Aircraft Attitude Control via Motor Speed Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vertical take-off and landing aircraft with electric motors and propellers face challenges in cost-efficiency, maintenance, and safety, particularly due to reliance on pilot control and potential failures of individual motors, which hinder safe and efficient operation for both people and cargo transport.
Innovation Solution
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft design featuring redundant electric motors and propellers arranged in a plane, with attitude control managed by attitude sensors and signal processing units that automatically adjust motor speeds to maintain a horizontal orientation without pilot input, utilizing brushless direct-current motors and a gear-less direct drive system, and a space framework structure for enhanced stability and weight reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If blade adjustment mechanisms are added to rotors for faster attitude control, then attitude control speed is improved, but construction expense and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical blade adjustment system with an electronic control system that varies the rotational speed of electric motors. Instead of mechanically changing blade angles, the system uses electronic speed control of multiple propellers to achieve attitude control, eliminating complex mechanical components while improving control responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter from static blade angle to dynamic rotational speed. By varying the rotational speed of individual propellers driven by electric motors, the system achieves fast attitude control without mechanical blade adjustment mechanisms, utilizing the rapid response capability of electric motor speed control.
2Reliability
If redundant electric motors are used to improve safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the propulsion system into multiple independent propeller-motor units arranged in a distributed configuration. Each unit operates independently, and the failure of one unit does not compromise the entire system. This segmentation approach provides inherent redundancy and fault tolerance without requiring complex backup systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically detects motor failures and redistributes the control burden to remaining functional motors. The electronic control system continuously monitors motor status and self-adjusts the operational parameters of remaining motors to maintain stable flight, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex mechanical redundancy systems.
3Ease of repair
If brushless direct-current motors with gear-less direct drive are used, then maintenance expense and wear are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical gear transmissions and replaces them with direct-drive electric motors. This substitution removes wear-prone mechanical components such as gears, belts, and chains, significantly reducing maintenance requirements. The direct-drive configuration, while requiring precise motor mounting, eliminates the need for complex transmission systems that would otherwise require regular maintenance.
4Force
If propellers are arranged in overlapping planes, then vertical take-off capability is achieved, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional overlapping propeller arrangement to a three-dimensional distributed configuration. Propellers are positioned at different spatial locations and orientations, creating a volumetric distribution that reduces aerodynamic interference while maintaining vertical thrust capability. This spatial redistribution eliminates the harmful wake interactions present in overlapping plane configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, low-maintenance, and safe aircraft capable of autonomous or remote-controlled operation, ensuring stable attitude control and increased cargo capacity with reduced weight and noise, while minimizing the risk of motor failures and eliminating the need for blade adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
brushless direct-current motors
Implementation Method 2
at least one attitude sensor is provided in active signal connection with at least one signal processing unit
Implementation Method 3
gear-less direct drive system
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (101) for transporting persons or loads, including a plurality of preferably equivalent and redundant electric motors (3) and propellers (2), substantially arranged in one surface, wherein each propeller is assigned an individual electric motor to drive the propeller, the aircraft being characterized in that at least one attitude sensor is provided for attitude control of the aircraft (101) in an active signal connection to at least one signal processing unit which is designed or set up to automatically perform the attitude control based on measurement data from the attitude sensor by regulating the speed of at least some of the electric motors (3), preferably with signal actions of the speed controller assigned to each electric motor such that the aircraft (101) is positioned in space with the surface defined by the propeller (2) substantially horizontal at all times, without control input by a pilot or a remote control.