Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can deliver a package to a delivery destination. Packages delivered by a UAV may be lowered towards the ground while the UAV continues to fly rather than the UAV landing on the ground and releasing the package. Packages may sway during lowering as a result of wind or movement of the UAV. By modulating a rate of descent of a package, a package sway may mitigated. The lowering mechanism includes wrapping a tether in various directions around the package such that the package rotates in a first and second direction as the package descends. Additionally, a rip-strip lowering mechanism that separates under tension to lower the package and a rappel mechanism that slides the package down a tether may be used. Accordingly, the tether can control a descent of the package assembly.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a heat exchange panel having an exterior surface that forms an exterior surface portion of the vehicle (e.g. an aircraft), and including one or more vortex generators protruding from the exterior surface. The heat exchange panel has at least a portion made of a thermally conductive material. The one or more vortex generators are configured to direct airflow to particular areas on the aircraft, which may then prevent large scale airflow separation to synergistically enhance heat removal from the heat exchange panel and reduce drag of air flowing over the exterior surface.

Abstract: An aircraft auxiliary fuel tank system comprising a master tank and a plurality of slave tanks fluidly connectable to the master tank in series. The slave tanks may each include a valve assembly comprising a biased plate that is movable for throttling fluid during a deceleration event when the slave tanks are connected to the master tank or other slave tanks. A rail assembly is provided to assist in the easy installation and removal of the slave and master fuel tanks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft. The aircraft includes a fuselage module for receiving a payload. The fuselage module includes a plurality of internal connections. The aircraft includes a wing module adjustably coupled to the fuselage module and a tail module coupled to the wing module. The wing module may be adjusted relative to the fuselage module to adjust a location of an aerodynamic center of the aircraft to maintain a pre-determined distance between the location of the aerodynamic center of the aircraft and the location of the center of gravity of the aircraft. A main landing gear may be adjusted relative to the fuselage module to adjust the location of the aerodynamic center of the aircraft to maintain a pre-determined distance between the location of the aerodynamic center of the aircraft and the location of the center of gravity of the aircraft.

Abstract: Methods of accelerating a target vehicle to a higher orbit via a Kinetic Energy Storage and Transfer (KEST) vehicle are provided. The KEST vehicle is configured to transfer kinetic energy to the target vehicle by way of a catching mechanism using one or more brakes on one or more associated tethers along which the braking mechanism traverses, accelerating the target vehicle into a higher orbit, potentially even beyond the Earth.

Abstract: A drive system for rotating one or more wheels of an aircraft landing gear for ground taxiing and/or spin-up prior to landing has a motor operable to rotate a first drive pinion via a first drive path, and a driven gear adapted to be fixed to the wheel. The drive system has a first configuration in which the first drive pinion meshes with the driven gear to permit the motor to drive the driven gear via the first drive path. One of the first drive pinion and the driven gear comprises a first sprocket and the other comprises a series of rollers arranged in two or more rows, each row of rollers being arranged to form a ring. The rollers are rotatable about pins fixed to an annular support member, and adjacent rows may be out of phase by a fraction of roller pitch.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as part of, or attached to, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to intercept and entangle a threat unmanned aerial vehicle, includes a flight and payload control system for controlling power to the UAV and for controlling maneuvering of the UAV. A host-side mount may be coupled to the UAV and is in communication with the flight and payload control system. A payload-side mount is removably attached to the host-side mount and includes a power interface and a control interface between the payload-side mount and the host-side mount. A counter-UAV system is coupled to said payload-side mount and includes a deployable net having a cross-sectional area sized for intercepting and entangling the threat unmanned aerial vehicle; and a deployment mechanism for mounting to the unmanned aerial vehicle including a rigid mounting bar and a pair of cords, between which the deployable net is disposed.

Abstract: A system and method for resisting an uncontrolled descent or uncontrolled flight condition of an aerial vehicle, the system including a parachute having shroud lines attached to a canopy, a housing to store the parachute, an inflatable tube that attaches to and is stored in the housing, the tube having a distal end with a connector that connects to the shroud lines, and a source of fluid that couples to the tube and selectively introduces fluid into the enclosed interior of the inflatable tube to inflate the tube and force the distal end of the tube and the attached parachute out of the housing and away from the aerial vehicle, wherein the tube tethers the parachute to the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a supersonic aircraft includes an engine including an engine core and an engine bypass, a compression surface upstream of the engine, a shroud surrounding the engine configured to direct airflow passing over the compression surface towards the engine, and a plurality of vortex generators positioned upstream of the engine. The vortex generators have a height such that when the supersonic aircraft is flown at a predetermined altitude and predetermined speed, the plurality of vortex generators create vortices that propagate partially outside of a boundary layer formed proximate a surface of a supersonic inlet. The vortices cause a high-velocity portion of the airflow to move towards the engine core and a low-velocity portion of the airflow to move towards the engine bypass. The plurality of vortex generators are disposed aft of a terminal shock and have a height greater than the thickness of the boundary layer.

Abstract: An air and land multimodal vehicle comprises a frame, a propeller engine attached to a first location of the frame supplying power and torque to a propeller, a ground engine attached to a second location of the frame supplying power and torque to one or more ground traction elements, and a flexible wing releasably connectable to the frame, wherein the propeller engine is vertically and horizontally spaced from the ground engine and the ground engine extends at least six inches below a base of the frame.

Abstract: A protective assembly and structural element for an aircraft comprising a portion of an attachment pylon primary structure is provided. The attachment pylon primary structure portion is at least partially covered by a protective assembly comprising a layer forming a firewall and a thermally insulating layer, the thermally insulating layer being located between the layer forming a firewall and the attachment pylon primary structure portion. The protective assembly is attached to the pylon primary structure by fasteners axially arranged in pairs, one of each pair extending through the protective assembly and the other of each pair extending through the pylon primary structure.

