Wingless VTOL Lifting Body With Winglets for Roadable Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current land-air vehicles face challenges such as space and drag issues due to storable wings, limited lift generation as wingless lifting bodies, and inability to operate as true land vehicles with continuous road contact and controlled gliding.
Innovation Solution
A wingless, Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) vehicle design featuring a main body with an airfoil shape and lateral members that act as winglets, utilizing counter-rotating propellers for efficient lift and thrust, allowing operation as both an aircraft and a land vehicle, with optional water capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wings are stowed during ground operation, then space for storage is required which either takes up space or increases drag, but the vehicle can operate on land
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wings entirely from the vehicle design, extracting the lift-generating function from separate wings and integrating it into the fuselage body itself. This eliminates the need for wing stowage mechanisms and the associated complexity while maintaining the ability to operate on land without drag-inducing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fuselage and wing functions into a single integrated lifting body structure. The fuselage is designed with airfoil cross-sections that generate lift during flight, combining what were previously separate components (fuselage for land operation, wings for flight) into one unified structure that performs both functions simultaneously.
2Force
If extended wings are used, then lift generation is improved, but runway is required for take-off and landing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs variable-geometry control surfaces (elevons) on the lifting body that can dynamically adjust their angle and position during flight. This dynamic control allows the vehicle to achieve sufficient lift for vertical take-off and landing while maintaining stable flight characteristics, eliminating the need for runways.
3Device complexity
If lifting body design is used, then wingless configuration is achieved, but significantly less lift is generated compared to winged aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends lateral members (winglets) from the lifting body in the lateral dimension, transforming the basic lifting body configuration into a more efficient aerodynamic structure. These winglets increase the effective lifting surface area and improve lift generation without requiring full wings, thus maintaining the wingless configuration while enhancing aerodynamic performance.
4Force
If flying wing configuration is used, then lift generation is maximized, but wingspan is too great for typical roads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lift-generating function between the central lifting body and the lateral winglets, creating a modular configuration. This segmentation allows the vehicle to achieve sufficient lift through the combined effect of the body and winglets while keeping the overall lateral footprint compact enough for road operation, avoiding the need for excessive wingspan.
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
Enables efficient operation on land, air, and water with reduced drag, increased lift, and the ability to glide in case of engine failure, while maintaining a compact and streamlined profile.
Implementation Method 1
a main body 10, which extends laterally on either side of a central module 20... The main body 10 has an airfoil shape over portions 13
Implementation Method 2
Left and right lateral members or sections 30L and 30R... The upper surface 32 of each member 30L, 30R is preferably streamlined and may also have at least a partial airfoil profile
Implementation Method 3
Forward flight is achieved by the forward thrust systems 50L, 50R... A vertical thrust system 60 is located aft of the module 20
Data Source
AI summary
A wingless vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle has a main body including airfoil sections on either side of a central module in which a load may be carried. Articulated forward thrust systems are mounted on a leading edge of the main body and lateral members are located on either side of the main body and form winglets. At least one rear vertical-thrust system may also be provided and, in one embodiment, is mounted in an aperture aft of the central module. The forward thrust systems transition between a vertical flight configuration and a horizontal flight configuration. The lateral members are configured as both vortex-damping members and also to channel backwash from the forward thrust systems over the airfoil formed by the main body.