Abstract: An aircraft structure (10) comprising a fuselage (24), first and second forward wings (20, 22) mounted to and/or extending from opposing sides of the fuselage (24), a continuous rear wing span (34) defining first and second rear wings (30, 32) and a central static connecting portion (36), a first wing connecting member (42) extending between the first forward wing (20) and the first rear wing (30), a second wing connecting member (42) extending between the second forward wing (22) and the second rear wing (32), wherein the rear wing span (34) is supported by a centrally located V tail joint defined by first and second angularly inclined arms (100, 110), first and second electric motors each having rotors, are mounted to each wing (20, 22, 30, 32), each rotor is pivotal between a first configuration for vertical flight, and a second configuration for forward flight.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft (10) includes a fuselage and first and second forward wings (20, 22), each wing (20, 22) having a fixed leading edge and a trailing control surface (50) which is pivotal about a generally horizontal pivot axis. The aircraft (10) includes first and second electric motors (60) each having rotors (70), the electric rotors (70) being pivotal with the trailing control surface (50) between a first position in which each rotor (70) has a generally vertical axis of rotation, and a second position in which each rotor (70) has a generally horizontal axis of rotation, a control system (90) is configured to selectively operate the first electric motor (60) and the second electric motor (60) at different rotational speeds to generate a turning moment to pivot the control surface (50) about the pivot axis (33).

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft (100) having: a wing structure having right and left side forward wings (20, 22); and right and left side rearward wings (30, 32), each of the right side wings (20, 30) being connected, and each of the left side wings (22, 32) being connected in a box wing configuration; wherein each wing (20, 22, 30, 32) has a fixed leading edge (100) and at least one moveable trailing control surface (110), further wherein each wing (20, 22, 30, 32) has at least one motor pod (195), the motor pod (195) being pivotally mounted to an underside of the fixed leading edge (100), and fixedly secured to the trailing control surface (110).

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft (10) includes a fuselage and first and second forward wings (20, 22), each wing (20, 22) having a fixed leading edge and a trailing control surface (50) which is pivotal about a generally horizontal pivot axis. The aircraft (10) includes first and second electric motors (60) each having rotors (70), the electric rotors (70) being pivotal with the trailing control surface (50) between a first position in which each rotor (70) has a generally vertical axis of rotation, and a second position in which each rotor (70) has a generally horizontal axis of rotation, a control system (90) is configured to selectively operate the first electric motor (60) and the second electric motor (60) at different rotational speeds to generate a turning moment to pivot the control surface (50) about the pivot axis (33).

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft (10) comprises a fuselage (24) first and second forward wings (20, 22) and first and second rearward wings (30, 32), each wing having a fixed leading edge (25, 35) and a trailing control surface (50) which is pivotal about a generally horizontal axis. Electric rotors (60) are mounted to the wings (20, 22, 30, 32), the electric rotors (60) being pivotal with the trailing control surface (50) between a first position in which each rotor (60) has a generally vertical axis of rotation, and a second position in which each rotor (60) has a generally horizontal axis of rotation; wherein at least one of the wings (20, 22, 30, 32) has a first and a second electric rotor (60) which are each mounted having non-parallel axes of rotation so that the thrust lines of the first and second electric rotors are different.

Abstract: Control apparatus including a plurality of fluid control valves, especially for supplying items of sanitary ware. The valves have magnetic bistable solenoid actuators drivable by pulse signals and a common control circuit able to drive the actuators independently and the control circuit and actuators are driven by a local power supply including a dry cell battery.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are assays and kits for identifying effector molecules (such as ligands) based on their ability to mediate assembly of their cognate proteins (such as receptors).

Abstract: Switch-mode regulators and methods providing transient response speed-up in the presence of large load transients. Speed-up is achieved by coupling a first MOSFET switch between the regulator output and the input voltage and a second MOSFET switch between the regulator output and the circuit common connection. During normal operation these MOSFETs are off, but in the event of a large load transient substantially disturbing the regulator output, one of the MOSFETs is momentarily turned on to couple the regulator output to the input voltage or circuit ground as appropriate to bring the regulator output within a narrow range around the nominal output voltage. Operation of the MOSFETs is disabled on startup until the regulator output is within a predefined range, and whenever the regulator output exceeds a limit range indicative of a fault condition.

Abstract: Multiple battery switchover circuits for selective interconnecting any one of multiple batteries to a load or a charger while maintaining isolation with other batteries of the system. The present invention maintains the required isolation and interconnection capabilities using only three MOSFETs per battery instead of the four required by the prior art. The three MOSFETs for any one battery in the switchover circuit are connected with one current carrying connection in common, with the other current carrying connection of the MOSFETs being coupled to the charger, the load and a respective battery, respectively. Appropriate connection of the MOSFETs assures that as to any possible conduction path through two of the three MOSFETs, one of the MOSFETs has its parasitic diode back biased. Alternate embodiments are disclosed.