Wisk Aero LLC

Kitty Hawk Corporation

Zee.aero Inc.

Launchpoint Technologies, Inc.

Geoffrey Alan Long

Lewis Romeo Hom

Robert Wayne Moore

Michael John Burgart

James Joseph Tighe

Uri Tzarnotzky

Diederik Marius

Jing Xue

Justin Char

Brian Robert Viele

Rui Gao

Pieter DePape

Khoichi Lawrence Takayama

Patrick Laughlin Kelly

Hongxia Chen

Laura Weeks Shane

Nathan Elliot Frank

Eric Allison

Bradley Evan Paden

Adam Berger

Ilan Kroo

Michael Richard Ricci

David Brian Paden

Brendan Kennelly

Jonathan Gordon Sugar

Chase Nichols

Tiago Silva

Arun Gowda

Rodin Lyasoff

Fernando Leite

Carlos Cardona

Calder Hughes

Marko Kalemkeris

Joshua Bender

Sumant Sharma

Andy Smith

Micheal John Burgart

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for reducing drag on an aircraft. The aircraft can include at least one propulsion system with rotor blades configured to reduce aerodynamic drag when the propulsion system is deactivated. To reduce the amount of drag, the rotor blades can be locked into an aerodynamic position, and prevented from passively spinning. Additionally, the rotor blades can be configured to have angular positions that reduce drag. For example, the rotor blades as a group may be configured to generally point toward and/or away from an airflow current.

Aerodynamic rotor blade configurations

Power distribution systems, battery packs, and batteries employ battery modules that are connected in series to generate a high-voltage output and in parallel to generate a low-voltage output. A battery includes battery modules and a direct current to direct current converter. The battery modules are electrically connected in series to generate a first battery high-voltage output. The battery modules are electrically connected in parallel to generate a battery modules low-voltage output. The direct current to direct current converter generates a battery low-voltage output from the battery modules low-voltage output.

Distributed low voltage power generation architecture for battery electrified aircraft

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and systems for providing electric power with individualized charging parameters to each battery in a multi-battery system. Electric power from the single power source can be distributed in a controlled and unequal manner. Custom charging parameters can be designed for each battery. The custom charging parameters can be determined based on battery metrics gathered for that battery, and can be designed to optimize for a number of suitable priorities, such as recharging speed and battery health. As a result, each battery can be recharged according to individual needs.

Multi-battery charging station which provides battery-specific charging parameters

A power distribution circuit for an electrically powered aircraft includes a plurality of batteries and a plurality of electric propulsion systems. A plurality of power distribution circuits each couple a battery of the plurality of batteries to two or more electric propulsion systems. The plurality of electric propulsion systems are positioned on the aircraft to apply balanced forces to the aircraft such that in the event of a failure, the aircraft remains stable and only experiences a loss in altitude or speed.

Power distribution circuits for electrically powered aircraft

An electrically powered vehicle comprises a DC bus and a plurality of batteries, each coupled in parallel to the DC bus. At least one switch is coupled in series between at least one battery of the plurality of batteries and the DC bus and a plurality of inverter circuits are each coupled in parallel to the DC bus. A plurality of motors are each coupled to a respective inverter circuit of the plurality of inverter circuits. In various embodiments the electrically powered vehicle further comprises a plurality of switches, each switch coupled in series between a respective battery of the plurality of batteries.

Redundant power distribution circuits for electric vehicles

Embodiments provide a propeller ground stop mechanism configured to keep an unpowered propeller of an aircraft (e.g. when the aircraft is on the ground and not operating) static. The propeller is prevented from rotating due to external forces (e.g. an air flow caused by wind, manual rotation of the propeller). When the propeller is powered, and the propeller is providing thrust, the propeller ground stop mechanism automatically disengages and does not provide any drag. Among various benefits, the propeller ground stop mechanism provides added safety to the ground support personnel.

Propeller ground stop mechanism

A system is disclosed to detect failure of a diode that is connected in series with a battery and a contactor or other switch configured to connect the battery to a load when the contactor or other switch is in a closed position and to isolate the battery from the load when the contactor or other switch is in an open position. In various embodiments, the system includes a high value resistor connected between the anode terminal of the diode and ground, the connection to the anode terminal being on a load side of the contactor or other switch; and a voltage meter configured to measure a voltage across the high value resistor at least during a test in which a voltage is applied to a bus associated with the load while the contactor or other switch is in the open position.

Battery diode fault monitoring

Embodiments provide mechanisms for coupling rotor blade pitch to propulsion system tilt angle in an aircraft, and more specifically in electric aircrafts. A system may include a tiltable propulsion system configured to move between a first tilt angle and a second tilt angle, wherein the tiltable propulsion system includes a plurality of rotor blades each configured to move between a first pitch position and a second pitch position; a tilting mechanism coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and configured to move the tiltable propulsion system between the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle; a pitching mechanism coupled to one or more of the plurality of rotor blades and configured to move one or more of the plurality of rotor blades between the first pitch position and the second pitch position; and an actuator configured to operate both the tilting mechanism and the pitching mechanism simultaneously.

Blade pitch coupled to propulsion system tilt

Electrically powered vehicles with redundant power distribution circuits employ inverters and a multi-phase alternating current (AC) motor. An electrically powered vehicle includes batteries, inverters, interphase transformers, and a three-phase AC motor. Each of the inverters generates a three-phase AC input from power supplied by an associated one of the batteries. The interphase transformers generate drive phases for the AC motor from the three-phase AC inputs generated by the inverters.

Electrically powered vehicles with redundant power distribution circuits

A power distribution circuit for an electrically powered aircraft includes a plurality of batteries and a plurality of electric propulsion systems. A plurality of isolated power distribution circuits each couple a battery of the plurality of batteries to two or more electric propulsion systems. The plurality of electric propulsion systems are positioned on the aircraft to apply balanced forces to the aircraft such that in the event of a failure, the aircraft remains stable and only experiences a loss in altitude or speed.

Embodiments provide a compact vertiport system. The vertiport system may be efficient and compact by combining, into one space and time period, multiple activities that typically take place in different spaces and different times. For example, when an aircraft is being moved from a landing zone to a takeoff zone, the aircraft may also be charged simultaneously. Also, passenger exchange may take place while the aircraft is being moved. As a result, compact vertiport systems may fit into smaller spaces (e.g., tops of buildings, or smaller plots of land).

Compact vertiport with efficient space utilization

Embodiments provide scissoring mechanisms for a vertical lift fan of an electric aircraft (e.g., a vertical take-off-landing eVTOL aircraft) where the blades of the vertical lift fan can be opened at almost zero speed. Exemplary scissoring mechanisms have position locking features that keep the collapsed blades in the low drag orientation once closed (e.g., in the stowed position). As a result, the scissoring mechanisms do not cause large impulses during opening and closing that cause large stresses and noise. In addition, the scissoring mechanisms provide an opportunity to check that the fans are opened properly prior to spinning them to the full operating speed. The scissoring mechanisms may not require an extra actuator, and rely on the propulsion motor.

Scissoring mechanisms deploying at low speed

Techniques described here provide a rotor and a method of making a rotor. In an embodiment, a method of making a rotor includes forming a magnet array by assembling a plurality of magnets into the magnet array, providing pre-preg adjacent to the magnet array, co-curing the magnet array with the pre-preg, and magnetizing the magnet array subsequent to the formation of the magnet array.

Method of rotor production including co-curing and magnetization in place

Growing community of inventors

Montara, CA, United States of America

Geoffrey Alan Long