AIR AND ROAD VEHICLE SYSTEM
An air and road vehicle system includes a road vehicle having a chassis, a plurality of wheels, an engine, and a cabin area. A flight vehicle having a main body, wings, flight control surfaces, and a plurality of propulsion devices is removably coupled to the road vehicle by a plurality of docking mechanisms. In the connected orientation, the top end of the road vehicle is connected to the bottom surface of the wings, and the back end of the road vehicle is connected to the main body via an elongated catch tongue. Controllers on the flight vehicle and road vehicle are communicatively linked wirelessly or via hardwire receptacles. In the disconnected orientation, the road vehicle is functional as a road motor vehicle, and in the connected orientation, the flight vehicle and the road vehicle are functional for flight in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
21 . A flight vehicle system comprising:
a main body and at least one propulsion device; and
a docking mechanism positioned on the main body, said docking mechanism being configured to selectively join a road vehicle to the flight vehicle system, said the docking mechanism comprises:
a catch tongue that protrudes outward from the main body of the flight vehicle, said catch tongue configured and dimensioned for being received within an opening of the road vehicle; and
a connector pin receptacle that is positioned along the catch tongue, said connector pin receptacle being configured to communicate with a flight vehicle controller.
22 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the road vehicle comprises a chassis, a plurality of wheels, an engine, a top end, a back end, and a cabin area.
23 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the road vehicle includes a docking plug configured to communicate with a road vehicle controller.
24 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein in a disconnected orientation, the road vehicle is configured to drive on land, and in a connected orientation, the flight vehicle and the road vehicle are configured to takeoff, fly and land.
25 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the road vehicle includes a docking mechanism which includes a pair of rails that are positioned along the top end of the road vehicle, each of the pair of rails comprising one or more openings.
26 . The flight vehicle system of claim 25 , wherein the docking mechanism of the flight vehicle includes a pair of docking clamps located along the main body of the flight vehicle system, each of the docking clamps including at least one laterally extendable rod, and wherein in a connected orientation with the road vehicle, the at least one laterally extendable rod is in communication with the at least one more openings.
27 . The flight vehicle system of claim 26 , wherein each of the pair of docking clamps are configured to engage one of the pair of rails of the docking mechanism of the road vehicle when the flight vehicle system is in a connected orientation.
28 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the flight vehicle includes a pair of wings and at least one flight control surface.
29 . The flight vehicle system of claim 28 , wherein the docking mechanism includes a pair of docking clamps located along the wings of the flight vehicle.
30 . The flight vehicle system of claim 29 , wherein each of the pair of docking clamps are configured to engage one of a pair of rails positioned along a top end of the road vehicle when the flight vehicle system is in a connected orientation in order to secure the top end of the road vehicle to a bottom surface of the wings.
31 . The flight vehicle system of claim 24 , wherein in the connected orientation, the catch tongue is positioned through the opening, a docking plug of the road vehicle is connected to the connector pin receptacle, and a road vehicle controller is communicatively linked with the flight vehicle controller.
32 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the flight vehicle system is configured to operate in a vertical flight mode.
33 . The flight vehicle system of claim 32 , wherein in the vertical flight mode, each of the at least one propulsion devices are configured to impart a lifting force sufficient to lift a connected flight vehicle system and road vehicle vertically.
34 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the flight vehicle system includes wings and a plurality of flight control surfaces.
35 . The flight vehicle system of claim 34 , wherein the flight vehicle system is configured to operate in a horizontal flight mode.
36 . The flight vehicle system of claim 35 , wherein in the horizontal flight mode, each of the at least one propulsion devices are configured to generate thrust sufficient for the wings to lift a connected flight vehicle system and road vehicle through the air in sustained horizontal flight.
37 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the road vehicle includes functionality for driving autonomously from a first location to a second location.
38 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , wherein the flight vehicle system includes functionality for flying autonomously from a third location to a fourth location.
39 . The flight vehicle system of claim 21 , further comprising: landing gear that is positioned along the main body of the flight vehicle system.
40 . The flight vehicle system of claim 39 , wherein the landing gear is retractable.