Florida Patent of the Month – February 2024
In the ever-evolving landscape of aviation, innovation takes flight with Aergility Corporation‘s groundbreaking aircraft design. The technology introduces a multi-rotor or gyrodyne aircraft, promising a new era of efficient and versatile aerial transportation.
A gyrodyne aircraft typically has a fuselage with jet or propeller propulsion power sources. These designs provide a less complicated vertical lift system compared to a helicopter while achieving a higher cruise speed.
At the heart of this invention is a fuselage housing a propulsion engine, generating forward thrust along the first vector, and coaxial pairs of rotors strategically positioned on opposite sides. These rotors, equipped with blades rotating about a fixed axis, redefine lift dynamics during forward flight. What sets Aergility’s aircraft apart is not just the configuration of its rotors but the intricate control mechanisms that govern their operation.
Each rotor, inclined at a specific angle above or below a horizontal plane, plays a crucial role in providing attitude control. This inclination, carefully measured based on the rotor’s rotational direction and position relative to the aircraft’s center, ensures precise maneuverability. The patent details an inclination angle between four and six degrees, optimizing the aircraft’s performance.
A key innovation lies in the redundancy and adaptability of the flight control system. With at least five rotors coupled to motors, the system adjusts rotor control inputs dynamically, maintaining effective thrust even in the face of potential failures. This resilience is further enhanced by the redundancy in the coaxial pairs of rotors, offering a robust and reliable flight experience.
In addition to the rotor-centric design, the aircraft incorporates wings extending from the fuselage, providing lift during forward flight. The coordination between rotors and wings, coupled with advanced flight control algorithms, ensures a seamless transition between vertical takeoff, forward flight, and vertical landing.
Aergility was founded to help areas in need, Places with undeveloped, limited, or damaged infrastructure are often reliant on time-critical cargo transportation. This delivery is often risky, difficult, and slow. With Aergility’s improved gyrodyne copters, delivery can be made with greater ease and capability.
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