Loop Path Blade Foils for VTOL Speed and Lift Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vertical take-off and landing vehicles face challenges in achieving efficient heavy load lifting and maneuverability, as they either rely on moving small volumes of air at high speeds or large volumes at low speeds, lacking the speed and efficiency of high-speed fixed wing craft while maintaining hover and low-speed load carrying capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates lifting, propulsion, and maneuvering (LPM) assemblies with discrete blade foils arranged in elongated loop paths, allowing for control of pitch angles and speeds to generate lift, propulsion, and attitude changes, enabling seamless transitions between low-speed volume movement and high-speed airflow configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If rotorcraft are used for hover and low speed load carrying, then load carrying capability is improved, but speed and range are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable blade foils that can change their pitch angle and orientation in real-time as they cycle through different positions in the loop path. This allows the vehicle to optimize aerodynamic characteristics for different flight phases - generating high lift during vertical portions for hover capability, and transitioning to more efficient configurations during horizontal portions for forward flight, thus resolving the contradiction between load carrying and speed
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting, propulsion, and maneuvering functions are segmented into multiple discrete blade foils distributed along the loop path rather than using a single rotor system. This segmentation allows different portions of the blade foil system to perform different functions simultaneously - some blades generating lift, others providing propulsion, and others enabling maneuvering - thereby achieving both heavy load capability and high speed performance
2Speed
If high speed fixed wing craft are used, then speed and range are improved, but hover and low speed load carrying capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The blade foils serve multiple functions simultaneously - they provide lift generation, propulsion, and maneuvering control all through a single cyclic motion around the loop path. This multi-functionality allows the vehicle to achieve high-speed fixed-wing performance during horizontal flight while maintaining the ability to transition to hover and low-speed operations by adjusting blade pitch angles, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic control of blade foil pitch angles and cycling speeds to adapt between different flight regimes. During high-speed flight, blades are positioned and angled for efficient forward propulsion, while during hover transitions, the same blades can be repositioned to generate vertical lift, providing universal capability across different flight modes
3Ease of operation
If blade foils are arranged in elongated loop paths with controlled pitch angles, then maneuverability and control are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges lifting, propulsion, and maneuvering functions into a single integrated blade foil system that cycles through an elongated loop path. By combining these functions into one system rather than using separate mechanisms for each function, the patent achieves excellent maneuverability and control while actually reducing overall device complexity compared to traditional multi-system approaches
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
This configuration allows for efficient heavy lifting and maneuverability, matching the speed and efficiency of high-speed fixed wing craft while maintaining hover capabilities, with improved control and stability, reduced vulnerability, and enhanced safety features.
Implementation Method 1
blade foils cycling around elongated loop paths... to produce desired forces for lifting, propulsion and maneuvering
Data Source
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AI summary
A vertical takeoff and landing craft that utilizes lifting, propulsion and maneuvering (LPM) assemblies comprising a series of blade foils arranged along track elongated loop paths disposed at the sides of a fuselage. These LPM assemblies are provided with control mechanisms enabling lift, attitude changes, altitude changes and directional flight propulsion and control including those needed for hovering as well as vertical takeoff and landing. The LPM assemblies are configured to drive large volumes of air in a manner and scale favorably similar to conventional rotorcraft while in contest, providing capability for faster flights by eliminating or minimizing speed limiting factors commonly associated with rotorcraft.