Abstract: An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules, a dovetail, and a T-tail. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules are coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing. The dovetail is attached to an underside of a fuselage. The T-tail is located above the dovetail. A horizontal plane of the T-tail is at a height that is higher than a horizonal plane of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Abstract: A rotor system design can reduce blade-wake interaction by staggering the vertical mounting position of the rotor blades on a hub. By staggering the vertical position, as the hub turns, the turbulent air impingement on subsequent rotor blades can be reduced. By reducing the turbulence on subsequent rotor blades the drag and noise is reduced. In rotor systems with an even number of blades, opposing rotor blade pairs can be mounted at the same vertical distance which can be different from other opposing rotor blade pairs. In rotor systems with an odd number of rotor blades, the rotor blades can be mounted at a fixed or variable vertical distances from the preceding blade so each rotor blade travels in a different tip path plane. Other techniques for reducing the wake vortices impingement can include mounting opposing blades at a dihedral/anhedral angle with respect to subsequent rotor blades.

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules, a dovetail, and a T-tail. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules are coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing. The dovetail is attached to an underside of a fuselage. The T-tail is located above the dovetail. A horizontal plane of the T-tail is at a height that is higher than a horizonal plane of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to improving efficiency on an aircraft. The aircraft can include at least one propulsion system with one or more strakes attached to a spinner and positioned adjacent to the root portion of one or more corresponding rotor blades. The strakes can be configured to align with the rotor blades when the rotor blades are set to a cruising pitch position.

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules, a dovetail, and a T-tail. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules are coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing. The dovetail is attached to an underside of a fuselage. The T-tail is located above the dovetail. A horizontal plane of the T-tail is at a height that is higher than a horizonal plane of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Abstract: A first power source includes a high discharge rate battery and a second power source includes a high energy battery. An electronically activated switch switches between the first power source and the second power source in response to a control signal from a power controller. If the electronically activated switch fails, it fails with one of the first power source and the second power source in an open circuit position and with the other one of the first power source and the second power source in a closed circuit position. The power controller generates the control signal, including by: during a vertical landing associated with a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, generating the control signal to switch from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery independent of a measured current.

Abstract: A manned/unmanned aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing which is configured to be easily disassembled and reassembled. The aerial vehicle may be assembled with different wings based upon flight needs, which may be based upon cargo mass and flight duration, for example. The aerial vehicle may utilize structural booms within components, and may allow for decoupling of boom sections to facilitate disassembly. The aerial vehicle may utilize electric motors and store power in batteries. A method of customizing a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle based upon flight profile factors such as duration, stability, and maneuverability. A method of disassembling an aerial vehicle for storage and/or transport.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a VTOL aircraft including a plurality of tilting propeller assemblies each coupled to a support structure and configured to transition between a vertical flight and a forward flight position. Each tilting propeller assembly comprising a propeller and a movable fairing provided downstream of the propeller. The movable fairing is configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the propeller. When the tilting propeller assembly transitions between the vertical and forward flight position, the movable fairing is configured to swivel to extend parallel to the direction of resultant airflow over the tilting propeller assembly into a minimum drag orientation. The movable fairing is damped enough to prevent any oscillations from the propeller wake shedding, and at the same time, keep the propeller aligned in a minimum-drag orientation with the resultant flow.

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules includes a first tilt rotor submodule where the leading edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 40% to 60%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule where 0% corresponds to a forward tip of the first tilt rotor submodule and 100% corresponds to an aft tip of the first tilt rotor submodule. The trailing edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 55% to 80%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules also includes a second tilt rotor submodule that is coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Abstract: A first power source includes a high discharge rate battery and a second power source includes a high energy battery. An electronically activated switch switches between the first power source and the second power source in response to a control signal from a power controller. If the electronically activated switch fails, it fails with one of the first power source and the second power source in an open circuit position and with the other one of the first power source and the second power source in a closed circuit position. The power controller generates the control signal, including by: during a vertical landing associated with a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, generating the control signal to switch from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery independent of a measured current.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a tilt rotor that is aft of a fixed wing and that is attached to the fixed wing via a pylon. A flight computer configured to instruct the tilt rotor to produce a maximum downward angle including by updating an actuator authority database associated with the flight computer to reflect the maximum downward angle, and generating a rotor control signal for the tilt rotor using the updated actuator authority database that reflects the maximum downward angle, wherein the maximum downward angle is adjustable.

