18538179. AERIAL VEHICLES, COOPERATIVE FLYING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME simplified abstract (The Boeing Company)

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AERIAL VEHICLES, COOPERATIVE FLYING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME

Organization Name

The Boeing Company

Inventor(s)

Gary E. Georgeson of Tacoma WA (US)

Joseph L. Hafenrichter of Seattle WA (US)

AERIAL VEHICLES, COOPERATIVE FLYING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18538179 titled 'AERIAL VEHICLES, COOPERATIVE FLYING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an aerial vehicle with coaxial rotors that can transition between horizontal and vertical flight states by controlling the thrust produced by the rotors.

  • The aerial vehicle includes a wing body, first and second wingtips, first and second edges, and a pair of coaxial rotors that rotate in opposite directions.
  • A drive assembly rotates the coaxial rotors, and a controller selectively controls the thrust produced by the rotors to induce pitch motion for transitioning between flight states.
  • In horizontal flight, the collective thrust is directed forward, while in vertical flight, the collective thrust is directed upward.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in the development of versatile aerial vehicles for various purposes such as surveillance, transportation, and search and rescue operations.

Problems Solved

This innovation solves the problem of limited maneuverability in traditional aerial vehicles by enabling seamless transition between horizontal and vertical flight states.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include increased agility, improved control, and enhanced versatility in aerial operations.

Potential Commercial Applications

A potential commercial application of this technology could be in the drone industry for creating advanced drones capable of performing a wide range of tasks efficiently.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be the development of tiltrotor aircraft, which also have the capability to transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology impact energy efficiency in aerial vehicles?

This article does not address the specific energy efficiency implications of the described technology. Further research is needed to determine the impact on energy consumption and efficiency.

What are the safety considerations associated with transitioning between flight states?

The article does not delve into the safety aspects of transitioning between flight states. It would be essential to explore potential safety risks and mitigation strategies in future studies.


Original Abstract Submitted

An aerial vehicle includes a wing body, a first wingtip, a second wingtip, a first edge, and a second edge. The aerial vehicle includes a pair of coaxial rotors configured to rotate in opposite rotational directions about a vehicle axis and a drive assembly configured to rotate the coaxial rotors. A controller is configured to selectively control thrust produced by the coaxial rotors. Selective control of the thrust produced by the coaxial rotors induces a pitch motion of the aerial vehicle to transition between a horizontal flight state and a vertical flight state. In the horizontal flight state, a collective thrust from the coaxial rotors is directed forward. In the vertical flight state, the collective thrust from the coaxial rotors is directed upward.