DUCTED OBLIQUE-ROTOR VTOL VEHICLE

摘要

The present invention is a winged VTOL aircraft of novel configuration that utilizes a single-axis rotor mounted at an oblique angle within a forward-facing, bifurcating duct, that is controlled by a plurality of servo driven vanes, producing a mechanically simple, redundantly controlled vehicle that can carry cargo, people, or otherwise, directly from point to point. The configuration uses sets of vanes to produce both moments and forces referenced around the vehicle's center of gravity, thereby, allowing the vehicle to translate in a level position, or stay stationary relative to the ground while at a slight pitch or roll attitude. This feature is very important for autonomous vehicles to accurately pick up and drop off payloads on unlevel terrain or in windy conditions. Other rotor vehicles require pitch or roll attitude to translate or compensate for wind. Complementing this vehicle's mechanically simple rotor system is a novel mechanism that collectively drives the pitch of the rotor blades by combining the input from three separate servos. Each servo can be controlled by redundant fight control systems.

主权项

1. A vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, comprising:
a. a rotor mounted to said vehicle with spin axis at oblique angle between said vehicle's forward and vertical axis as means of accelerating air to provide lift and propulsion; b. a duct with an inlet facing forward as means for directing air into said rotor and directing air downward and directing air aft; c. a plurality of vertical exit vanes near bottom of said vehicle as means for controlling said vehicle; d. a plurality of aft exit vanes near aft end of said vehicle as means for controlling said vehicle during, and transition to and from, horizontal flight mode; e. said duct contains a left-hand vertical duct exit and a right-hand vertical duct exit, separated laterally and both extending longitudinally along bottom of said vehicle as means of directing air downward and as means of mounting said vertical exit vanes; f. said duct contains an aft duct exit as means of directing air aft for propulsion and as means of mounting said aft exit vanes.