Abstract: A method of controlling an electric aircraft that has a plurality of actuators that includes a plurality of electric propulsion units includes: receiving force and moment commands for the electric aircraft; determining control commands for the plurality of actuators based on the desired force and moment commands by solving an optimization problem that comprises a noise minimization term for minimizing noise generated by the electric propulsion units; and controlling the plurality of actuators according to the determined control commands to meet the force and moment commands for the electric aircraft.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric aircraft that has a plurality of actuators that includes a plurality of electric propulsion units includes: receiving force and moment commands for the electric aircraft; determining control commands for the plurality of actuators based on the desired force and moment commands by solving an optimization problem that comprises a noise minimization term for minimizing noise generated by the electric propulsion units; and controlling the plurality of actuators according to the determined control commands to meet the force and moment commands for the electric aircraft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to electric aircraft, and more specifically to electric power distribution for electric aircraft. In one embodiment, an electric aircraft is disclosed, comprising: a fuselage; two wings mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage; a plurality of first electric propulsion units, arranged on both sides of the fuselage, aft of the wings during forward flight; a plurality of second electric propulsion units arranged on both sides of the fuselage, forward of the wings during forward flight; and a plurality of battery packs, each battery pack configured to power at least: a portion of one of the first electric propulsion units on one side of the fuselage, and a portion of one of the second electric propulsion units on the other side of the fuselage.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft may include a fuselage; at least one wing connected to the fuselage; a first plurality of proprotors mounted to the at least one wing, positioned at least partially forward of a leading edge of the at least one wing, and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft; and a second plurality of proprotors mounted to the at least one wing, positioned at least partially rearward of a trailing edge of the at least one wing, and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft; wherein the first plurality of proprotors and the second plurality of proprotors are independently tiltable.

Abstract: A passenger vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a flying wing comprising a passenger compartment, a first set of rotors positioned at least partially forward of a leading edge of the flying wing, and a second set of rotors positioned at least partially rearward of a trailing edge of the flying wing. The first set of rotors may include at least four rotors and the second set of rotors may comprise at least two rotors. The first set of rotors, the second set of rotors, both, or neither may be tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft.

Abstract: A rotor mounting assembly for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a boom configured for mounting to a wing of the aircraft; a mount for mounting a rotor assembly, the mount connected to the boom at a joint and tiltable about the joint from a forward thrust orientation in which the rotor assembly can provide forward thrust for forward flight to a vertical thrust orientation in which the rotor assembly can provide vertical thrust for vertical take-off and landing and hover; a multi-link assembly extending from the boom to the mount; and a rotary actuator for actuating the multi-link assembly to control tilting of the mount.

Abstract: A rotor mounting assembly for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a boom configured for mounting to a wing of the aircraft; a mount for mounting a rotor assembly, the mount connected to the boom at a joint and tiltable about the joint from a forward thrust orientation in which the rotor assembly can provide forward thrust for forward flight to a vertical thrust orientation in which the rotor assembly can provide vertical thrust for vertical take-off and landing and hover; a multi-link assembly extending from the boom to the mount; and a rotary actuator for actuating the multi-link assembly to control tilting of the mount.

Abstract: An electric aircraft includes rotors for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft, proprotors that are tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft, a first battery pack for powering a first rotor and a first proprotor, a second battery pack for powering a second rotor and a second proprotor, a first electric power bus electrically connecting the first battery pack to the first rotor and proprotor, and a second electric power bus electrically connecting the second battery pack to the second rotor and proprotor, wherein the second electric power bus is electrically isolated from the first electric power bus.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a fuselage, at least one wing connected to the fuselage, a plurality of rotors connected to the at least one wing for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and a plurality of proprotors connected to the at least one wing and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for assigning swappable battery packs to electric aircraft includes receiving, at a computing system, status information for a plurality of battery packs located at at least one battery swapping location, wherein the status information comprises states of charge and states of health for the plurality of battery packs; determining, by the computing system, energy requirements for a plurality of electric aircraft based at least in part on flight plans for the plurality of electric aircraft; determining, by the computing system, assignments of at least a portion of the plurality of battery packs to the plurality of electric aircraft based at least in part on the states of charge and states of health of the plurality of battery packs and the energy requirements for the plurality of aircraft; and swapping at least one battery pack into at least one aircraft based on the determined assignments.

