VTOL Aircraft Monocopter-Airplane Mode Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VTOL aircraft require high-power sources for vertical take-off and landing, while monocopters are inefficient for high-speed cruise flight.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft design that transforms between monocopter and standard airplane modes, using a single wing structure that rotates about the yaw axis for vertical take-off and landing, and adjusts to horizontal flight by pivoting stabilizers and motors for efficient cruise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If direct thrust of propeller or jet stream is used for vertical take-off and landing, then lift is generated, but high-power source is required
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft employs dynamic reconfiguration of its propulsion system. The propeller can be rotated about the pitch axis to change its orientation, allowing the same propulsion system to provide both vertical lift during take-off/landing and horizontal thrust during cruise flight. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for separate high-power vertical lift engines and standard cruise engines, resolving the power consumption contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The single propulsion system serves multiple functions: it provides vertical lift by rotating the propeller upward, enables horizontal cruise by positioning the propeller in the horizontal plane, and can hover by adjusting propeller angle. This multi-functionality allows the aircraft to achieve both vertical take-off capability and efficient cruise flight without requiring multiple specialized high-power engines.
2Power
If monocopter rotation mode is used for vertical take-off and landing, then low power consumption is achieved, but high-speed cruise flight efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft dynamically transitions between two operational modes: monocopter mode for vertical take-off and landing (where the propeller rotates the aircraft about the yaw axis), and airplane mode for horizontal cruise (where the propeller provides forward thrust and wings generate lift). This dynamic mode switching allows the aircraft to optimize performance for each phase of flight, achieving both low power consumption during VTOL and high cruise efficiency.
3Force
If propeller is rotated upward about pitch axis for vertical thrust, then vertical lift is generated, but huge engines are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The single engine and propeller system performs both vertical lift generation and horizontal cruise propulsion. By rotating the propeller about the pitch axis, the same propulsion system that provides efficient horizontal cruise thrust can also generate vertical lift, eliminating the need for separate high-power vertical lift engines and reducing overall engine size and power requirements.
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
Achieves efficient vertical take-off and landing with low power consumption, and high-speed horizontal flight with reduced drag and stability issues.
Implementation Method 1
the thrust of the propeller 51 generates a lifting force
Implementation Method 2
a single wing creates enough lift and the monocopter can take off and land efficiently
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~5A
AI summary
An aircraft includes a fuselage including a front portion and a tail, the fuselage having a longitudinal axis, rotation about which is roll rotation, a lateral axis, rotation about which is pitch rotation, and a vertical axis, rotation about which is yaw rotation. The tail is substantially in one horizontal plane and has a lateral cross section shape of an airfoil. The aircraft includes at least one wing coupled to the fuselage, an engine pivotally coupled to the aircraft so that the engine is pivotable in the yaw rotation, and an actuator coupled to the engine arranged to pivot the engine in the yaw rotation.