Abstract: A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the around effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

Abstract: A multirotor aircraft with at least two thrust producing units, the multirotor aircraft being adapted for transportation of passengers and comprising an aircraft operating structure that is adapted for operation of the multirotor aircraft in failure-free operating mode, and a redundant security architecture that is at least adapted for operation of the multirotor aircraft in case of a failure of the aircraft operating structure in operation, the redundant security architecture being provided to comply with applicable authority regulations and certification requirements regarding passenger transportation.

Abstract: One or more devices, systems, and/or methods for controlling a motor vehicle based upon wind are provided. For example, a first measurement of wind detected by a first sensor coupled to the motor vehicle may be received from the first sensor. A second measurement of wind associated with a location of the motor vehicle may be received from a server. A wind effect (e.g., cost, inefficiency, danger, etc.) on the motor vehicle may be determined based upon the first measurement of wind and/or the second measurement of wind. A corrective action for the motor vehicle may be determined based upon the wind effect, and may be implemented on the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A observation device includes an aircraft and an observation unit attached to the aircraft that observes a target within a predetermined view angle. The aircraft includes a base, at least two thrusters that generate a propulsion force including lift, actuators that change a direction of the propulsion force generated by the thrusters with respect to the base, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that detects an orientation of the base with respect to a ground surface, and a controller that controls the thrusters and the actuators based on the orientation of the base detected by the IMU. The observation unit is fixedly attached to the base and the aircraft is configured to fly in any arbitrary orientation with respect to the ground surface through a combination of a magnitude of the propulsion force and the direction of the propulsion force of each of the thrusters.

Abstract: A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact.

Abstract: The invention is a hovercraft with multiple lift chambers which are operable independently of each other. Independently-operable pivot arm assemblies connect each lift chamber to the hovercraft main body, and his gives the hovercraft the ability to travel over uneven surfaces, traverse obstacles that would block conventional hovercrafts, and climb or descend even severe inclines. The hovercraft also includes side thrusters which allow it to maintain its vertical position on an incline while traveling laterally across the incline.

Abstract: A turf maintenance vehicle all-wheel drive traction control system includes a primary wheel propelling the vehicle. A first motor rotates the primary wheel. A traction control system has a first portion communicating with the first motor to monitor either a first motor current demand or a rotational speed of the primary wheel or the first motor and generates a traction control value. A secondary wheel rotated by a second motor steers the vehicle in a vehicle non-slip condition. A traction control system second portion determines a secondary wheel steering angle value. A speed threshold limit stored in the traction control system compared to the traction control value generates a slippage occurrence message indicative of a primary wheel traction loss event. A second motor drive signal created by comparing the steering angle value and the slippage occurrence message energizes the second motor during the traction loss event.

Abstract: In an arrangement for strengthening the road grip for a vehicle, particularly for a passenger car, air can be sucked from a vacuum chamber arranged under the vehicle and closed off with respect to the ambient atmosphere. As a result, a vacuum can be generated in a vacuum chamber arranged in a braking plate, and the latter can be changed from an inoperative position away from the ground into a operative position close to the ground, as a result of the generated vacuum.

Abstract: A device for interrupting an automobile ignition in the event of a stuck throttle comprising a multifunction accelerator pedal adapted to engage an interruption means for grounding the ignition in response to an undesirable throttle status, such that the pedal communicates an undesirable throttle status to the interruption means.

Abstract: A method of reducing wheel slip and wheel locking in an electric traction vehicle includes receiving in a first controller a first signal value representative of a first amount of torque to be applied to at least one wheel of the electric traction vehicle by a motor coupled to the wheel and to the first controller, and a second signal value representative of a reference speed of the electric traction vehicle. The first and second signal values are generated by a second controller in communication with the first controller. The method also includes receiving in the first controller a third signal value representative of a speed of the at least one wheel, determining in the first controller a torque output signal using the first, second, and third signal values; and transmitting the torque output signal from the first controller to the motor.

Abstract: A vehicle attitude control apparatus has suspensions Sfl, Srl, Sfr, and Srr that suspend each of front-left, rear-left, front-right and rear-right wheels Wfl, Wrl, Wfr, and Wrr; electric motors 21, 22, 23 and 24 that independently drive each of four wheels; lateral acceleration sensor 31; and controller 32. The controller 32 calculates the roll angle and roll direction of a vehicle body BD by using the detected lateral acceleration. Further, the controller 32 increases or decreases the driving torques generated by the electric motors 21 to 24 by a driving torque changing amount in accordance with the calculated roll angle and roll direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing vertical lift in a vehicle. In one embodiment, two sets of trans-flow fans discharge air through multi-directional vane assemblies that direct the discharged air outward and downward. Each one of the sets of fans is positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle. The multi-directional vane assemblies include vertical vanes that direct the discharged air fore and aft and horizontal vanes that direct the discharged air downward at various angles. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a hovercraft skirt and a portion of the discharge air is directed into the skirt, causing the vehicle lift vertically on a cushion of air. In one such embodiment, a flow director controls the amount of discharged air flowing through the inlet to the volume defined by the skirt.

Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive and operating drives for the movement of the load-lifting device (1). A calculation model (D) is stored in a control device (SE), to which directly or indirectly acting sensors (S) are connected for detecting the lifting load (L), the lifting height (H), the tilting angle (WM), the load torque (M), the direction of travel (R), the driving speed (V), and the steering angle (WL). The control device (SE) is designed to determine a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (L, H, WM, M, R, V, WL) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive and the operating drives. Depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, the operating speed, starting and braking acceleration, and driving speed are each reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hovercraft, comprising at least one fan for producing an air cushion, and at least one thrust unit, which acts on the top surface (4) of the craft and which is used to propel it and/or to control its direction. Both the fan and the thrust unit have at least one airscrew that is driven by means of a motor (5, 6, 21) and generates an air current. The motor takes the form of an electromotor (5, 6, 21) located directly on the airscrew. At least one central energy generator (7), which supplies the electromotor (E1, E2, A) with driving energy via an energy line (5a, 6a, 21a), is provided in order to generate the electrical driving energy required by said electromotor (E1, E2, A).

Abstract: A control system for a plurality of motor vehicle chassis subsystems comprises a reference model, a state estimator, a feedforward controller, and a feedback controller. The reference model computes desired states of the chassis subsystems. The state estimator estimates actual states of the vehicle. The feedforward controller computes a control value based on input from the reference model, and the feedback controller computes a control value by comparing the estimates of actual states with the desired states.

Abstract: To secure normal operation and then restart a microprocessor (CPU) when a CPU built into an on-vehicle electronic apparatus runs away. A number of on-vehicle loads driven from a CPU, a watchdog timer for monitoring the CPU to reset and restart it on occurrence of an abnormality, and a memory element for storing generation of the reset output are provided, and load driving elements or a load relay is rendered inoperative by output of the memory element. The memory element is reset by cutting off or reclosing the power switch, and an on-vehicle electronic apparatus returns to a normal state.

Abstract: An automobile having a chassis and an outer cladding in the form of an airfoil with the top roof wall forming the pressure surface and the bottom wall the forming the suction surface with the front of the automobile acting as a leading edge and in the rear, the trailing edge.

Abstract: A transportation system has an air cushion vehicle in a U-shaped or W-shaped channel in the ground. The channel provides support and directional stability for the air cushion vehicle during transit along its length. This system assures high speed overland transport of heavy equipment which is faster than trains, and the system is cost effective since it does not incur expensive nonrecurring capital investments and expensive recurring maintenance costs. This transportation system is adaptable to existing overland right-of-ways.

Abstract: A ground effect vehicle wherein a flap coupled to a spoiler is provided on the wings in order to break lift when the craft starts to leave ground effect travel in order to avoid flight out of ground effect.

Abstract: The surface effect vehicle comprises a plurality of lift fans for generating an air cushion, each of the fans having a drive with a motor and a regulating circuit with sensors and actuators for acting on the air cushion, each of the drives having an associated regulating circuit, the drive of the first one of the lift fans being operated as a master drive, while a rest of the lift fans being operated as follower drives.

Abstract: A sidewall air cushion vehicle or side effect ship (SES) includes a pair of parallel body members which are connected to each other by a rigid structure above the water surface, a flexible bow skirt in the front of the vehicle and a flexible stern skirt in the rear of the vehicle, an air cushion space between said bow and stern skirts, partition means extending transversely to the fore-aft-direction of the vehicle and dividing said space at substantially the mid thereof so as to provide a pair of compartments which are separated from each other by said partition means in a substantially fluid tight manner, at least one fan means for generating air cushions in said compartments, and sensor means for sensing the pitch angle or the pitch angle velocity of the vehicle to be used as control parameters for control of the pressure of the air in the compartments; the partition means and/or a bypass passage bypassing said partition means includes flow control means having an adjustable flow cross section and adapted t

Abstract: An air cushion vehicle having improved maneuverability is produced by providing air discharge vents for diverting at least a portion of the pressurizing cushion air from the side of the volute housing opposite that to which the vehicle is being turned, and discharging it from a thruster at said opposite side in a direction away from the direction of the turn. The thruster is located at a forward position, above the deck of the vehicle and adjacent the centerline thereof, and the discharged air produces a thrust which causes the vehicle to roll in the direction of the turn and permits cushion air to escape from beneath the vehicle at said opposite side, producing a thrust complimentary to the thrust from the volute housing.

