Patent ID: 7959104

Claim:
A flying device capable of movement on the ground, the flying device comprising: a central body having a longitudinal axis; three or more rotors for providing at least some lift during take-off and landing of the flying device and thrust in intermediate flight-regimes, each rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and having a rotational axis corresponding to the rotation of the rotor blades, each rotor being configured to tilt relative to the longitudinal axis between a ground position for movement on the ground such that the rotational axis is substantially parallel to the ground and a take-off flight position such that the rotational axis is substantially normal to the ground during take off; an annular covering for each rotor, the annular covering being connected to tips of at least some of the rotor blades and rotating therewith, the annular covering of at least one of the at least three rotors contacting the ground during ground operation, the rotational axes being tilted relative to the take-off flight position for movement across the ground, the annular covering further acting as a wheel cover to which torque is applied by the plurality of rotor blades; and an undercarriage connected to the central body, the undercarriage having an extended state for taking the impact of landing, and supporting the flying device in a stable position on the ground, when in said extended state the undercarriage raises the flying device to prevent the annular coverings from contacting the ground prior to take-off and permits the rotational axes to be tilted so as to become substantially normal to the ground thereby enabling the rotor blades to generate lift, and the undercarriage having a retracted state such that the undercarriage is relatively ineffective when the flying device moves on the ground and during flight and the undercarriage does not touch the ground when the flying device moves on the ground.