VTOL Rotor Group Shutdown for Low-Drag Cruise Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing VTOL aircraft designs face challenges in reducing drag caused by VTOL rotors during cruising, which can deteriorate ride comfort if all rotors are stopped simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

The aircraft is configured with a controller that divides the VTOL rotors into groups and sequentially stops their rotation on a group-by-group basis after lift is generated by the wings, thereby minimizing changes in vertical thrust.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If all VTOL rotors are stopped simultaneously to reduce drag during cruising, then energy loss is reduced, but ride comfort deteriorates due to sudden changes in vertical thrust

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedragVSAvoidride comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The VTOL rotors are divided into multiple groups, and the stopping operation is performed sequentially for each group rather than simultaneously. This segmentation of the stopping process allows the vertical thrust to be reduced gradually, maintaining ride comfort while still achieving drag reduction when all rotors are eventually stopped.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If VTOL rotors continue rotating during cruising, then ride comfort is maintained through stable thrust, but drag increases reducing cruising efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride comfortVSAvoiddrag

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is configured to stop the VTOL rotors after the wings have generated sufficient lift during cruising. This preliminary action ensures that the aircraft is in a stable cruising state with adequate lift from the wings before stopping the rotors, thereby maintaining ride comfort while reducing drag.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach effectively suppresses deterioration in ride comfort by gradually reducing vertical thrust, maintaining balance and minimizing roll force changes.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of VTOL rotors configured to generate thrust in a vertical direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic thrust: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 2

at least one cruise rotor configured to generate thrust in a horizontal direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic thrust: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 3

at least one wing configured to generate lift as the vertical take-off and landing aircraft moves in the horizontal direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic lift: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 4

Blades of each VTOL rotor experience air resistance while the VTOL aircraft is cruising. That is, the VTOL rotors generate drag while the VTOL aircraft is cruising.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS12330779B2Vertical take-off and landing aircraft

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

In a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, a plurality of VTOL rotors are divided into a plurality of groups, and each VTOL rotor is included in any one of the groups. After lift is generated by wings (a front wing and a rear wing), a controller sequentially stops rotation of the plurality of VTOL rotors on a group-by-group basis.