Abstract: A motorized window treatment may provide a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment may include a covering material (e.g., a cellular shade fabric or a roller shade fabric), a drive assembly for raising and lowering the covering material, and a motor drive unit including a motor configured to drive the drive assembly to raise and lower the covering material. The motorized window treatment may comprise one or more battery packs configured to receive batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The batteries may be located out of view of a user of the motorized window treatment (e.g., in a headrail or in a battery compartment). The motorized window treatment may use various power-saving methods to lengthen the lifetime of the batteries, e.g., to reduce the motor speed to conserve additional battery power and extend the lifetime of the batteries.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window includes a covering material, a drive shaft, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window. The position of the covering material may be automatically controlled in response to the photosensor and the temperature sensors, or in response to an infrared or radio-frequency remote control.

Abstract: One embodiment is an apparatus for inhibiting accidental contact by a human with a tail rotor connected to an empennage of an aircraft. The apparatus includes an inverted V-tail connected to an empennage of the aircraft forward of the tail rotor, the inverted V-tail stabilizer comprising a first V-tail stabilizer on a side of the empennage to which the tail rotor is connected and a second V-tail stabilizer on a side of the empennage opposite the side of the empennage to which the tail rotor is connected; and a shroud bar having a first end connected to an outboard end of the first V-tail stabilizer and a second end opposite the first end connected to the empennage aft of the tail rotor, wherein a horizontal distance from the shroud bar to the tail rotor is greater than a length of an arm of the human.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft includes a first end, a second end, and a skin extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end. The wing also includes at least one channel positioned within the skin and extending longitudinally between the first and second ends. The at least one channel defines a longitudinal translation path for translating at least one electrical power source longitudinally between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft includes a first end, a second end, and a skin extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end. The wing also includes at least one channel positioned within the skin and extending longitudinally between the first and second ends. The at least one channel defines a longitudinal translation path for translating at least one electrical power source longitudinally between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft includes a first end, a second end, and a skin extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end. The wing also includes at least one channel positioned within the skin and extending longitudinally between the first and second ends. The at least one channel defines a longitudinal translation path for translating at least one electrical power source longitudinally between the first and second ends.

Abstract: An aerocar includes a body and a multiple of wings. The multiple of wings can be selectively extendable away from a top portion of the body for a flight mode. The multiple of wings can be selectively retractable toward the top portion of the body for a roadable mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for changing the shape of a wing using a trailing edge morphing beam. One example method includes coupling a trailing edge portion comprising a morphing beam to an elastic central portion of the wing. The morphing beam comprises a first portion formed of smart material and a second portion formed of elastic material. The method further includes actuating the smart material in the first portion of the morphing beam to change the shape of the elastic central portion of the wing and the elastic material of the morphing beam. The morphing beam can be configured to hold a first position corresponding to a minimum chord-length of the wing and a second position corresponding to a maximum chord length of the wing.

Abstract: An aerocar includes a body and a multiple of wings. The multiple of wings can be selectively extendable away from a top portion of the body for a flight mode. The multiple of wings can be selectively retractable toward the top portion of the body for a roadable mode.

Abstract: A wing includes an upper surface that forms a generally fixed shape and a lower surface adjacent to the upper surface. The lower surface is morphable between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. A method of morphing a wing includes morphing a lower surface between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. The lower surface curves toward the upper surface in the stowed shape and curves away from the upper surface in the deployed shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for changing the shape of a wing using a trailing edge morphing beam. One example method includes coupling a trailing edge portion comprising a morphing beam to an elastic central portion of the wing. The morphing beam comprises a first portion formed of smart material and a second portion formed of elastic material. The method further includes actuating the smart material in the first portion of the morphing beam to change the shape of the elastic central portion of the wing and the elastic material of the morphing beam. The morphing beam can be configured to hold a first position corresponding to a minimum chord-length of the wing and a second position corresponding to a maximum chord length of the wing.

Abstract: A wing includes an upper surface that forms a generally fixed shape and a lower surface adjacent to the upper surface. The lower surface is morphable between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. A method of morphing a wing includes morphing a lower surface between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. The lower surface curves toward the upper surface in the stowed shape and curves away from the upper surface in the deployed shape.