Abstract: An unmanned vehicle including a body and a frame structure extending from the body and supporting a plurality of propeller assemblies, each propeller assembly including at least one propeller and a corresponding motor with the motor housed in a watertight housing or coated and made corrosion resistant. The propellers comprise a first subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies and a second subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies which rotate in a plane positioned below a plane in which the first subset of propellers rotate, wherein said first and second subset of propellers are configured for independent operation of one another as the vehicle transitions from an air medium to a water medium.

Abstract: An airfoil blade assembly including a blade which includes a lift generating section with a first profiled body defined between a pressure surface and a suction surface. The first profiled body extends from a first leading edge to a first trailing edge with a first chord extending form the first leading edge to the first trailing edge and being perpendicular to the radial direction. At least one flow deflector extends along either the pressure surface or the suction surface within the lift generating section of the blade. The at least one flow deflector defines a second profiled body extending between a second leading edge and a second trailing edge with a second chord extending between the second leading edge and the second trailing edge. The second profiled body defines an outer surface facing away from respective pressure surface or suction surface along which the flow deflector extends.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle including a body and a frame structure extending from the body and supporting a plurality of propeller assemblies, each propeller assembly including at least one propeller and a corresponding motor with the motor housed in a watertight housing or coated and made corrosion resistant. The propellers comprise a first subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies and a second subset of propellers of the propeller assemblies which rotate in a plane positioned below a plane in which the first subset of propellers rotate, wherein said first and second subset of propellers are configured for independent operation of one another as the vehicle transitions from an air medium to a water medium.

Abstract: An airfoil blade assembly including a blade which includes a lift generating section with a first profiled body defined between a pressure surface and a suction surface. The first profiled body extends from a first leading edge to a first trailing edge with a first chord extending form the first leading edge to the first trailing edge and being perpendicular to the radial direction. At least one flow deflector extends along either the pressure surface or the suction surface within the lift generating section of the blade. The at least one flow deflector defines a second profiled body extending between a second leading edge and a second trailing edge with a second chord extending between the second leading edge and the second trailing edge. The second profiled body defines an outer surface facing away from respective pressure surface or suction surface along which the flow deflector extends.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel turbine design that increases turbine efficiency whereby turbine blades experience cyclic pitch variations while rotating about the blade axis which is accomplished by means of a concentric end cam double follower mechanism. This mechanism rotates the blades by 90 degrees about a horizontal axis which allows the blades rotating upstream and downstream to be oriented horizontally and vertically so minimum drag and maximum drag are obtained respectively. Since the aiding downstream drag is at a maximum, and the adverse upstream drag is at a minimum, this configuration allows for higher power output compared to conventional vertical axis wind turbines.

Abstract: An electrokinetic actuator for a propulsion system is described. The actuator includes an array of channels, with each channel having an inlet and an outlet. A reservoir is included that contains an ionic solution of particles. A first electrode proximate to (or deposited at) the inlet and a second electrode proximate to (or deposited at) the outlet are connected to a voltage source. The voltage source and electrodes apply a voltage across the length of the channels to generate an electric field parallel to each channel. The electric field causes an electro-osmotic flow of ions from the reservoir to the outlet producing electrokinetic thrust at the outlet. By varying the concentration of the ionic solution and the magnitude of the electric field, the electro-osmotic flow of ions is controlled.

Abstract: An electrokinetic actuator for a propulsion system is described. The actuator includes an array of channels, with each channel having an inlet and an outlet. A reservoir is included that contains an ionic solution of particles. A first electrode proximate to (or deposited at) the inlet and a second electrode proximate to (or deposited at) the outlet are connected to a voltage source. The voltage source and electrodes apply a voltage across the length of the channels to generate an electric field parallel to each channel. The electric field causes an electro-osmotic flow of ions from the reservoir to the outlet producing electrokinetic thrust at the outlet. By varying the concentration of the ionic solution and the magnitude of the electric field, the electro-osmotic flow of ions is controlled.