Multirotor Aircraft Wing with Integrated Shrouded Thrust Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multirotor aircrafts face challenges such as high system complexity and weight due to tiltable thrust producing units, which limit their performance, passenger comfort, and suitability for urban air transportation, particularly in terms of efficiency, range, and safety.

Innovation Solution

A multirotor aircraft design featuring at least one wing with thrust producing units arranged in a spanwise direction, integrated into the wing structure, and a tandem wing configuration for enhanced energy efficiency, autorotation capability, and reduced system complexity, along with a redundant propulsion system and segregated power management for increased safety and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If tiltable thrust producing units are used to enable forward flight, then flight versatility is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight versatilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of tilting the thrust producing units to achieve forward flight, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the thrust units fixed and tilting the entire airframe. This allows the aircraft to achieve forward flight capability while avoiding the complexity of tilting mechanisms, directly resolving the contradiction between flight versatility and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the thrust producing units with the wing structure, integrating them into a unified configuration where the units are arranged in spanwise direction along the wing. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining forward flight capability through airframe tilting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If tiltable thrust producing units are used for forward flight, then flight versatility is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight versatilityVSAvoidaircraft weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional approach by keeping thrust producing units fixed and tilting the airframe instead. This eliminates the need for complex tilting mechanisms and their associated weight, while still achieving forward flight versatility through airframe orientation changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If fixed attachment units are used to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but passenger comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidpassenger comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the thrust producing units with the wing structure in a fixed configuration, simplifying the system while maintaining passenger comfort through the aerodynamic stability provided by the wing-integrated design and controlled airframe tilting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If thrust producing units are operated in transversal air flow conditions, then forward flight capability is improved, but efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforward flight capabilityVSAvoidthrust unit efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of operating thrust producing units in inefficient transversal air flow conditions, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the units fixed and tilting the airframe. This allows the thrust units to operate in their optimal axial air flow conditions while still achieving forward flight capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design enhances energy efficiency, reduces system complexity and weight, improves passenger comfort, and increases safety and reliability, making the multirotor aircraft suitable for urban air transportation while meeting stringent safety and regulatory requirements.

Implementation Method 1

at least one rotor assembly that is accommodated in an associated shrouding, the associated shrouding being integrated into the at least one wing. The associated shrouding defines an air duct that is axially delimited by an air inlet region and an air outlet region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic lift: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 2

The air inlet region exhibits in circumferential direction of the air duct at least two different aerodynamic profiles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow control: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10836475B2Multirotor aircraft with an airframe and at least one wing

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUT GMBH

AI summary

A multirotor aircraft with an airframe and at least one wing that is mounted to the airframe, the at least one wing being provided with at least four thrust producing units that are arranged in spanwise direction of the at least one wing, wherein each one of the at least four thrust producing units comprises at least one rotor assembly that is accommodated in an associated shrouding, the associated shrouding being integrated into the at least one wing, wherein the associated shrouding defines an air duct that is axially delimited by an air inlet region and an air outlet region, wherein the air inlet region exhibits in circumferential direction of the air duct at least two different aerodynamic profiles.