Patent ID: 9187173
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: B64C,B64D

Abstract:
1. An air vehicle towed in flight by a towing vehicle, comprising: an unmanned flight body; a plurality of weight sensors configured to sense weight of the air vehicle; an autogyro assembly connected to the flight body; an electric motor-generator connected to provide mechanical power to the autogyro assembly in a motor mode and convert power from the autogyro assembly to electrical power in a generator mode; an actuator connected to the autogyro assembly that is actuated to move the location of the autogyro assembly relative to the flight body; and a controller programmed to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight, wherein the controller receives weight data provided the plurality of weight sensors, calculates a center of gravity associated with the towed air vehicle in response to the received weight data, and in response to the calculated center of gravity controls the actuator to change the location of the autogyro assembly in response to the received weight data.