IP Library Granted Patent US 10,183,747
Granted Patent B1
US 10,183,747 · App. 15/249,074 · Granted Jan 22, 2019

Multicopter with boom-mounted rotors

Inventors: Aldo Daniele Longhi (Los Gatos, CA); Todd Reichert (Mountain View, CA); Cameron Robertson (San Mateo, CA); Joseph Roop (Sunnyvale, CA); Christopher Scott Saunders (San Jose, CA); Zachais Vawter (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
B64C31/028B64C1/061B64C13/18B64C25/54B64C27/08B64C2025/325
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,183,747
App. No.
15/249,074
Granted
Jan 22, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A multicopter with boom mounted rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter includes multiple rotors, each mounted substantially horizontally on a distal end of a boom. The multicopter further includes a plurality of boom extensions, each boom extension being associated with a corresponding boom and each boom extension being configured to extend an associated distal end of said corresponding boom by an amount determined based at least in part on a swept area associated with a rotor mounted at or near said associated distal end. The multicopter includes a material, such as netting, secured to the aircraft and of a size sufficient to reach a far end of one or more of said boom extensions.

Claims (23)

1. A multicopter aircraft, comprising:

multiple rotors, each mounted substantially horizontally on a distal end of a boom;

a plurality of boom extensions, each boom extension being associated with a corresponding boom and each boom extension being configured to extend an associated distal end of said corresponding boom by an amount determined based at least in part on a swept area associated with a rotor mounted at or near said associated distal end; and

a material secured to said aircraft and of a size sufficient to reach a far end of one or more of said boom extensions, wherein the material separates an occupant of said aircraft from the multiple rotors.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the material extends over swept areas associated with the multiple rotors.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the multicopter has a length of 100 inches or less.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the multiple rotors surround a fuselage of the aircraft.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein a fuselage of the aircraft comprises a seat and a steering mechanism.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising a flight computer configured to prevent the aircraft from tilting past a threshold angle.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of boom extensions are removable.

8. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising two parallel booms and two booms perpendicular to the two parallel booms, wherein the two parallel booms are attached to the two perpendicular booms.

9. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising two parallel booms and two booms perpendicular to the two parallel booms, wherein a fuselage is enclosed by the two parallel booms and the two perpendicular booms.

10. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein in the event a rotor of the multiple rotors ceases to function, the remaining rotors of the multiple rotors are sufficient to fly the aircraft in a level position.

11. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein pairs of rotors of the multiple rotors rotate in opposite directions from each other to minimize torque.

12. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the multiple rotors are angled to enhance torque in directional flight.

13. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising a fuselage with a triangulated frame that prevents or reduces twisting.

14. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein a fuselage of the aircraft is unenclosed.

15. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is adapted to fly over water.

16. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises flotation devices.

17. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises flotation devices that are attached underneath junctures of booms of the aircraft.

18. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising flotation devices filled with air.

19. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising flotation devices, wherein each of the flotation devices includes curved ends.

20. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising flotation devices that are curved to minimize interference with the multiple rotors' wash.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2023
From: ONE AERO, LLC
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063713/0367 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2022
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 059503/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2021
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 058029/0610 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 054206/0714 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2018
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 047739/0947 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2018
From: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
To: ONE AERO, LLC
Reel/Frame 047308/0927 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041035 FRAME: 0187. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 14, 2017
From: LONGHI, ALDO DANIELE; REICHERT, TODD; ROBERTSON, CAMERON; ROOP, JOSEPH; SAUNDERS, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT; VAWTER, ZACHAIS
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041713/0638 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2017
From: LONGHI, ALDO DANIELE; REICHERT, TODD; ROBERTSON, CAMERON; ROOP, JOSEPH; SAUNDERS, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT; VAWTER, ZACHAIS
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041035/0187 →
Cited By (4)
US 12,195,180 US 12,397,935 US 12,473,071 US 12,576,958