Drone Flight Mode Patents: Multi-Modal UAVs That Can Switch Modes of Operation

A multi-modal unmanned vehicle that can transform its shape and body configuration to realize different forms of mobility and navigate unstructured environments. It can fly, roll, crawl, balance, tumble, scout, and loco-manipulate objects by changing between unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and unmanned aerial system (UAS) modes. The vehicle has a transformable chassis and legs with wheels and propellers that can be actuated to transition between modes.

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A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can operate in the air, on land, and in water. The UAV has lift propellers for vertical flight, a cabin for cargo/passengers, and a water propulsion system at the rear to push the cabin when partially immersed. This allows the UAV to takeoff/land vertically on water like a seaplane, fly in the air like a regular UAV, and also drive on land using wheels. The amphibious capability comes from the rear water propeller and cabin-mounted wheels.

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An unmanned aerial/ground hybrid vehicle that can convert between aerial and ground modes using the same actuator. The vehicle has a rotor that can pivot between a vertical position for flying and a horizontal position to drive on the ground. The rotor is mounted on a shaft that can rotate to transition between the two positions. A locking mechanism holds the rotor in place once transitioned. The same motor powers the rotor in both modes. A tilting mechanism actuated by a servo motor moves the rotor between positions.

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Asymmetric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) with simplified and efficient transition between hovering and forward flight modes. The UAV has an asymmetrical configuration with one main wing a smaller intersecting wing, and three sets of propellers along the wings. The propellers are arranged to generate torque-free roll and yaw moments during transition. The unique wing and propeller arrangement allows a simple and fast transition between modes while providing stable flight and control in all orientations.

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A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of transitioning from vertical to horizontal flight configurations for improved efficiency and ease of use compared to traditional aircraft. The aircraft has multiple rotors on the main and vertical wings that can adjust speed and pitch independently to provide complete control and rotation about any axis. It uses electric motors for propulsion and a flight control system that allows semi-autonomous flight with simple directional commands. This allows the aircraft to take off and land vertically like a helicopter but transition to horizontal flight like a fixed-wing aircraft for faster speeds and longer range.

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VTOL aircraft design that can transition between vertical takeoff/landing and efficient forward flight modes, enabling runway-free operation with high-speed capabilities. The aircraft features M-shaped wings with forward and backward-swept portions and tilt-rotor propulsion. This allows it to generate lift from thrust vectors in VTOL mode and from the wings in forward flight mode. The tilting rotors provide thrust vectoring for vertical lift and thrust, while the swept wings generate lift in horizontal flight.

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Convertible aircraft that can transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes. The aircraft has two wings with segments that can translate and rotate to change the configuration. When flying horizontally, the wing segments are aligned with the fuselage. For vertical flight, the segments move apart and rotate 90 degrees. Engine pods on the wing segments also rotate to maintain thrust direction. This allows the aircraft to switch between modes without requiring complex mechanisms.

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A morphing wing design for aircraft like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enables rapid transition between high maneuverability and high-speed flight modes. The wing pivots at the aircraft body and rotates the outer section downward and inward. This reduces lift and drag compared to the extended position. The pivoting wing shape creates a fluid channel under it for lift generation. The morphing wing allows quick changes between low-drag configurations for fast dives/climbs and high-lift configurations for slow flight. This provides enhanced maneuverability and speed for applications like counter-UAS.

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An aircraft rotor system has a reconfigurable duct that can be closed or opened to enclose or expose the rotor blades. The duct has a movable portion that can collapse or unfold. In one configuration, the movable duct piece surrounds the rotor blades for increased thrust. In another configuration, the movable duct piece moves away from the rotor blades to reduce drag. This allows the duct to be optimized for hover or cruise modes by enclosing the rotor for vertical thrust and opening it for horizontal flight. The duct reconfiguration is coordinated with the tilt of the tiltrotor aircraft to align the rotor thrust direction.

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An aircraft that can switch between a fixed wing flight mode and a rotor flight mode by rotating the wings and fuselage. It has a fuselage with a rotating section containing wings that can rotate about their spars. The wings have engines mounted at positions between 20% and 75% of the semi-span. Actuators are coupled to the wings' spars to rotate them. The fuselage section with the rotating wings can rotate around the longitudinal axis.

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