Patent ID: 7374130
Filing Date: 2008-05-20
Classification: B64C,B64D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle having an integrated propulsion and guidance system, the vehicle comprising: an engine configured to rotate a driveshafi; a propeller coupled to the driveshaft to produce propulsive force, wherein the propeller comprises a hub and a plurality of blades comprising a control blade pivotably mounted to the hub; and a control system coupled to the propeller, wherein the control system is configured to provide a control signal to the propeller to produce blade pitch oscillations of the control blade as the control blade rotates such that one period of blade pitch oscillation is completed for each revolution of the control blade about the hub, and to vary the phase and magnitude of the blade pitch oscillations as the control blade rotates about the hub to thereby simultaneously propel and guide the vehicle with the propeller.