Hybrid Multirotor Motor Autorotation for Flight Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric multirotor aircraft are limited by battery capacity, restricting flight distance and requiring additional weight from generators for in-flight charging, which affects efficiency and increases weight.
Innovation Solution
Hybrid multirotor vehicles with a fuel-burning thruster and electric motors that operate in dual modes: driving rotors for takeoff and autorotating with regenerative braking to charge batteries during flight, optimizing rotor speed and drag for extended flight capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If battery capacity is increased to extend flight distance, then flight duration is improved, but aircraft weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed to perform dual functions: driving the rotor during takeoff and propulsion phases, and generating electrical energy through regenerative braking during flight. This merging of propulsion and power generation functions eliminates the need for separate generators and reduces overall aircraft weight while extending flight duration through in-flight battery recharging
Solution Approach 2:
The motor serves multiple purposes throughout the flight cycle - it acts as a propulsion motor during takeoff and forward flight, and as a generator during autorotation phases to charge the battery. This multi-functionality allows the same component to contribute to both movement and energy storage, resolving the weight-duration tradeoff
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate generator is added to charge batteries during flight, then in-flight charging capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed to perform dual functions: driving the rotor during takeoff and propulsion phases, and generating electrical energy through regenerative braking during flight. This merging of propulsion and power generation functions eliminates the need for separate generators and reduces overall aircraft weight while extending flight duration through in-flight battery recharging
Solution Approach 2:
The motor generates electrical energy during autorotation phases to recharge the battery, allowing the system to self-sustain and extend flight duration without external energy sources or additional power generation equipment
3Power
If motor operates only as propulsion device, then propulsion efficiency is improved, but energy recovery is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The motor's operational parameters are dynamically adjusted based on flight phase - during takeoff and forward flight the motor operates in propulsion mode with optimized power output, while during autorotation phases the parameters are changed to generator mode to recover energy. This parameter switching enables the system to optimize both propulsion efficiency and energy recovery at different times
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
Increases flight distance without battery depletion, reduces battery size, and minimizes aircraft weight by dual-use motors for propulsion and power generation, eliminating the need for separate generators.
Implementation Method 1
In particular, in regenerative braking, a motor converts mechanical energy to electrical energy that is provided to the batteries
Implementation Method 2
The rotor is to autorotate in the second rotor operational state during flight of the aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
Hybrid multirotor vehicles and related methods are disclosed herein. An example aircraft includes a battery, a rotor coupled to a wing, a motor operatively coupled to the rotor, and a processor operatively coupled to the motor. The processor to is cause the motor to operate in a first motor operational state. The rotor is to operate in a first rotor operational state when the motor is operating in the first motor operational state. The processor is to cause the motor to switch from operating in the first motor operational state to a second motor operational state. The rotor is to operate in a second rotor operational state when the motor is in the second motor operational state. The motor is to provide electrical energy to the battery in the second motor operational state and the rotor is to autorotate in the second rotor operational state.