation rate of a set of permanent magnets in the hover engine to output approximately zero magnetic forces in the translational direction when the hover engine is translating at the translational velocity;
- wherein the set of permanent are rotated to induce eddy currents in a substrate such that the induced eddy currents and the set of permanent magnets interact to generate forces which cause the hover engine to hover above the substrate and
- wherein the set of permanent magnets rotate in a plane which is approximately parallel to a top surface of the substrate adjacent to the set of permanent magnets.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.