Abstract: An air cushion vehicle has a substantially-endless downward and inward directed rigid primary nozzle supplied with air under pressure for producing an air curtain that creates and confines a central primary air cushion beneath the vehicle which mainly supports it. The vehicle also has at least two substantially-endless downward and inward directed rigid secondary nozzles arranged on generally opposite sides of the primary nozzle and each supplied with air under pressure for producing an air curtain that creates and confines a stabilizing air cushion beneath the vehicle smaller than the primary air cushion. The two stabilizing cushions are preferably of the same size and shape and each smaller than the primary cushion. When the vehicle leans or dips toward one of the stabilizing cushions when travelling over a surface, e.g. land or water, the pressure of that one stabilizing cushion increases and tends to push the vehicle back up to a level position.

Abstract: A hovercraft includes a hull having a plurality of diffusion apertures and air skirt for providing a supporting air cushion. An engine drives a propeller which produces an airflow. A movable elevator dynamically divides the propeller airflow between lift and thrust components. A pair of rudders are supported within the thrust component to provide steering.

Abstract: A flight system capable of passively stable hover comprises an apparatus defining a vertical axis, and including multiple upright ducts spaced about the axis; fluid momentum generators in the ducts to effect flow of fluid downwardly in the ducts; and fluid flow deflector structure in the path of the downwardly flowing fluid, and angled to deflect the fluid flow away from the axis, in such manner as to provide stability in hover of the apparatus.

Abstract: A surface effect transport vehicle is provided having a structure supported by a cushion of pressurized air generated from a blower. The propulsive source of the vehicle is independent from the power source of the blower. The propulsion source includes at least one retractable propeller device adapted to be made operative during travel over the water and nonoperative during travel over land, and at least one retractable wheel device, for travelling over land or in shallow water, which is made operative when the propeller device is retracted to its nonoperaitve condition, and vice-versa. Preferably the wheel device has at least two lateral faired propellers operative when the propeller device for propulsion over water is retracted to its nonoperative position. The supported structure includes automatic controls that simultaneously controlling the lift properly speaking, the attitude of the vehicle as well as its stability when passing over an obstacle or at the time of a dynamic disturbance.

Abstract: A new air cushion support system for air cushion vehicles is composed of a plurality of annular peripheral jet units or modules distributed in an array in a common plane. Each peripheral jet module develops a separate air cushion or air bubble under the module to provide a plurality of independent air cushions under a vehicle. Each peripheral jet module or unit is a spring-loaded pressurized air valve with a control piston at the center of the valve spring biased to respond to back pressure variation of the air bubble or air cushion developed beneath the module caused by variations in terrain over which a vehicle is traveling. Each module or valve is formed by a pod defined by an inwardly sloping peripheral outer wall or pod skirt for directing pressurized air inwardly and downwardly toward the pod. Each module further includes a valve head, piston or pit seating within the pod skirt.

Abstract: A controller operative to adjust the supply of compressed air to aircushions, in response to changes in load, includes a pneumatically-driven pressure regulator and damped means to accumulate or vent control pressure in response to a sensed distance between the carrier frame and a gliding surface.

Abstract: A fluid flow control system for connecting a source of pressurized fluid with a region of varying pressure, comprises a fluid supply duct having an inlet end connectable to the pressure source end and an outlet end connectable to the region of varying pressure, a vent duct disposed between the inlet and outlet ends, and a vent valve sensitive to change in pressure within the supply duct and operable so as to control the escape of fluid from the supply duct. The vent valve preferably comprises a flexible wall member of hollow, inflatable form. In operation of the system, a relatively small amount of fluid is allowed to escape when pressure at or adjacent the outlet end of the supply duct is substantially less than that at or adjacent the inlet end thereof, and a relatively large amount of fluid is allowed to escape when the pressure differential is reversed. The system is particularly useful as a "ride" control for gas-cushion vehicles operating over rough ground or water.

