IP Library Granted Patent US 11,465,736
Granted Patent B2
US 11,465,736 · App. 16/703,135 · Granted Oct 11, 2022

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 11,465,736
App. No.
16/703,135
Granted
Oct 11, 2022
Kind
B2
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 (24)

1. A method, comprising:

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

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

2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the method further includes: prior to rotating an inner middle rotor while not rotating an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor, rotating 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 method recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the method further includes: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotating 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 method recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the method further includes: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotating 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.

5. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

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

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

6. The computer program product recited in claim 5 , wherein:

the computer program product further includes computer instructions for: prior to rotating an inner middle rotor while not rotating an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor, rotating 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.

7. The computer program product recited in claim 5 , wherein:

the computer program product further includes computer instructions for: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotating 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.

8. The computer program product recited in claim 5 , wherein:

the computer program product further includes computer instructions for: prior to rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, rotating 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 (4)
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 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16191888 · Nov 15, 2018
Continuation In Part 16107518 · Aug 21, 2018
Continuation 15915820 · Mar 8, 2018
Continuation 15649293 · Jul 13, 2017
Related Publication 20200102071A1 · Apr 2, 2020