Aircraft having autonomous and remote flight control capabilities

{
  "publication_number": "US10214285B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Aircraft having autonomous and remote flight control capabilities",
  "abstract": "In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe with first and second wing members having a plurality of pylons extending therebetween, a distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies securably attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system. The flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode with the wing members disposed in generally the same horizontal plane and a forward flight mode with the wing members disposed in generally the same vertical plane. The flight control system is operable to command the propulsion assemblies responsive to at least one of remote flight control, autonomous flight control and combinations thereof.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An aircraft comprising: a flying frame including an airframe with first and second wing members having a plurality of pylons extending therebetween; a distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies a plurality of booster propulsion assemblies securably attached to the airframe, the propulsion assemblies including proprotors; and a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system, the flight control system commanding operation of the propulsion assemblies responsive to at least one of remote flight control, autonomous flight control and combinations thereof, wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode with the wing members disposed in generally the same horizontal plane and a forward flight mode with the wing members disposed in generally the same vertical plane; and wherein, the distributed propulsion system includes a plurality of booster propulsion assemblies coupled to the airframe.",
    "2. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second wing members further comprise straight wing members.",
    "3. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second wing members further comprise polyhedral wing members.",
    "4. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the first wing member further comprises a dihedral wing member and the second wing member further comprises an anhedral wing member.",
    "5. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of pylons further comprises two pylons.",
    "6. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of pylons further comprises four pylons.",
    "7. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion assemblies are attached to the airframe in a mid wing configuration.",
    "8. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion assemblies are attached to the airframe in a high wing configuration.",
    "9. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion assemblies further comprises a plurality of first propulsion assemblies including proprotors having blades of a first span length and a plurality of second propulsion assemblies including proprotors having blades of a second span length that is greater than the first span length.",
    "10. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion assemblies further comprises a plurality of first propulsion assemblies including proprotors having a first number blades and a plurality of second propulsion assemblies including proprotors having a second blades that is greater than the first number blades.",
    "11. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the distributed propulsion system further comprises a distributed fuel system.",
    "12. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the propulsion assemblies further comprises a nacelle, an engine, a drive system, a rotor hub and an electronics node.",
    "13. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the propulsion assemblies further comprises a line replaceable unit.",
    "14. The aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the distributed propulsion system further comprises a nonsymmetrical array of propulsion assemblies.",
    "15. A method of operating an aircraft comprising: providing a flying frame including an airframe with first and second wing members having a plurality of pylons extending therebetween, a distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies securably attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system; vertically taking off and landing the flying frame with the wing members disposed in generally the same horizontal plane; engaging the flying frame in forward flight with the wing members disposed in generally the same vertical plane; and commanding operation of the propulsion assemblies with the flight control system responsive to at least one of remote flight control, autonomous flight control and combinations thereof including independently controlling a plurality of booster propulsion assemblies coupled to the airframe.",
    "16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein commanding operation of the propulsion assemblies with the flight control system further comprises independently controlling the propulsion assemblies.",
    "17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein commanding operation of the propulsion assemblies with the flight control system further comprises selectively operating propulsion assemblies during forward flight.",
    "18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein commanding operation of the propulsion assemblies with the flight control system further comprises adjusting thrust vectors of propulsion assemblies during hover."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates, in general, to aircraft operable to transition between a forward flight mode and a vertical takeoff and landing mode and, in particular, to aircraft having a distributed propulsion system operated by an onboard flight control system responsive to autonomous flight control, remote flight control, onboard pilot flight control and/or combinations thereof.\n\nFixed-wing aircraft, such as airplanes, are capable of flight using wings that generate lift responsive to the forward airspeed of the aircraft, which is generated by thrust from one or more jet engines or propellers. The wings generally have an airfoil cross section that deflects air downward as the aircraft moves forward, generating the lift force to support the airplane in flight. Fixed-wing aircraft, however, typically require a runway that is hundreds or thousands of feet long for takeoff and landing.\n\nUnlike fixed-wing aircraft, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft do not require runways. Instead, VTOL aircraft are capable of taking off, hovering and landing vertically. One example of VTOL aircraft is a helicopter which is a rotorcraft having one or more rotors that provide lift and thrust to the aircraft. The rotors not only enable hovering and vertical takeoff and landing, but also enable, forward, backward and lateral flight. These attributes make helicopters highly versatile for use in congested, isolated or remote areas where fixed-wing aircraft may be unable to takeoff and land. Helicopters, however, typically lack the forward airspeed of fixed-wing aircraft.",
  "cpc": [
    "B64C 29/02",
    "B64C 11/46",
    "B64C 15/02",
    "B64C 39/06",
    "B64D 1/08",
    "B64D 25/12",
    "B64U 10/25",
    "B64U 2201/10",
    "B64U 2201/20",
    "B64U 30/10",
    "B64U 30/293",
    "B64U 50/11",
    "G05D 1/0011",
    "G05D 1/102"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64C 11/46",
    "B64C 15/02",
    "B64C 29/02",
    "B64U 10/25",
    "B64U 30/10",
    "B64U 30/293",
    "G05D 1/00",
    "G05D 1/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Bell Helicopter Textron Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John Richard McCullough",
    "Paul K. Oldroyd"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-07-01",
  "publication_date": "2019-02-26",
  "grant_date": "2019-02-26",
  "priority_date": "2016-07-01",
  "application_number": "US-201615200211-A",
  "family_id": "60806574",
  "cited_by_count": 65,
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