Multicopter with boom-mounted rotors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10669018-B2
Application number	US-201816209817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2018
Priority date	Aug 26, 2016
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A multicopter with boom mounted rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter includes multiple rotors, each mounted substantially horizontally on a distal end of a boom. The multicopter further includes a plurality of boom extensions, each boom extension being associated with a corresponding boom and each boom extension being configured to extend an associated distal end of said corresponding boom by an amount determined based at least in part on a swept area associated with a rotor mounted at or near said associated distal end. The multicopter includes a material, such as netting, secured to the aircraft and of a size sufficient to reach a far end of one or more of said boom extensions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multicopter aircraft, comprising:
multiple rotors, each mounted substantially horizontally on a distal end of a boom; and
a plurality of removable boom extensions, each boom extension being associated with a corresponding boom and each boom extension being configured to extend an associated distal end of said corresponding boom by an amount determined based at least in part on a swept area associated with a rotor mounted at or near said associated distal end, wherein the boom extensions are adapted to receive a material extended over the booms to provide a barrier between an occupant of said aircraft and the multiple rotors.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising the material, wherein the material extends over a far end of at least one of the boom extensions to separate the occupant from the multiple rotors.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the material extends over swept areas associated with the multiple rotors.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft has a length of 100 inches or less.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the multiple rotors surround a fuselage of the aircraft.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein a fuselage of the aircraft comprises a seat and a steering mechanism.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising a flight computer configured to prevent the aircraft from tilting past a threshold angle.

8. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising two parallel booms and two booms perpendicular to the two parallel booms, wherein the two parallel booms are attached to the two perpendicular booms.

9. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising two parallel booms and two booms perpendicular to the two parallel booms, wherein a fuselage is enclosed by the two parallel booms and the two perpendicular booms.

10. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein in the event a rotor of the multiple rotors ceases to function, the remaining rotors of the multiple rotors are sufficient to fly the aircraft in a level position.

11. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein pairs of rotors of the multiple rotors rotate in opposite directions from each other to minimize torque.

12. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the multiple rotors are angled to enhance torque in directional flight.

13. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising a fuselage with a triangulated frame that prevents or reduces twisting.

14. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein a fuselage of the aircraft is unenclosed.

15. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is optimized to fly over water.

16. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises flotation devices.

17. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises flotation devices that are attached underneath junctures of booms of the aircraft.

18. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising flotation devices filled with air.

19. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising flotation devices having curved ends.

20. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising flotation devices that are curved to minimize interference with the multiple rotors' wash.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Longhi Aldo Daniele
• Reichert Todd
• Robertson Cameron
• Roop Joseph
• Saunders Christopher Scott
• Vawter Zachais

Classifications

• B64C2201/027

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C25/54 Primary

  Floats · CPC title

• B64C27/08 Primary

  with two or more rotors · CPC title

• B64C13/18

  using automatic pilot · CPC title

• B64C2025/325

  specially adapted for helicopters · CPC title