Vertical take-off and landing craft systems and methods
A craft capable of a vertical take-off and landing configuration and a horizontal thrust configuration may include, for example, at least a proprotor, an edgewise blade, and a body. The proprotor may be configured to tilt to achieve a horizontal thrust component. A portion of a lift surface may be configured to tilt with the proprotor. In some embodiments, the vertical take-off and/or landing craft may further comprise a tail connected to a first boom and a second boom. In some embodiments, the vertical take-off and/or landing craft may further comprise a tail attached to the body. In some embodiments, the craft includes four rotors positioned on the lift surface and two rotors positioned on a tail connected to the lift surface.
1. A craft comprising:
a body;
a lift surface attached to the body;
a first proprotor positioned towards a first end of the lift surface;
a second proprotor positioned towards a second end of the lift surface;
a first boom positioned between the body and the first proprotor and attached to the lift surface;
a second boom positioned between the body and the second proprotor and attached to the lift surface;
wherein the first boom and the second boom are connected via a tail aft of the body, wherein the tail includes a connecting surface above the lift surface, and wherein the connecting surface is substantially horizontal;
a third proprotor positioned at a front surface of the first boom;
a fourth proprotor positioned at a front surface of the second boom;
a fifth proprotor positioned on a first end of the connecting surface; and
a sixth proprotor positioned on a second end of the connecting surface.
2. The craft of claim 1 , wherein the first proprotor, second proprotor, third proprotor, and fourth proprotor are rotatable with respect to the lift surface.
3. The craft of claim 1 , wherein the fifth proprotor and sixth proprotor are rotatable with respect to the connecting surface.
4. The craft of claim 1 further comprising a seventh proprotor positioned on the connecting surface.
5. The craft of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a cabin, the cabin having a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the tail is disposed behind the rear portion of the cabin.
6. The craft of claim 1 , wherein the fifth proprotor and the sixth proprotor are positioned at a height above a top surface of the body.
7. The craft of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first proprotor, the second proprotor, the third proprotor, the fourth proprotor, the fifth proprotor, and the sixth proprotor is a tilt rotor.
8. The craft of claim 1 , wherein the lift surface comprises a wing.
9. The craft of claim 1 , wherein the lift surface comprises a plurality of control surfaces.
10. A craft comprising:
a body;
a lift surface attached to the body;
a first proprotor and a first hub, wherein the first hub is attached to a first end of the lift surface and is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the lift surface;
a second proprotor and a second hub, wherein the second hub is attached to a second end of the lift surface and is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the lift surface;
a first boom positioned between the body and the first end of the lift surface, the first boom comprising a third proprotor;
a second boom positioned between the body and the second end of the lift surface, the second boom comprising a fourth proprotor; and
a tail extending upwards aft of the body, the tail comprising at least two rotors, wherein the at least two rotors are positioned at a height above a top surface of the body when the at least two rotors are in a horizontal thrust configuration.
11. The craft of claim 10 , wherein the third proprotor and the fourth proprotor are rotatable with respect to the lift surface.
12. The craft of claim 10 , wherein the at least two rotors are positioned on pylons disposed on the connecting surface.
13. A craft comprising:
a body;
a lift surface attached to the body;
a first proprotor positioned towards a first end of the lift surface;
a second proprotor positioned towards a second end of the lift surface;
a first boom positioned between the body and the first proprotor and attached to the lift surface;
a second boom positioned between the body and the second proprotor and attached to the lift surface;
wherein the first boom and the second boom are connected via a tail aft of the body, wherein the tail includes a connecting surface above the lift surface;
a third proprotor positioned at a front surface of the first boom;
a fourth proprotor positioned at a front surface of the second boom;
a fifth proprotor positioned on a pylon disposed on a first end of the connecting surface;
a sixth proprotor positioned on a pylon disposed on a second end of the connecting surface; and
a seventh proprotor positioned between the fifth proprotor and the sixth proprotor.
14. The craft of claim 13 , wherein the first proprotor, second proprotor, third proprotor, and fourth proprotor are rotatable with respect to the lift surface.
15. The craft of claim 13 , wherein the fifth proprotor, sixth proprotor, and seventh proprotor are rotatable with respect to the connecting surface.
16. The craft of claim 13 , wherein the lift surface and the connecting surface each comprise a plurality of control surfaces.