Reconfigurable unmanned aircraft system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016272310-A1
Application number	US-201414560606-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A reconfigurable unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. A system and method for configuring a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft and system and method for operation and management of a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft in an airspace are also disclosed. The aircraft is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics. The aircraft comprises a set of rotors. The position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of translation of the rotor relative to the boom, pivoting of the boom relative to the base, and translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base. A method of configuring an aircraft having a set of rotors on a mission to carry a payload comprises the steps of determining properties of the payload including at least mass properties, determining the manner in which the payload will be coupled to the aircraft, determining configuration for each of the rotors in the set of rotors at least partially in consideration of the properties of the payload, and positioning the set of rotors in the configuration for the aircraft to perform the mission.

First claim

1 . An aircraft for unmanned flight that is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics comprising:
(a) a base; (b) a first rotor on a first boom coupled to the base; (c) a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base; (d) a third rotor on a third boom coupled to the base; wherein position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom; (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base; (3) translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration and reconfiguration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base.

2 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein position of the rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (4) retraction of the boom relative to the base; (5) pivoting of the rotor relative to the boom; (6) raising the height of the boom relative to the base; (7) lowering the height of the boom relative to the base; (8) rotation of the rotor relative to boom; and (9) rotation of the boom relative to the base.

3 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the base comprises at least one of a reference point for determining rotor position, a structure, a frame, an attachment point for an article such as payload, a power plant, energy storage for powering a rotor, and a center of mass.

10 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein at least one boom comprises at least one of an arm, a member, and a space frame.

20 - 31 . (canceled)

32 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein flight characteristics comprise at least one of aerodynamic profile, maneuverability, available thrust, available lift, energy consumption, energy efficiency, mass, mass properties, center of mass, center of gravity, balance point, stability, controllability, control axes, maximum relative ground velocity, maximum relative air speed, ascent rate, descent rate, sink rate, flight altitude, aerodynamic drag, number of operational rotors, control system type, equipment status.

33 - 36 . (canceled)

37 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein flight characteristics can be modified at least one of in response to operating conditions for a mission and at a time a payload is associated with a base of the aircraft.

38 . The aircraft of claim 37 wherein operating conditions for a mission comprise at least one of operability of each rotor, energy storage capacity, remaining energy storage, payload profile, payload mass, payload type, payload shape, payload size, payload changes, route, altitude, traffic, weather conditions, weather effects, wind velocity, wind direction, distance of mission, remaining distance of mission, time for mission, remaining time for mission, fuel storage capacity, remaining fuel, energy storage capacity, remaining stored energy.

39 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the aircraft comprises a power plant to operate each rotor and energy storage for the power plant, the power plant and energy storage comprising at least one of an electric motor and a battery system, respectively, and an engine and fuel, respectively.

40 - 41 . (canceled)

42 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein a payload is at least one of supportable with the base, securable to the base, containable within the base, attachable to the base, externally mountable to the base, supportable under the base, positionable under the base, and securable on the base.

43 - 51 . (canceled)

52 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein at least one boom comprises at least one of a robotic arm and an adjustable boom.

53 - 54 . (canceled)

55 . The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a control system for configuring rotor position and a control system comprising a first system configured to change in rotor rotational speed and a second system configured to change rotor position.

56 . The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring system for at least one of operating conditions and each rotor.

57 - 69 . (canceled)

70 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein a change in rotor position relative to the base comprises at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom; (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base; (3) translation of the boom relative to the base; (4) retraction of the boom relative to the base; (5) pivoting of the rotor relative to the boom; (6) raising the height of the boom relative to the base; (7) lowering the height of the boom relative to the base; (8) rotation of rotor relative to boom; and (9) rotation of the boom relative to the base.

71 - 77 . (canceled)

78 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the reconfiguration of position of at least one rotor can be performed at least one of before operation of the aircraft in response to at least one of anticipated operating conditions, desired flight characteristics, and a payload, and during operation of the aircraft in response to at least one of disability of a rotor, anticipated disability of a rotor, malfunction of a rotor, and changed performance of a rotor.

79 - 85 . (canceled)

86 . The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one of disability of a rotor and malfunction of a rotor.

87 - 91 . (canceled)

92 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the reconfiguration of position of at least one rotor is at least one of a commandable change upon detection of a potential malfunction, a commandable change upon detection of an actual malfunction, occurable over time to allow gradual response to a gradually developing malfunction, performable during operation in response to changed flight characteristics, performable during operation to modify flight dynamics, performable during operation to modify dray, performable during operation to reduce energy use, performable during operation to improve performance, performable during operation to increase maximum velocity, performable during operation to counteract weather effects, and performable during operation to balance mass properties of the aircraft.

93 - 95 . (canceled)

96 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein at least one rotor is at least one of configured with adjustable vanes and configured to modify pitch.

97 - 107 . (canceled)

108 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the boom comprises at least one of a pivoting member, a translating member, a pivoting and translating member, a boom attached to the base by a coupling, a boom directly coupled to the base, a first member and a second member movable relative to the first member, an articulable arm, a robotic arm, and a boom that is repositionable relative to the base.

109 - 114 . (canceled)

115 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the base is includes at least one of a structure, a frame, and a frame member.

116 - 127 . (canceled)

128 . The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the rotor is at least one of repositionable relative to the boom, coupled to the boom by a joint, movable inward along the boom, movable outward along the boom, extendable and retractable on the boom, a rotor that includes a set of blades rotating on an axis, and an adjustable pitch rotor.

129 - 137 . (canceled)

138 . The aircraft of claim 1 wher

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Chan Alistair K
• Cheatham Iii Jesse R
• Chin Hon Wah
• Duncan William David
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Pan Tony S
• Petroski Robert C
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Tuckerman David B
• Weaver Thomas Allan
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title

• B64C2201/042

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C2201/165

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64D1/00

  Dropping, ejecting, releasing or receiving articles, liquids, or the like, in flight (refuelling during flight B64D39/00; launching apparatus for projecting projectiles or missiles F41F1/00, F41F7/00; rocket or torpedo launchers F41F3/00; weapon sights or aiming F41G) · CPC title

• B64C27/54

  Mechanisms for controlling blade adjustment or movement relative to rotor head, e.g. lag-lead movement · CPC title