Patent ID: 7699260
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
1. A vertical take off and landing aircraft comprising: at least six substantially similar independent electrically powered thrusting units formed from a Redundant Array of Independent Rotors (RAIR) that includes at least thirty six separate drive units, whereby the at least six substantially similar independent electrically powered thrust units are mounted to the vertical take off and landing aircraft in aerodynamically approximate pairs to avoid a flight compromise when at least one of the pair of independent electrically powered thrusting units fails to operate, wherein the independent electrically powered thrusting units incorporate rotational air movement means having an aggregate aerodynamic disk area to total aircraft mass ratio substantially similar to a standard single-rotor helicopter; a two blade structure with pre-determined taper, twist, and a standard rectangular plan form for each of the rotors of the RAIR for providing uniform thrust loading and efficiency, wherein the blade structure for the rotors of the RAIR are attached to each of the rotors of the RAIR using a fixed pitch that limits a rotor mechanical complexity and a chance of failure; a grid structure that is so constructed to provide fixed positions for each of the rotors of the RAIR relative to one another and spaced apart in an approximate geometric plane with a common thrust vector direction substantially perpendicular to the approximate geometric plane, wherein the grid structure to provide a fairly uniform spacing of thrust units of approximately 36 inches, thereby providing a rotor disk area overlap of approximately 22%; a control system to provide an aggregate RAIR thrust vector control to the vertical take off and landing aircraft by controlling a plurality of control zones of the RAIR by implementing a Direct Current (DC) motor speed control for controlling pitch, roll and lift for each of the independent electrically powered thrust unit associated to the plurality of the control zones; an analog computer module controller to include a voltage meter and individual switches for powering each thrust unit motor relay of the RAIR; a thrust magnitude control means for the RAIR, whereby the individual and collective magnitude of thrust from each of the independent electrically powered thrusting units associated to the particular control zones can be altered during operation of the vertical take off and landing aircraft to provide a pitch and roll functionality substantially similar to a standard helicopter single rotor disk, and wherein the thrust magnitude control means incorporates an analog or digital computer means; a rudder placed appropriately in a mechanical position at approximately a 45-degree angle to, and below, the geometric plane of the RAIR to provide yaw control; means of attaching a payload carrying means whereby a center of mass of the payload carrying means is substantially near the center of, and in a fixed mechanical position relative to the approximate geometric plane; a control joystick situated between the analog computer module and a seat of a pilot to enable control of the thrust units to provide vertical take off, landing and direction to the vertical take off and landing aircraft; a Global Positioning System (GPS) communicatively coupled to an altimeter of the vertical take off and landing aircraft to provide an autopilot system to automatically keep the vertical take off and landing aircraft out of controlled airspace; a battery module to power the RAIR through the control system; and a backup power module to power the RAIR in case of failure of the battery module.