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, each wing is designed to tilt, thereby rotating the propellers, as the aircraft transitions between forward flight and hover flight. While in the hover flight, the propellers may be offset from vertical so that horizontal thrust components of the propellers may be used to provide efficient yaw control.

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.