Richard L Chapman

US Patent:

20190329882, Oct 31, 2019

Filed:

Apr 26, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/395415

Inventors:

- Hunt Valley MD, US
David D. Billingsley - Seven Valleys PA, US
Brad S. Galloway - Seven Valleys PA, US
Richard M. Chapman - Madison WI, US
Daniel Thomas Otradovec - Forest Hill MD, US
Graham Schill - Upperco MD, US

International Classification:

B64C 29/00
B64C 27/08
B64C 27/26

Abstract:

An aircraft employs articulated, variable-position electric rotors having different operating configurations and transitions therebetween, as well as variable-pitch airfoils or blades, for generating vectored thrust in the different configurations. Control circuitry generates rotor position signals and blade pitch signals to independently control rotor thrust, rotor orientation and rotor blade pitch of the variable-position rotors in a manner providing (i) the transitions among the operating configurations for corresponding flight modes of the aircraft, which may include both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) mode as well as a forward-flight mode, and (ii) commanded thrust-vectoring maneuvering of the aircraft in the different configurations, including tailoring blade pitch to optimize aspects of aircraft performance.