Abstract: A solid motor coil with conductive pathways as part of a unitary construction. The conductive pathways are separated by resistive insulating layers. The conductive pathways may vary in their location within the cross-section of the motor coil, which may significantly reduce eddy current losses. The solid motor coil may result in a higher packing factor than previous designs. The solid motor coil may reduce the eddy current loss per conductor, with commensurate reduction in peak temperature rise. An electric motor with solid motor coils provides improved heat conduction and improved efficiency, allowing for a smaller motor package at higher power levels.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle configured with air intake in an otherwise higher drag location. In some aspects, the aerial vehicle is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The aircraft may intake the air to provide air to a hydrogen fuel cell system within the aircraft. The aircraft may have electric motor driven rotor assemblies which provide thrust for both vertical take-off and landing and forward flight operations. The electric motor driven rotor assemblies may be powered by electric power from the fuel cell system. The air intake may be on the forward portion of a nacelle placed in what would be a high drag location, such as at the junction of the wings and the fuselage, or the junction of the vertical stabilizers and the fuselage, for example.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft includes a starboard wing, a port wing, first and second tilt rotors coupled to the port and starboard wings respectively, and first and second batteries. A pair of control surfaces are arranged on a first side of the mid-sagittal plane of the aircraft, the pair comprising a first and a second control surface. A first flight actuator is electrically connected to the first battery and a second flight actuator is electrically connected to the second battery. The first and second flight actuators are mechanically connected to the first and second control surfaces respectively.

Abstract: An oblique flying wing aircraft with internal ducting and airflow. The aircraft may have propulsion units within the wing body. The propulsion units may be off-axis internal to the wing to utilize locations with larger internal space available. In some aspects, the multi-segment oblique flying wing aircraft may have three distinct segments including two outer wing segments and a central wing segment. The central segment may be thicker in the vertical direction and adapted to hold pilots and passengers. The outer wing segments may be substantially thinner and may taper as they progress outboard from the wing center. The multi-segment oblique flying wing aircraft be adapted for rotating into a high-speed flight configuration, or may be adapted for take-off and cruise at a constant angle.

Abstract: A high efficiency hydrogen fuel system for an aircraft at high altitude which utilizes compressors to compress air to a sufficiently high pressure for the fuel cell. Liquid hydrogen is compressed and then utilized in heat exchangers to cool the compressed air, maintaining the air at a temperature low enough for the fuel cell. The hydrogen is also used to cool the fuel cell as it is also depressurized prior to its entry in the fuel cell cycle. A water condensation system allows for water removal from the airstream to reduce impacts to the atmosphere. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with VTOL aircraft, which may allow them to fly at higher elevations. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with other subsonic and supersonic aircraft, such as with asymmetric wing aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system with an internally cooled electric motor adapted for use in an aerial vehicle. The motor may have its stator towards the center and have an external rotor. The rotor structure may be air cooled and may be a complex structure with an internal lattice adapted for airflow. The stator structure may be liquid cooled and may be a complex structure with an internal lattice adapted for liquid to flow through. A fluid pump may pump a liquid coolant through non-rotating portions of the motor stator and then through heat exchangers cooled in part by air which has flowed through the rotating portions of the motor rotor. The drag reduction portion and the cooled electric motor portion may share the same inlet.

Abstract: A slanted heat exchange system and method for use in aerodynamic vehicle and for transferring heat between a coolant and a fluid. In some examples, the aerodynamic vehicle is an aircraft, and the fluid is air. The slanted heat exchange system and method include a slanted heat exchanger that is slanted relative to a channel direction just before the slanted heat exchanger. The slanted heat exchanger has an increased frontal surface area while still preserving a relatively compact cross-sectional area when viewed from the front. An array of inlet turning vanes both diffuse and slow down the fluid while also turning the fluid to enter the slanted heat exchanger approximately perpendicular to the slanted heat exchanger. This mitigates turning losses and reduces any pressure drop across the heat exchanger. In some examples, an array of outlet turning vanes turns and accelerates the fluid exiting the slanted heat exchanger.

Abstract: A multi-segment oblique flying wing aircraft which has three distinct segments including two outer wing segments and a central wing segment. The central segment may be thicker in the vertical direction and adapted to hold pilots and passengers. The outer wing segments may be substantially thinner and may taper as they progress outboard from the wing center. The multi-segment oblique flying wing aircraft be adapted for rotating into a high speed flight configuration, or may be adapted for take-off and cruise at a constant angle. In an extreme flight case, the central wing segment may rotate to a local sweep of ninety degrees.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using a set of wing mounted thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle may have deployment mechanisms which deploy electric motor driven propellers from a forward facing to a vertical orientation. The aerial vehicle may be powered with electric motors.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using a set of wing mounted thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle may have deployment mechanisms which deploy electric motor driven propellers from a forward facing to a vertical orientation. The aerial vehicle may have rear mounted rotors adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle may be powered with electric motors.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft which uses fixed rotors for both VTOL and forward flight operations. The wing rotors are tilted forward and provide some forward propulsion during horizontal flight. The rotors are positioned to achieve a high span efficiency. The rotors are positioned to even out the lift across the span of the synthetic wing. The synthetic wing may also have airfoils which may provide structural support for the rotors as well as providing lift during forward flight.

