Title:
VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AERIAL VEHICLE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2003004353
Kind Code:
A9
Abstract:
An aerial vehicle including a toroidal fuselage having a longitudinal axis, and a duct extending along the longitudinal axis between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the fuselage, first and second counter-rotating, variable pitch rotor assemblies coaxially mounted within the duct of the fuselage, and at least one canard wing secured to the toroidal fuselage and having a leading edge positioned out of the duct of the fuselage and axially forward of the leading edge of the fuselage, wherein at least a portion of the canard wing comprises a control surface having a variable angle of attack. The invention provides an aerial vehicle that can take-off and land vertically, hover for extended periods of time over a fixed spatial point, and operate in confined areas. The aerial vehicle also has the ability to transition between a hover and high speed forward flight.
Inventors:
PLUMP JOHN M
GUPTA NEIL R
GUPTA NEIL R
Application Number:
PCT/US2002/021604
Publication Date:
April 10, 2003
Filing Date:
July 08, 2002
Export Citation:
Assignee:
DRAPER LAB CHARLES S (US)
International Classes:
B64C29/02; B64C39/02; B64C39/06; (IPC1-7): B64C/
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