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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 25, 2016
Filed:
Aug. 13, 2014
The United States of America As Represented BY the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
William J. Fredericks, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Mark D. Moore, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Ronald C. Busan, Newport News, VA (US);
Paul M. Rothhaar, Newport News, VA (US);
David D. North, Williamsburg, VA (US);
William M. Langford, Hampton, VA (US);
Christopher T. Laws, Newport News, VA (US);
William T. Hodges, Yorktown, VA (US);
Zachary R. Johns, Virginia Beach, VA (US);
Sandy R. Webb, Hampton, VA (US);
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are provided that combine an advance vehicle configuration, such as an advanced aircraft configuration, with the infusion of electric propulsion, thereby enabling a four times increase in range and endurance while maintaining a full vertical takeoff and landing ('VTOL') and hover capability for the vehicle. Embodiments may provide vehicles with both VTOL and cruise efficient capabilities without the use of ground infrastructure. An embodiment vehicle may comprise a wing configured to tilt through a range of motion, a first series of electric motors coupled to the wing and each configured to drive an associated wing propeller, a tail configured to tilt through the range of motion, a second series of electric motors coupled to the tail and each configured to drive an associated tail propeller, and an electric propulsion system connected to the first series of electric motors and the second series of electric motors.