Abstract: A tail sitter aircraft includes a fuselage having a forward portion, an aft portion and a longitudinally extending fuselage axis. At least two wings are supported by the forward portion of the fuselage. A distributed propulsion system includes at least one propulsion assembly operably associated with each fixed wing and is operable to provide forward thrust during forward flight and vertical thrust during vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing. A tailboom assembly extends from the aft portion of the fuselage and includes a plurality of rotatably mounted tail arms having control surfaces and landing members. In a forward flight configuration, the tail arms are radially retracted to reduce tail surface geometry and provide yaw and pitch control with the control surfaces. In a landing configuration, the tail arms are radially extended relative to the fuselage axis to form a stable ground contact base with the landing members.

Abstract: An aircraft includes: a plurality of rotor units each including a propeller and a motor that drives the propeller; a balloon that laterally covers the plurality of rotor units, across the height of the plurality of rotor units in the up-and-down direction; a camera that protrudes, along a predetermined axis, beyond the balloon; and a holding component that holds the camera and whose overall length can be shortened along the predetermined axis.

Abstract: The system is configured for automation of rotorcraft entry into autorotation. The system can provide a means to assist the flight crew of a rotorcraft in maintaining rotor speed following loss of engine power. The system can automatically adjust control positions, actuator positions or both to prevent excessive loss of rotor speed upon initial loss of engine power before the flight crew is able to react. The system uses model matching to provide axis decoupling and yaw anticipation; it includes pitch control initially to assist in preventing rotor deceleration; and it makes use of collective, pitch, roll and yaw trim functions to provide tactile cueing to the pilot to assist when the pilot is in the loop. The system can reduce workload by assisting the crew with controlling rotor speed and forward speed during stabilized autorotation.

Abstract: An unmanned flying object, capable of suppressing an increase in overall size while having a configuration to reduce noise, is provided. The unmanned flying object includes a duct that corresponds to: at least one generator that generates airflow; at least one microphone; and at least one speaker. The duct covers the at least one generator in a direction perpendicular to an airflow direction, passes the airflow in the airflow direction, includes a space between inner and outer peripheral surfaces, and defines an opening at the end of the space in the airflow direction. A shape of the inner peripheral surface is tapered in the airflow direction. The at least one microphone is positioned in the space. The at least one speaker is positioned closer to the at least one generator than the at least one microphone.

Abstract: A tank support assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle structure and a storage tank assembly. The storage tank assembly is held in place relative to the vehicle structure via a magnetic support system. The magnetic support system includes tank magnets affixed to the storage tank assembly and structure magnets affixed to the vehicle structure. The tank magnets interact with the structure magnets to passively provide repulsive magnetic forces that constrain movement of the storage tank assembly relative to the vehicle structure without the tank magnets mechanically engaging the structure magnets.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a kitchen arrangement for a cabin of a vehicle includes a primary module with an electrical energy supply device, a cooling device, and at least one supply connection for supplying the primary module with a requisite. The system also includes at least one auxiliary module that is couplable with the primary module. The cooling device is set up to provide a stream of cooled fluid to a fluid outlet. At least one outer boundary surface of the primary module comprises an electrical connection coupled with the electrical energy supply device and a fluid connection coupled with the fluid outlet. The at least one outer boundary surface is adjusted for coupling with an auxiliary module having a correspondingly shaped boundary surface.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle including a first wing structure and a second wing structure which intersects the first wing structure perpendicularly at a position offset from a midpoint of a transverse axis of the first wing structure in a direction towards a first wingtip of the first wing structure. The aerial vehicle may further include a first set of at least two propellers with respective propeller rotational axes disposed side-by-side along a portion of the first wing structure extending between the midpoint of the transverse axis of the first wing structure and a second wingtip of the first wing structure. The aerial vehicle may further include a second set of at least two propellers with respective propeller rotational axes disposed side-by-side along a first portion of the second wing structure extending from a first surface of the first wing structure.

Abstract: An aircraft monument for use in a cabin of an aircraft includes a monument assembly and a seat assembly. The monument assembly includes a frame having a plurality of walls defining a compartment. The plurality of walls include a first end wall having a forward section at a forward plane of the frame. The compartment is defined rearward of the forward section. The seat assembly is forward of the frame. The seat assembly has a shell configured to at least partially surround a passenger seat. The shell has a rear rearward of the forward plane of the frame.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle that uses motor pulsed-induced cyclic control is provided. In example embodiments, the aerial vehicle comprises a fuselage incorporating a battery system and a payload bay for operatively receiving and holding a payload and at least one mono-blade rotor coupled to an electric motor and an electric motor control system. The electric motor control system controls the electric motor using pulse-induced cyclic control. The aerial vehicle further includes at least one wing, at least one cruise propeller, and an avionics system. The avionic system is configured to transition the aerial vehicle between a vertical take-off and landing mode in which the at least one mono-blade rotor is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle vertically and a cruising mode in which the at least one cruise propeller is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle horizontally.