Abstract: An air cushion vehicle is provided with a lift system including a flexible keel. The vehicle has a rigid body which is supported on an air cushion. The air cushion is divided into two longitudinal semichambers by a flexible keel and is further defined by flexible skirts provided at the periphery of the rigid body. The flexible keel directs lift air to the semichambers and controls the attitude of the vehicle by automatically distributing lift air to one of the two longitudinal semichambers to provide a stabilizing force. The flexible keel is constructed of a plurality of flexible segments, each of which has two triangular portions which are joined by a trapezoidal portion having a curved bottom. When the flexible sheets are formed into a working configuration the two triangular portions are joined at a fastening point so that the top edge each of the flexible segment form a triangle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting rapid changes in the geometry of a flexible wall structure forming at least a part of the cushion seal on an air cushion vehicle. The apparatus comprises one or more inflatable members co-operating with the flexible wall structure and an air ejector for rapidly introducing pressurized air into each inflatable member. Each inflatable member may be constituted by a wall structure portion of hollow construction. The invention finds particular application in assisting directional control of an air cushion vehicle.

Abstract: A gas-cushion vehicle is provided with a system for reducing dynamic variations in cushion gas pressure. The system comprises a gas-flow outlet connection between a space occupied by cushion gas and the atmosphere. A flexible wall member of inflatable form is disposed within the connection and is operable so as to allow cushion gas to escape to the atmosphere as cushion pressure tends to increase, and to impede the escape of cushion gas as cushion pressure tends to decrease. The flexible wall member provides a flexible barrier maintaining a pressure differential between the space occupied by cushion gas and the atmosphere. Dynamic variations in cushion pressure will alter this pressure differential and the resistance to the escape of cushion gas offered by the wall member will then alter accordingly, so that, if the cushion pressure rises, the resistance will be too weak to contain this pressure and the wall member will deflect to allow cushion gas to escape through the connection.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the apparent curvature of diffuser vanes of turbine fan to reduce stalling of the vanes and increase efficiency of the fan output over a wider range of flow demand. Sensors responsive to pressure on opposite sides of the vanes selectively control the discharge of pressurized fluid from the diffuser vanes to effect their apparent curvature changes. The arrangement has particular use in a ride control system for surface effect ships.

Abstract: A high capacity crane comprises a structure which is rotatable about a vertical axis on a corner frame supported on the ground and which supports a jib for raising a load and a counter-jib from which is suspended a counter-weight, the counter-weight being connected to the structure, wherein the counter-weight has a mass such that it cannot be raised from the ground by the load but is movable along the ground by means of an air cushion located beneath the counter-weight and connected to a compressed air supply and apparatus for regulating the pressure of the air supplied thereto.

Abstract: A heave alleviation and control device for a surface effect ship having a central plenum chamber pressurized from a source of pressure interconnected to a stern seal plenum chamber by a duct. The duct contains a first valve positioned between the inlet from the central plenum chamber and the outlet to said stern seal plenum chamber for controlling the flow of pressurized gas therethrough. The rear wall of the duct has an opening therethrough to the atmosphere. A second valve is positioned adjacent the opening within the duct to control the flow of gas under pressure therethrough. The two valves are interconnected by levers to a piston translatable within a cylinder for simultaneous movement with the piston. One side of the piston is exposed to the central plenum chamber pressure and the opposite side is exposed to a source of hydraulic fluid under a preselected pressure. Directional movement of the piston is provided by the pressure differential between the sides of the piston.

Abstract: A wingless vertical take-off aircraft having multiple ducted propeller rotors with controllable pitch blades symmetrically mounted in the forward and the rear portions and on both sides of the aircraft with the ducts angled downwardly at an acute angle to the aircraft longitudinal axis, transversely extending deflector vanes pivotable vertically within the exit portion of the ducts, and a rudder for yaw control mounted in the exit portion of each rearwardly located duct. Control in altitude and in attitude about the pitch and roll axes is achieved by controlling the collective pitch of the propellers in selected ducts with the roll control being interconnected to the yaw control to counteract roll/yaw coupling effects and control in trim and forward flight thrust being provided by setting the position of the deflector vane to divert the air flow from the ducts in variable directions with respect to the aircraft axis and the vertical.

Abstract: An air cushion vehicle is provided with at least one stabilizing device comprising first and second members formed from endless bands of flexible impermeable material attached at first edges to the underside of the vehicle so as to extend downwardly therefrom and terminate at second edges. The first member surrounds the second member and is spaced therefrom so that in operation pressurized air from a source on the vehicle passes downwardly between the members to flow from between the second edges in the form of an air curtain which builds up and maintains a localized cushion of pressurized air within the stabilizing device.