Amazon Technologies, Inc.

David Moro Ludena

Cyriel Notteboom

James Thomas

Christopher Gornall

Michael Daniel Piedmonte

Vedran Coralic

Ubaldo Bova

An aerial vehicle may include adjustable shrouds to selectively provide protection for propellers of the aerial vehicle. The adjustable shrouds may be moved to an extended configuration around a periphery of one or more propellers during generally vertical flight or hovering operations, when delivery a payload, and/or upon detecting objects in proximity. Likewise, the adjustable shrouds may be moved to a retracted configuration that eliminates or minimizes adverse aerodynamic effects during generally horizontal flight operations, when operating at high altitude, and/or upon detecting no objects in proximity. The adjustable shrouds may include various designs, such as fan shrouds, telescoping shrouds, folding shrouds, and deployable arm shrouds.

Adjustable shrouds for propeller safety

Various mechanisms for adjusting pitches of propeller blades are described. For example, the pitch adjustment mechanism may include a propeller hub enclosing a geared mechanism that cooperates with a compound gearbox having first and second planetary stages to adjust pitches of propeller blades. Alternatively, the pitch adjustment mechanism may include a propeller hub enclosing a pitch adjustment assembly that utilizes tension cables and torsion springs, or rack-and-pinion structures, to adjust pitches of propeller blades. Using any of the various mechanisms, the pitches of propeller blades may be rotated at least 90 degrees, and up to and exceeding 360 degrees, in order to effect thrust reversals and/or adjust thrust profiles.

Variable pitch mechanisms for propeller blades using a compound gearbox

Aerial vehicles may be equipped with propellers having pivotable blades that are configured to rotate when the propellers are not rotating under power. A pivotable blade may rotate about an axis of a propeller with respect to a hub until the pivotable blade is coaligned with a fixed blade. When the propeller is rotating, a lifting force from the blade may cause the blade to rotate to a deployed position that is not coaligned with the fixed blade.

Deployable propeller blades for aerial vehicles

An aerial vehicle having a single wing is configured for vertical-flight and forward-flight operations. The wing has a substantially high aspect ratio. The aerial vehicle includes tilt motor assemblies disposed at a forward end and an aft end of a fuselage. The tilt motor assemblies are configured to orient motors and rotors vertically, horizontally, or at any angle between vertical and horizontal. A pair of parallel booms are mounted beneath the wing on either side of the fuselage. Each of the booms has at least one vertically oriented motor and rotor associated therewith, and a vertical fin extending thereunder. Additionally, a forward tilt motor assembly includes a rotatable extension that is deployed when the motor assembly is configured for vertical flight, enabling the aerial vehicle to land on the vertical fins and the landing rotatable extension.

Versatile multirotor aerial vehicles

An aerial vehicle may include adjustable configurations to selectively provide protection for propellers of the aerial vehicle. Portions of the wing and/or the tail plane of the aerial vehicle may be reconfigured to an extended configuration around a periphery of one or more propellers during generally vertical flight or hovering operations, when delivery a payload, and/or upon detecting objects in proximity. Likewise, the portions of the wing and/or the tail plane may be reconfigured to a retracted configuration that eliminates or minimizes adverse aerodynamic effects during generally horizontal flight operations, when operating at high altitude, and/or upon detecting no objects in proximity. During the reconfiguration, portions of the leading edge of the wing may be extended or retracted, and/or portions of the tail plane may be extended, retracted, and/or rotated.

Adjustable configurations for aerial vehicle safety

Variable pitch mechanisms for propeller blades using linear actuation

Aerial vehicles may be equipped with propellers having pivotable blades that are configured to rotate when the propellers are not rotating under power. A pivotable blade may rotate about an axis of a propeller with respect to a hub until the pivotable blade is coaligned with a fixed blade. When the propeller is rotating a lifting force from the blade may cause the blade to rotate to a deployed position that is not coaligned with the fixed blade.

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Madrid, Spain

David Moro Ludena