Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft design which incorporates a modular design including the use of one or more multi-motor assemblies where the motors are in series within the multi-motor assembly. Still further, the multi-motor assemblies may be configured to include modular motor assemblies or modular sections. Ultimately, the present invention provides an aircraft with the ability to easily assemble or expand the multi-motor assemblies and, in doing so, modify the characteristics of the aircraft. The modularity also enhances the ability to maintain the aircraft by enabling motors or the units housing each motor to easily be replaced.

Abstract: A system to arrest flap over-travel employs a track engaging a flap to a support structure. The track has a deployment profile determining flap motion relative to the support structure during travel between an extended position and a normal retracted position. The deployment profile has a transition portion extending beyond the normal retracted position and terminating in a detent. A resiliently mounted catcher is configured to be displaced by the transition portion during over-travel of the flap beyond the normal retracted position and captured in the detent in a maximum retracted position thereby restraining the flap.

Abstract: An aircraft capable of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and traverse flight. The aircraft generally includes a fixed outer structure including at least a generally cylindrical wing having an internal body situated within the fixed outer structure. A space is defined between the internal body and the fixed outer structure. Within this space are one or more rotatable ring impellers that create(s) thrust sufficient to achieve lift for the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform that can include a stator and a rotor magnetically levitated by the stator. The rotor and stator can be annular, such that the rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The stator can include magnets that provide guidance, levitation, and drive forces to drive the rotor, as well as to control operation of rotor blades of the rotor that can be independently rotated to specific pitch angles to control at least one of lift, pitch, roll, or yaw of the VTOL platform. Various controllers can be used to enable independent and redundant control of components of the VTOL platform.

Abstract: A system for slowing down the speed of flying objects by applying electrodynamic and aerodynamic braking forces. The system is comprised of plurality of stubs, where each stub is made of dielectric material surrounded by metal foil and another metal foil is inserted in the middle of the stub, where the outer metal foil and the inner metal foil are isolated from each other, so that they form a capacitor. Each stub is stored in a barrel before being used. When activated, the stubs are stretched from the barrel as a tail behind the flying object. The area of the stub generates aerodynamic drag. The stub capacitor is charged by a generator so that free electrons are present in the outer metal layer of the stub. The electric field produced by these charges interacts with ions in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A fuselage component for an aircraft, including a shell part composed of a fiber composite material and a stiffening structure which is connected to an inner surface of the shell part and has shaped parts composed of a fiber composite material, wherein the shaped parts each have a flat base section which extends along the inner surface of the shell part, and a step-shaped profile edge which extends in an encircling manner around the base section. The shaped parts are arranged in the form of parquetry with overlapping profile edges. As a result, the overlapping profile edges form stiffening profiles intersecting at an intersection. Furthermore, an aircraft which has at least one such fuselage component and a method for producing a fuselage component are described.

Abstract: A for providing control input adjustment for an aircraft, including one or more mode sensors disposed on an aircraft, a mode analysis system, the mode analysis system operable to receive mode sensor data from the one or more mode sensors, and operable to decompose the mode sensor data into decomposed mode data associated with fundamental modes of structural elements of the aircraft associated with the one or more mode sensors, and a flight control computer (FCC) disposed on the aircraft and connected to one or more actuators, the FCC operable to provide a control signal to the one or more actuators according to an association between the decomposed mode data and one or more rotorcraft parameters associated with the one or more actuators.

Abstract: This patent presents an attitude determination and control system based on a Quaternion Kalman Filter (QKF) with an extendable number of sensors and actuators. Furthermore, it is compatible with the spherical motor as its attitude actuator. The system includes a processor with a QKF, at least one direct attitude actuator, and at least two environmental sensors. Firstly, system dynamics calculates a first propagation attitude determination result. Next, update the first propagation with the attitude sensor measurements. Then, control the satellite's attitude via the attitude actuator closer to the attitude command provided by the user. The proposed system dynamic model could adjust the number of actuators and sensors freely without reprogramming the algorithms for new missions with new configurations on the actuators and sensors. Moreover, if some components fail, the algorithm can automatically remove those related sequences to avoid the overall failure of the system.

Abstract: A rotor mast including an outer member defining a channel therethrough and an inner member disposed in the channel through the outer member, wherein the inner member is configured to apply a compressive force to the outer member.

Abstract: A rudder bar includes a main module provided at least with pedals and with all the elements subject to maintenance, the main module being one-piece and detachable relative to a support frame integrated into the floor of the cockpit of the aircraft, so as to exhibit significant flexibility with respect to its maintainability, particularly in the event of the failure of a component, by allowing quick intervention both on a local level and an overall level.

Abstract: A moisture control system includes an anode coupled to an insulation blanket that is positioned between an inner wall and an outer wall of an aircraft fuselage, a cathode coupled to an interior surface of the outer wall, and a power control unit coupled to the anode and the cathode to apply voltage across the anode and the cathode. When the voltage is applied across the anode and the cathode, moisture is drawn away from the anode and toward the cathode on the interior surface of the outer wall and guided along a drainage path provided via structural members disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall toward a drainage port.