Abstract: A plug door assembly for a pressurized aircraft is provided. The door assembly includes a surround and a door, and connector assemblies along the edges that act to transfer in-plane stresses directly across the fuselage opening via the door, as well as stops that react radial loads generated by cabin pressure. The door assembly obviates the need for a separate frame to transmit stresses around the perimeter of the fuselage opening.

Abstract: A primary structure of a strut for bearing an aircraft power plant including a front part intended to be joined to an aircraft power plant and a rear part intended to be joined to a structure of the aircraft, the front part being formed from a box including an upper longitudinal member, a lower longitudinal member, and lateral panels. A main rib is located at an interface between the front part and the rear part. The rear part is formed from a set of four connecting rods. The first end of each connecting rod is joined to the front part of the primary structure and the second end of each connecting rod is joined to a separate interface for fastening to the structure of the aircraft. This allows a substantial simplification of the primary structure of a strut for bearing an aircraft power plant, which can have advantages in particular in terms of cost, mass, and simplicity of implementation and integration.

Abstract: A system for automatic unlocking of a door of an aircraft in the event of impact of the aircraft includes a door opening, a door articulated on the aircraft in the door opening, and a locking arrangement designed to lock the door to the aircraft when the door is in a closed, use state. The locking arrangement has a load-transmission device which is designed, and coupled to an impact region of the aircraft, such that, in the event of impact of the aircraft in the impact region, the load-transmission device transmits a deformation load, caused by inward deformation of the impact region, to the locking arrangement and thus unlocks the door.

Abstract: A structural assembly includes a support structure and an elongate structure intersecting the support structure. The elongate structure has a length and a mass. The mass of the elongate structure varies along the length of the elongate structure. A localized mass of the elongate structure decreases toward the support structure and increases away from the support structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems for launching primary or secondary payloads or actuating other launch vehicle or payload or instrumentation devices. The system includes an adapter assembly and at least one sequencer mounted to the adapter assembly. The sequencer includes: controller boards, each of the controller boards having a controller for controlling deployment of the payloads and data files; output ports coupled to the controller boards and configured to transmit signals from the controller boards to dispensers therethrough, deployment mechanisms containing the payloads, the adapter assembly having channels for accommodating the dispensers; and a detector coupled to the controller boards and adapted to detect an external signal and, in response to the external signal, to send an initiation signal to the controller boards. The system also includes at least one power supply coupled to the sequencer and adapted to provide an electrical power to the sequencer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing lift of an aircraft lifting surface, may include: a leading-edge assembly; a plurality of high-lift propellers, coupled to the slat assembly and configured to be stowed within a compartment of the lifting surface; a high-lift motor to provide motive force to at least one of the plurality of the high-lift propellers; and a deployment linkage configured to move the slat assembly and plurality of high-lift propellers between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, wherein in the stowed configuration the high-lift propellers are stowed within the compartment of the lifting surface and at least a portion of the slat assembly covers the compartment of the lifting surface, and in the deployed configuration the high-lift propellers are positioned external to the aircraft lifting surface to direct airflow from the high-lift propellers past the leading-edge assembly.

Abstract: An actuator includes a ball screw, a rod provided at least partially within the ball screw, a ball nut, a ball nut restraint, a first biasing member disposed at least partially between a proximate end of the rod and a proximate end of the ball screw, and a second biasing member disposed at least partially between a distal end of the ball nut and an inner surface of the ball nut restraint.

Abstract: Trailing edge assemblies, couplers and methods for deploying a trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing are disclosed. An exemplary method disclosed herein comprises guiding an aft portion of the trailing edge flap (28) along an elongated track member (36C) as the trailing edge flap (28) moves toward the deployed position; guiding a forward portion of the trailing edge flap (28) along the elongated track member (36C) as the trailing edge flap (28) moves toward the deployed position; and accommodating transverse movement of the forward portion of the trailing edge flap (28) relative to the elongated track member (36C).

Abstract: Apparatus for adapting aircraft floors and related methods are disclosed. An example floor of an aircraft includes a floor beam, a seat track, and a cap coupled to the seat track. The cap is disposed over the seat track and the floor beam. The example floor includes a floor panel aligned with the cap.

Abstract: A flight deck barrier door for an aircraft, the flight deck barrier door including a door frame and a door panel in the door frame. The door panel has a plurality of vents. The door panel and door frame have a minimum total vented surface area of 1000 square inches.

Abstract: Methods of launching a vehicle using impulsive force are disclosed. In one instance, a vehicle is launched easterly with impulsive force in a plane corresponding to the vehicle's elliptical orbital path. In another instance, a method of closing a timing difference is disclosed. The vehicle undergoes a series of forces after impulsive launch. The first force establishes an orbit having a period significantly different from the orbital period of a satellite or desired vehicle location, closing the difference in an integer number of orbits. The second force establishes the vehicle in circular orbit with the satellite or desired vehicle location. In another instance, the vehicle launched impulsively from a first celestial body travels a first path, and the vehicle experiences a second force along a hyperbolic path about the second celestial body and enters circular orbit about the second celestial body.