Abstract: The aircraft can include: an airframe, a tilt mechanism, a payload housing, and can optionally include an impact attenuator, a set of ground support members (e.g., struts), a set of power sources, and a set of control elements. The airframe can include: a set of rotors and a set of support members. By utilizing a larger rotor blade area (and/or larger rotor disc area) and adjusting the blade pitch and RPM, the rotors can augment the lift generated by the aerodynamic profile of the aircraft in the forward flight mode in addition to providing forward thrust. Variants generating lift with the rotors can reduce or eliminate additional control surfaces (e.g., wing flaps, ailerons, ruddervators, elevators, rudder, etc.) on the aircraft since the thrust and motor torque is controllable (thereby indirectly controlling lift) at each rotor, thereby enabling pitch, yaw, and/or roll control during forward flight.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using pivoting thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to takeoff with thrust units providing vertical thrust and then transitioning to a horizontal flight path. An aerial vehicle with pivoting thrust units with propellers, wherein some or all of the propellers are able to be stowed and fully nested during forward flight.

Abstract: The power system can include: a plurality of batteries, a plurality of electric propulsion units, flight computers, and power connections. The propulsion assemblies can include a motor, a propeller, and one or more inverters. The power system can optionally include a plurality of flight actuators. However, the power system can include any other suitable set of components. The power system functions to provide aircraft propulsion and/or aircraft control authority during flight.

Abstract: An aircraft including an airframe and a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to the airframe, wherein each propulsion assembly includes an electric motor, a propeller coupled to the electric motor, and a tilt mechanism that connects the propulsion assembly to the airframe and transforms the propulsion assembly between a forward configuration and a hover configuration; wherein the plurality of propulsion assemblies is transformable between a forward arrangement and a hover arrangement, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion assemblies is in the forward configuration in the forward arrangement, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion assemblies is in the hover configuration in the hover arrangement, wherein the spacing between at least two of the propellers of the plurality of propulsion assemblies changes between the forward arrangement and the hover arrangement.

Abstract: A compact harmonic drive system with a motor residing within the flexspline cup. The motor may reside further into the flexspline cup than the wave generator, and the air gap of the motor may be further out radially than the interior of the wave generator bearing. The motor may use an outrunner configuration with an outboard rotor made up of magnets, allowing for a large radial distance to the air gap and resulting in higher torque. The interior stator windings are thermally well coupled to the drive system structure. The harmonic drive may be coupled to a deployment system adapted to support moment loads perpendicular to the rotation axis such that those loads are not supported by the harmonic drive.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for positioning a mounted camera. The device includes a holding element that secures the mounted camera to the device, a wireless linkage at which remote attitude commands representing attitude changes of a remote driver are received, a local controller that interprets the remote attitude commands and generates local attitude commands that move the camera to mimic an orientation of the remote driver, and an attitude sensing element that senses a local attitude of the device. The attitude sensing element includes a gyro, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer, and jitter present in the remote attitude commands is removed and not passed on to the local attitude commands.

Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft and method which uses fixed rotors for both VTOL and forward flight operations. The rotors are positioned to achieve a high span efficiency. The rotors are positioned to even out the lift across the span of the wing. The wing may also have narrow front and rear airfoils which may provide structural support as well as providing lift during forward flight, or may have a single center wing. The wing rotors are tilted forward and provide some forward propulsion during horizontal flight.

Abstract: The unified command system and/or method includes an input mechanism, a flight processor that receives input from the input mechanism and translates the input into control output, and effectors that are actuated according to the control output. The system can optionally include: one or more sensors, a vehicle navigation system which determines a vehicle state and/or flight regime based on data from the one or more sensors, and a vehicle guidance system which determines a flightpath for the aircraft.

Abstract: A compact harmonic drive system with a motor residing within the flexspline cup. The motor may reside further into the flexspline cup than the wave generator, and the air gap of the motor may be further out radially than the interior of the wave generator bearing. The motor may use an outrunner configuration with an outboard rotor made up of magnets, allowing for a large radial distance to the air gap and resulting in higher torque. The interior stator windings are thermally well coupled to the drive system structure. The harmonic drive may be coupled to a deployment system adapted to support moment loads perpendicular to the rotation axis such that those loads are not supported by the harmonic drive.