Abstract: A rotor mounting assembly for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a boom configured for mounting to a wing of the aircraft; a mount for mounting a rotor assembly, the mount connected to the boom at a joint and tiltable about the joint from a forward thrust orientation in which the rotor assembly can provide forward thrust for forward flight to a vertical thrust orientation in which the rotor assembly can provide vertical thrust for vertical take-off and landing and hover; a multi-link assembly extending from the boom to the mount; and a rotary actuator for actuating the multi-link assembly to control tilting of the mount.

Abstract: A passenger vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a flying wing comprising a passenger compartment, a first set of rotors positioned at least partially forward of a leading edge of the flying wing, and a second set of rotors positioned at least partially rearward of a trailing edge of the flying wing. The first set of rotors may include at least four rotors and the second set of rotors may comprise at least two rotors. The first set of rotors, the second set of rotors, both, or neither may be tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for assigning swappable battery packs to electric aircraft includes receiving, at a computing system, status information for a plurality of battery packs located at at least one battery swapping location, wherein the status information comprises states of charge and states of health for the plurality of battery packs; determining, by the computing system, energy requirements for a plurality of electric aircraft based at least in part on flight plans for the plurality of electric aircraft; determining, by the computing system, assignments of at least a portion of the plurality of battery packs to the plurality of electric aircraft based at least in part on the states of charge and states of health of the plurality of battery packs and the energy requirements for the plurality of aircraft; and swapping at least one battery pack into at least one aircraft based on the determined assignments.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft may include a fuselage; at least one wing connected to the fuselage; a first plurality of proprotors mounted to the at least one wing, positioned at least partially forward of a leading edge of the at least one wing, and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft; and a second plurality of proprotors mounted to the at least one wing, positioned at least partially rearward of a trailing edge of the at least one wing, and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft; wherein the first plurality of proprotors and the second plurality of proprotors are independently tiltable.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric aircraft that has a plurality of actuators that includes a plurality of electric propulsion units includes: receiving force and moment commands for the electric aircraft; determining control commands for the plurality of actuators based on the desired force and moment commands by solving an optimization problem that comprises a noise minimization term for minimizing noise generated by the electric propulsion units; and controlling the plurality of actuators according to the determined control commands to meet the force and moment commands for the electric aircraft.

Abstract: An electric aircraft includes rotors for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft, proprotors that are tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft, a first battery pack for powering a first rotor and a first proprotor, a second battery pack for powering a second rotor and a second proprotor, a first electric power bus electrically connecting the first battery pack to the first rotor and proprotor, and a second electric power bus electrically connecting the second battery pack to the second rotor and proprotor, wherein the second electric power bus is electrically isolated from the first electric power bus.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a fuselage, at least one wing connected to the fuselage, a plurality of rotors connected to the at least one wing for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and a plurality of proprotors connected to the at least one wing and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft

Abstract: An electric aircraft has a fault-tolerant electrical system designed to optimize competing concerns related to cost, performance, and safety. An electrical system in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure has a plurality of power sources (e.g., batteries) that are connected to other electrical components, such as motors for driving propellers or flight control surfaces, by a plurality of electrical buses. Each such bus is electrically isolated from the other buses to help the system better withstand electrical faults. Further, one or more of the electrical buses is connected to motors for driving multiple propellers. Selection of the propellers to be powered by energy received from the same bus is optimized so as to limit the effect of an electrical fault on the stability and controllability of the aircraft.

Abstract: A monitoring system (5, 205) for an aircraft (10) has sensors (20, 30) that are used to sense the air movement around the aircraft. The monitoring system may use information from the sensors to estimate the effects of the air movement on the aircraft and to determine how to control components of the aircraft, such as flight control surfaces and a propulsion system, to compensate for such effects. The monitoring system may also assess aircraft performance based on the air movement information and provide control inputs for improving such performance. It is also possible for the monitoring system to determine more optimal flight paths for avoiding collision threats based on the air movement information.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to self-piloted, electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that are safe, low-noise, and cost-effective to operate for cargo-carrying and passenger-carrying applications over relatively long ranges. A VTOL aircraft has a tandem-wing configuration with one or more propellers mounted on each wing to provide propeller redundancy, allowing sufficient propulsion and control to be maintained in the event of a failure of any of the propellers or other flight control devices. The arrangement also allows the propellers to be electrically-powered, yet capable of providing sufficient thrust with a relatively low blade speed, which helps to reduce noise. In addition, the aircraft is aerodynamically designed for efficient flight dynamics with redundant controls for yaw, pitch, and roll.