Articulating eVTOL Wing and Boom Layout for Skyport-Free Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic congestion is worsening due to the increasing number of vehicles on roads, and existing solutions like self-driving vehicles and sky taxis require significant infrastructure and are not efficient for all destinations, limiting their effectiveness in reducing congestion.
Innovation Solution
A transportation system using an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with active leaning suspensions and ground vehicles that can transport payloads, allowing for efficient vertical and horizontal flight transitions and personal vehicle ownership, doubling lane capacity on roads, and enabling direct travel to remote destinations without extensive skyport infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sky taxis with fixed occupancy requirements are used, then air travel between metropolitan centers is enabled, but infrastructure costs increase and destination limitations are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the transportation function by separating the aircraft from the infrastructure. Instead of requiring fixed skyports for each aircraft, the patent enables vehicles to serve as mobile infrastructure nodes, carrying their own charging and communication equipment. This segmentation allows aircraft to operate independently of permanent ground infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes vehicles universal by enabling them to function both as ground transportation and as mobile air traffic infrastructure. Vehicles can serve as charging stations, communication nodes, and even carry passengers, eliminating the need for dedicated skyports and expanding destination accessibility to any location with road access.
2Productivity
If self-driving vehicles are introduced to coordinate traffic, then traffic fluidity is optimized, but the number of vehicles on roads remains unchanged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions transportation from two-dimensional ground travel to three-dimensional air travel. By enabling vertical takeoff and landing, the system utilizes the vertical dimension to move vehicles between locations, effectively removing them from road traffic entirely while maintaining coordination through the same communication infrastructure.
3Productivity
If eVTOL aircraft transport ground vehicles, then lane capacity is doubled, but aircraft design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic configurations where the aircraft can adapt its payload capacity and operational mode based on demand. The system can transport entire vehicles, individual passengers, or cargo, and can switch between vertical takeoff for short distances and horizontal flight for longer routes, optimizing performance for each specific mission.
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 eVTOL system reduces road congestion by doubling lane capacity and enables efficient travel to various destinations, including remote areas, without the need for extensive skyport infrastructure, using scalable aircraft design and active leaning suspensions for ground vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
A rotor assembly is positioned above the payload connector and includes rotor blades that can rotate to generate lift and thrust
Implementation Method 2
Upper wings and lower wings can be deployed to generate lift during horizontal flight
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft has a boom, a propulsion assembly coupled to a first end of the boom, and at least one articulating wing extending from the boom. The propulsion assembly can be coupled to the boom by a rotating joint. The wing(s) can be coupled to the boom by one or more rotating joints. The boom houses an energy source to power the propulsion assembly. In flight, the wing(s) is/are configured to move between a first position, wherein the wing(s) is/are folded substantially parallel with the boom, and a second position, wherein the wing(s) is/are unfolded from the boom and oriented substantially perpendicular to the boom so as to generate lift when the aircraft is in at least one of the vertical flight mode or the horizontal flight mode.