The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 09, 2025

Filed:

Oct. 16, 2023
Applicants:

Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US);

United States of America As Represented BY the Administrator of Nasa, Washington, DC (US);

Inventors:

Brian Joseph German, Atlanta, GA (US);

Daniel Sagan, Atlanta, GA (US);

Jason R. Welstead, Atlanta, GA (US);

Siena K. S. Bennett, Hampton, VA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 27/28 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B64C 27/26 (2006.01); B64C 27/78 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 27/28 (2013.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B64C 27/26 (2013.01); B64C 27/78 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64D 2221/00 (2013.01);
Abstract

A vertical take-off or landing (VTOL) aircraft is disclosed that includes a propulsion system comprising at least four tilting propulsion assemblies and two or more lifting propulsion assemblies. Actuation of the tilting mechanisms can convert the aircraft from a hover configuration, in which all propellers produce thrust generally upward to counteract the aircraft's weight, to a forward flight configuration, in which the four or more tilting propellers produce thrust generally in a forward direction parallel to the fuselage to overcome drag in cruise flight and the lifting propellers produce no thrust or a level of thrust generally less than that required in the hover configuration.


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