Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation

Rapidflight Holdings, LLC

John Gundlach

Jacob S Allen

Francesco Giannini

Robert William Parks

Thomas Charles Clancy

Mark Drela

Adam Scott Ehrmantraut

Steven Petullo

Cayce Boone

Jean-Marie Bourven

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an additive manufactured airframe structure is described. This airframe structure can include a plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments coupled together along a longitudinal axis of the airframe structure. Each airframe segment can be monolithic and include an outer wall extending from a first end to a second end along the longitudinal axis. A coupling-element receiving channel can extend through the outer wall generally parallel to the longitudinal axis from a first coupling-channel opening at the first end to a second coupling-channel opening at the second end. A torsion-element receiving channel can also extend through the outer wall at a nonzero angle to the longitudinal axis from a first torsion-channel opening at the first end. A torsion reinforcement element can be received within the torsion-element receiving channel of each additive manufactured airframe segment.

Additive manufactured aircraft structure with reinforcements and method of making the same

An additive manufactured airframe structure includes a first additive manufactured fuselage segment including a first outer wall that extends in a normal direction from a first end to a second end, and also includes a plurality of reinforcement elements extending from the second end of, and away from, the first outer wall in the normal direction. The airframe structure also includes a second additive manufactured fuselage segment formed separately from the first additive manufactured fuselage segment and including a second outer wall that extends in the normal direction from a first end to a second end, and a plurality of receiving channels extending along the second outer wall. The plurality of reinforcement elements are received in the plurality of receiving channels and link together the first and second additive manufactured fuselage segments.

Additive manufactured airframe structure having a plurality of reinforcement elements

Additive manufactured airframe structure having a plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments operable to be linked together in an assembled direction. Each of the plurality of additive manufactured airframe segments are separate from one another in an unassembled configuration. Plurality of reinforcement elements operable to be received in a receiving portion of the plurality of airframe segments and extending through the plurality of airframe segments in a normal direction. Receiving portion is located on the interior of a respective one of the plurality of airframe segments.

The present invention's side-arm recovery system enables large Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) to operate from small vessels or from ground sites with a minimal footprint. The side-arm recovery system allows arresting an UAS independent of a runway. On the ground or on a ship, the system makes use of a specialized crane system that includes capture and energy absorption devices. A fuselage-mounted top hook snags a horizontal cable and the arresting forces act in the plane of symmetry through the central structure of the UAS. After the capture energy is absorbed, the recovery system safely lowers the aerial vehicle to a ground handling cart. The same system can be combined into a launcher and retriever system which further reduces the footprint by eliminating the need for a separate launcher.

Rail recovery system for aircraft

Top hook aircraft

A system and method for reducing the noise penalty of a pusher propeller, allowing an aircraft to retain its advantages for UAV configurations, while allowing acoustic performance similar to that of a tractor propeller by reducing, or eliminating, propeller noise emissions. The system and method provide an airfoil-shaped flight surface with (i) a scoop configured to route boundary layer air and associated wake from said flight surface, and (ii) a suction device configured to provide a suction pressure, wherein the scoop routes boundary layer air from the flight surface to the suction device via an opening in the flight surface.

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Manassas, VA, United States of America

John Gundlach