Abstract: A heating element and conductive element system may include a heater conductive element and a heating element. The heater conductive element and the heating element may be integral components. The heater conductive element and the heating element may be discrete components. The heater conductive element may be configured for enhanced mechanical fatigue compared to typical conductive element.

Abstract: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft can be sensitive to uneven weight distributions, e.g., the payload of an aircraft is primarily loaded in the front, back, left, or right. When the aircraft is loaded unevenly, the center of mass of the aircraft may shift substantially enough to negatively impact performance of the aircraft. Thus, in turn, there is an opportunity that the VTOL may be loaded unevenly if seating and/or luggage placement is not coordinated. Among other advantages, dynamically assigning the VTOL aircraft payloads can increase VTOL safety by ensuring the VTOL aircraft is loaded evenly and meets all weight requirements; can increase transportation efficiency by increasing rider throughput; and can increase the availability of the VTOL services to all potential riders.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform that can include a stator and a rotor magnetically levitated by the stator. The rotor and stator can be annular, such that the rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The stator can include magnets that provide guidance, levitation, and drive forces to drive the rotor, as well as to control operation of rotor blades of the rotor that can be independently rotated to specific pitch angles to control at least one of lift, pitch, roll, or yaw of the VTOL platform. Various controllers can be used to enable independent and redundant control of components of the VTOL platform.

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for an aircraft, comprising a pylon to be secured below a wing of the aircraft and having a front face and a lower face, and a turbomachine comprising, from upstream to downstream in a direction of a flow of air passing through the turbomachine during operation, a fan and an engine driving the fan. The fan is faired by a fan casing and the engine is faired, from upstream to downstream, by an intermediate casing and an engine casing, the intermediate casing having a hub and an outer ring extending the fan casing, the ring being spaced apart radially from the hub and secured to the latter by arms extending in an air duct. The propulsion assembly comprises a front engine attachment secured between the pylon front face and the hub and a rear engine attachment secured between the pylon lower face and the engine casing.

Abstract: Compliant mounting systems, devices, and methods for mounting a vehicle engine to a vehicle structure or base include a top mount, a lower mount, a center trunnion mount, and an aft mount which are configured to react forces transmitted by the engine to the vehicle structure. Metallic and elastomeric elements can provide vibrational and force isolation characteristics. Stops (e.g., snubbing elements) allow for a specific range of motion before internal mount structures contact each other to act as a conventional hard mount. Fluid elements and compressible gas-filled spaces/bladders may be incorporated to provide fluid damping behaviors to complement the metallic and elastomeric elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform that can include a stator and a rotor magnetically levitated by the stator. The rotor and stator can be annular, such that the rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The stator can include magnets that provide guidance, levitation, and drive forces to drive the rotor, as well as to control operation of rotor blades of the rotor that can be independently rotated to specific pitch angles to control at least one of lift, pitch, roll, or yaw of the VTOL platform. Various controllers can be used to enable independent and redundant control of components of the VTOL platform.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a dual configuration aircraft lavatory includes a plurality of walls enclosing and defining a lavatory interior space, wherein one of the walls is coextensive with a portion of the cabin. Within the lavatory interior space are a toilet, a washing station and a waste receptacle movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the waste receptacle is attached to a wall of the lavatory between the washing station and a door wall. In the second position, the waste receptacle occupies a second predetermined volume of space in the aircraft cabin separated from a first predetermined volume of space occupied by the waste receptacle in the first position. Moving the waste receptacle from the first position to the second position reveals additional space within the lavatory sufficient so that two adult humans simultaneously fit within the lavatory interior space.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite assembly with a continuous skin for a rear end of an aircraft by obtaining an upper part of the rear end by composite tooling. The upper part comprises a multi-spar vertical tail plane. The spars of the vertical tail plane comprise widening roots that form an upper shell of the rear end and an upper skin. Furthermore, a lower part comprises a lower shell of the rear end including semi-complete frames and stringers and a lower skin. The upper and lower parts are assembled with a joining procedure. The upper and lower skins are joined to obtain the composite assembly with the continuous skin.

Abstract: A deployable cabin attendant seat system may include a primary cabin attendant seat, an auxiliary cabin attendant seat, a main support coupled to at least one of the primary cabin attendant seat or the auxiliary cabin attendant seat, and an actuation assembly coupled to at least the primary cabin attendant seat. The actuation assembly may be configured to actuate the primary cabin attendant seat relative to the auxiliary cabin attendant seat between a stowed seat position and a deployed seat position. The primary cabin attendant seat and the auxiliary cabin attendant seat may be arranged in a side-by-side configuration when the primary cabin attendant seat is in the deployed seat position. The primary cabin attendant seat may be stacked on the auxiliary cabin attendant seat when the primary cabin attendant seat is in the stowed seat position.