Abstract: During a cruise mode, a cruise-only propeller provides thrust using power from a first power source. During a hovering mode and a transitional mode, the propeller provides no thrust. The first power source includes an internal combustion engine; a second power source includes a high discharge rate battery and a high energy battery. The propeller is electrically connected to the first power source and is electrically disconnected from the second power source. During the hovering mode and the transitional mode, a hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor provides thrust using power from the second power source. During a vertical landing, the tiltrotor switches power sources from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery, independent of current draw. The tiltrotor is electrically disconnected from the first power source and is electrically connected to the second power source. During the cruise mode, the tiltrotor provides no thrust.

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules includes a first tilt rotor submodule where the leading edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 40% to 60%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule where 0% corresponds to a forward tip of the first tilt rotor submodule and 100% corresponds to an aft tip of the first tilt rotor submodule. The trailing edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 55% to 80%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules also includes a second tilt rotor submodule that is coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a VTOL aircraft including a plurality of tilting propeller assemblies each coupled to a support structure and configured to transition between a vertical flight and a forward flight position. Each tilting propeller assembly comprising a propeller and a movable fairing provided downstream of the propeller. The movable fairing is configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the propeller. When the tilting propeller assembly transitions between the vertical and forward flight position, the movable fairing is configured to swivel to extend parallel to the direction of resultant airflow over the tilting propeller assembly into a minimum drag orientation. The movable fairing is damped enough to prevent any oscillations from the propeller wake shedding, and at the same time, keep the propeller aligned in a minimum-drag orientation with the resultant flow.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a VTOL aircraft including a plurality of tilting propeller assemblies each coupled to a support structure and configured to transition between a vertical flight and a forward flight position. Each tilting propeller assembly comprising a propeller and a movable fairing provided downstream of the propeller. The movable fairing is configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the propeller. When the tilting propeller assembly transitions between the vertical and forward flight position, the movable fairing is configured to swivel to extend parallel to the direction of resultant airflow over the tilting propeller assembly into a minimum drag orientation. The movable fairing is damped enough to prevent any oscillations from the propeller wake shedding, and at the same time, keep the propeller aligned in a minimum-drag orientation with the resultant flow.

Abstract: During a cruise mode, a cruise-only propeller provides thrust using power from a first power source. During a hovering mode and a transitional mode, the propeller provides no thrust. The first power source includes an internal combustion engine; a second power source includes a high discharge rate battery and a high energy battery. The propeller is electrically connected to the first power source and is electrically disconnected from the second power source. During the hovering mode and the transitional mode, a hover-and-transition-only tiltrotor provides thrust using power from the second power source. During a vertical landing, the tiltrotor switches power sources from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery, independent of current draw. The tiltrotor is electrically disconnected from the first power source and is electrically connected to the second power source. During the cruise mode, the tiltrotor provides no thrust.

Abstract: A hybrid power system includes a first power source that includes an internal combustion engine, a second power source that includes a battery, and a power controller. The hybrid power system is included in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle that flies in a transitional mode between a hovering mode and a forward flight mode. The power controller selects one or more of the first power source and the second power source to power a rotor included in the VTOL vehicle, including by: during a landing, the power controller determines when to have the second power source provide power to the rotor, in order to supplement power provided to the rotor by the first power source, based at least in part on one or more flight state variables associated with a flight computer.

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a canard having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a forward swept and fixed wing having a trailing edge, and a plurality of tilt rotor submodules. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules includes a first tilt rotor submodule where the leading edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 40% to 60%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule where 0% corresponds to a forward tip of the first tilt rotor submodule and 100% corresponds to an aft tip of the first tilt rotor submodule. The trailing edge of the canard contacts the first tilt rotor submodule at position that is within a range of 55% to 80%, inclusive, of the length of the first tilt rotor submodule. The plurality of tilt rotor submodules also includes a second tilt rotor submodule that is coupled to the trailing edge of the forward swept and fixed wing.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a VTOL aircraft including a plurality of tilting propeller assemblies each coupled to a support structure and configured to transition between a vertical flight and a forward flight position. Each tilting propeller assembly comprising a propeller and a movable fairing provided downstream of the propeller. The movable fairing is configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the propeller. When the tilting propeller assembly transitions between the vertical and forward flight position, the movable fairing is configured to swivel to extend parallel to the direction of resultant airflow over the tilting propeller assembly into a minimum drag orientation. The movable fairing is damped enough to prevent any oscillations from the propeller wake shedding, and at the same time, keep the propeller aligned in a minimum-drag orientation with the resultant flow.