Abstract: A riser release system controllably lands a descending flight vehicle having a parafoil or canopy. The system has control lines and riser lines attached to the parafoil or canopy. The other end of the riser lines are attached to an upper portion of a release structure; a lower portion of the release structure is connected to the payload; and a coupling mechanisms releasably couples the upper and lower portions. When the upper and lower portions are decoupled, a distance control device controls and limits the distance of separation between the two portions, and a rate control device controls the rate of separation. Separation causes the riser lines to increase the distance between the payload and canopy, further causing the canopy to flare and decrease the rate of descent of the flight vehicle.

Abstract: An aircraft such as a gyroplane has a thrust propeller, a tail unit, a fuselage, and a keel tube that links the tail unit to the fuselage. The keel tube has a structure that reduces sound. The sound-reducing structure has a flow line-shape, is arranged at least partly below the thrust propeller, and extends from the keel tube in directions normal a vertical longitudinal plane of the gyroplane. The sound-reducing structure may extend asymmetrically from the keel tube and may be located along the longitudinal axis of the gyroplane on the keel tube within an angle between 10 degrees forward and 30 degrees rearward a vertical line extending to the keel tube from the intersection of the thrust propeller rotational axis and the thrust propeller rotational plane. The sound-reducing structure may also contain a sound-absorbent material or may comprise a hollow body with several openings.

Abstract: A joint for coupling a wing tip to a wing base includes a linking member that extends from a first end to a second end. The linking member first end is coupleable to the wing base, and the linking member second end is coupleable to the wing tip. The linking member may be curved and may extend for a fixed distance between the wing tip and the wing base. The linking member defines first second hinge lines that are substantially parallel. The joint also includes at least two actuators. A first end of each actuator is coupled to the linking member, and a second end of each actuator is coupleable to one of the wing base and the wing tip. The actuators are operable to rotate the wing tip about the first and second hinge lines between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the wing base.

Abstract: A structure of a control surface for aircrafts, such as elevators, rudders, landing flaps, ailerons, and other similar lifting surfaces. The control surface includes a front spar, a rear spar, a plurality of ribs, at least one hinge fitting, and at least one actuator fitting, the hinge and actuator fittings joined with the front spar. A first rib is joined with a hinge fitting to form a first oblique angle with the front spar; a second rib is joined with an actuator fitting to form a second oblique angle with the front spar. The rear spar, located between the front spar and trailing edge of the control surface, extends only between the second rib and an outboard end of the control surface. The ribs are located in correspondence with the main torsion and bending load paths created in the control surface during flight, landing or takeoff.

Abstract: An undercarriage having a wheel mounted on an axle (3), a brake and a drive assembly. The brake comprises a torsion tube (9), friction members (11) mounted around the torsion tube, and at least one brake actuator (13) for selectively exerting a braking force on the friction members. The drive assembly is operative to drive rotation of the wheel and comprises an electric motor (14) that is connected to a rim (5) of the wheel (4) by a coupler member (15). The coupler member extends at least in part around the axle (3) between the axle and the torsion tube (9) of the brake.

Abstract: A morphing wing for an aircraft includes first and second structural ribs with four active members and four passive members connected therebetween. First and second active members and third and fourth active members attach at first and second positions. The first and third active members and the second and fourth active members attach at third and fourth positions. A first passive member connects between third and fifth positions. A second passive member connects between second and seventh positions. A third passive member connects between fourth and sixth positions. A fourth passive member connects between first and eighth positions. Adjustment of the four active members morphs the wing from a first configuration to a second configuration. The first and second positions are at corners of a first quadrilateral diagonally opposite to one another. The four passive members attach to the first structural rib at the corners of the first quadrilateral.

Abstract: A row formed by a plurality of windshield fasteners, which fasten an outboard retainer, a panel, and an inboard retainer of a windshield of an aircraft, along a peripheral edge part of the windshield panel includes a first fastener, which is disposed at a predetermined position, and a pair of second fasteners, which is disposed in alignment with the row, one on each side of the first fastener. A plate, which is fastened along with the windshield panel by the first fastener and the pair of second fasteners, is disposed on the inboard retainer on the inside of the aircraft. The first fastener can be attached to or detached from a fixing nut, which is fixed on the plate, from the outside of the aircraft, and can be replaced with a suspension fastener on which a wire to be mounted on the windshield can be fitted.

Abstract: A bell crank mechanism is configured to at least indirectly link movement of an aircraft wing spoiler-like hinge panel to the movement of a primary flight control device on an aircraft wing trailing edge. The aircraft wing is configured to be fixed to and to extend from an aircraft fuselage, the wing including a leading edge and a trailing edge. The primary flight control device is attached to the trailing edge, and any movement of the control device is directly subject to an aircraft input controller by a linear actuator. The moveable aerodynamic hinge panel, a secondary control device, is situated proximally to the primary flight control device, and the hinge panel is separately attached to the trailing edge. The bell crank mechanism slaves any hinge panel motion to movements of the primary control device.

Abstract: An aerodynamic lifting system for a VTOL aircraft is provided that includes a lifting structure defining a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, an upper surface extending between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion, and a lower surface extending between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. A plurality of leading edge and trailing edge movable flaps, along with leading edge openings and trailing edge openings are employed to direct a flow of air, including along an upper surface of the lifting structure. During transition from a VTOL stage to forward flight, when a first leading edge movable flap is in a closed position, a net forward thrust is provided by the flow of air at the leading edge portion.