Tiltwing multicopter with foldable and non-foldable propellers
An aircraft includes a front tiltwing which in turn includes two non-foldable outer propellers and four foldable inner propellers. The four foldable inner propellers are rotating at least some of the time while the front tiltwing is held in a vertical takeoff and landing position. The four foldable inner propellers are stowed at least some of the time while the front tiltwing is held in a forward flight position. The aircraft also includes a back tiltwing which includes two non-foldable back propellers.
1. An aircraft, comprising:
a front tiltwing, wherein:
the front tiltwing includes two non-foldable outer propellers and four foldable inner propellers;
the four foldable inner propellers are configured to rotate at least some of the time while the front tiltwing is held in a vertical takeoff and landing position; and
the four foldable inner propellers are configured to be stowed at least some of the time while the front tiltwing is held in a forward flight position; and
a back tiltwing which includes two non-foldable back propellers and excludes any foldable back propellers.
2. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers.
3. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein:
a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers;
the diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is within a range of 1-1.5 meters; and
the diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters.
4. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the two non-foldable back propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters.
5. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein the four foldable inner propellers are connected to the front tiltwing using a first set of pylons which are longer than a second set of pylons which are used to connect the two non-foldable outer propellers to the front tiltwing.
6. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein:
a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers;
the diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is within a range of 1-1.5 meters;
the diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters;
a diameter of the two non-foldable back propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters; and
the four foldable inner propellers are connected to the front tiltwing using a first set of pylons which are longer than a second set of pylons which are used to connect the two non-foldable outer propellers to the front tiltwing.
7. The aircraft recited in claim 1 , wherein the back tiltwing further includes two vertical stabilizers connected to a horizontal stabilizer.
8. A method, comprising:
performing a vertical takeoff of an aircraft during which:
a front tiltwing, which includes two non-foldable outer propellers and four foldable inner propellers, is held in a vertical takeoff and landing position;
a back tiltwing, which includes two non-foldable back propellers, is held in the vertical takeoff and landing position; and
the four foldable inner propellers are rotating;
pitching a nose of the aircraft downward while holding the front and back tiltwing in the vertical takeoff and landing position;
rotating the front tiltwing and the back tiltwing from the vertical takeoff and landing position to a forward flight position;
leveling the aircraft; and
stowing the four foldable inner propellers.
9. The method recited in claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers.
10. The method recited in claim 8 , wherein:
a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers;
the diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is within a range of 1-1.5 meters; and
the diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters.
11. The method recited in claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the two non-foldable back propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters.
12. The method recited in claim 8 , wherein the four foldable inner propellers are connected to the front tiltwing using a first set of pylons which are longer than a second set of pylons which are used to connect the two non-foldable outer propellers to the front tiltwing.
13. The method recited in claim 8 , wherein:
a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers;
the diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is within a range of 1-1.5 meters;
the diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters;
a diameter of the two non-foldable back propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters; and
the four foldable inner propellers are connected to the front tiltwing using a first set of pylons which are longer than a second set of pylons which are used to connect the two non-foldable outer propellers to the front tiltwing.
14. A method of performing a vertical landing of an aircraft, comprising:
opening and rotating four foldable inner propellers during which a front tiltwing, which includes two non-foldable outer propellers and the four foldable inner propellers, is held in a forward flight position; and a back tiltwing, which includes two non-foldable back propellers, is held in the forward flight position;
pitching a nose of the aircraft downward;
rotating the front tiltwing and the back tiltwing from the forward flight position to a vertical takeoff and landing position;
leveling the aircraft; and
performing the vertical landing.
15. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers.
16. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein:
a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers;
the diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is within a range of 1-1.5 meters; and
the diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters.
17. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein a diameter of the two non-foldable back propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters.
18. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein the four foldable inner propellers are connected to the front tiltwing using a first set of pylons which are longer than a second set of pylons which are used to connect the two non-foldable outer propellers to the front tiltwing.
19. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein:
a diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is larger than a diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers;
the diameter of the four foldable inner propellers is within a range of 1-1.5 meters;
the diameter of the two non-foldable outer propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters;
a diameter of the two non-foldable back propellers is within a range of 0.5-1 meters; and
the four foldable inner propellers are connected to the front tiltwing using a first set of pylons which are longer than a second set of pylons which are used to connect the two non-foldable outer propellers to the front tiltwing.