IP Library Granted Patent US 10,526,079
Granted Patent B1
US 10,526,079 · App. 16/191,888 · Granted Jan 7, 2020

Multicopter with wide span rotor configuration and protective fuselage

Inventors: Todd Reichert (Mountain View, CA); Cameron Robertson (San Mateo, CA); Mark Johnson Cutler (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
B64C27/08B64C25/54B64C27/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,526,079
App. No.
16/191,888
Granted
Jan 7, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

An inner middle rotor is rotated while an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor are not rotated. The inner middle rotor is surrounded by the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, the outer rotor, and a fuselage. After rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, the inner middle rotor, the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are simultaneously rotated.

Claims (15)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of rotors, including an inner front rotor, an inner middle rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor;

a fuselage; and

a flight controller configured to:

rotate the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, wherein the inner middle rotor is surrounded by the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, the outer rotor, and the fuselage;

after rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, simultaneously rotate the inner middle rotor, the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor.

2. The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the flight controller is further configured to: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotate the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor to be positioned tip-to-tip; and

the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are positioned tip-to-tip while not rotating and while the inner middle rotor rotates.

3. The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the flight controller is further configured to: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotate the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor to be positioned tip-to-tip at an end of a first flight; and

the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are positioned tip-to-tip while not rotating and while the inner middle rotor rotates during a second flight, wherein the second flight occurs after the first flight.

4. The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the flight controller is further configured to: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotate the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor to be positioned tip-to-tip; and

the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are positioned tip-to-tip while not rotating and while the inner middle rotor rotates during a same flight as when the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are rotated to be positioned tip-to-tip.

Assignments (5)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2019
From: REICHERT, TODD; ROBERTSON, CAMERON; CUTLER, MARK JOHNSON
To: KITTY HAWK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048016/0462 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 16107518 · Aug 21, 2018
Continuation 15915820 · Mar 8, 2018
Continuation 15649293 · Jul 13, 2017
Cited By (6)
US 1,135,764 US 12,312,077 US 12,391,199 US 12,391,377 US 12,570,399 US 12,630,098