Extended range vertical take-off and landing drone
Various embodiments of a novel monocoque aerostructure quadcopter implemented as a vertical take-off and landing vehicle are described. In one example, a vertical take-off and landing vehicle includes a fuselage having a leading end positioned in a first horizontal plane and a trailing end positioned in a second horizontal plane that is vertically below the first horizontal plane. The vertical take-off and landing vehicle further includes a first arm assembly extending from the leading end of the fuselage in the first horizontal plane. The vertical take-off and landing vehicle further includes a second arm assembly extending from the trailing end of the fuselage in the second horizontal plane. The vertical take-off and landing vehicle further includes a first rotor assembly coupled to the first arm assembly and a second rotor assembly coupled to the second arm assembly.
1 . A vertical take-off and landing vehicle, comprising:
an airfoil-shaped fuselage comprising a leading end having a leading edge at a front of the airfoil-shaped fuselage, a trailing end having a trailing edge at a back of the airfoil-shaped fuselage, and a fuselage side extending from the leading end to the trailing end;
a first rotor arm extending from the fuselage side in a first horizontal plane; and
a second rotor arm extending from the fuselage side in a second horizontal plane that is vertically below the first horizontal plane, wherein:
the leading edge is positioned in a horizontal plane that is vertically above the first horizontal plane, and
the trailing edge is positioned in a horizontal plane that is vertically below the second horizontal plane.
2 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the airfoil-shaped fuselage further comprises a second fuselage side positioned opposite the fuselage side and extending from the leading end to the trailing end; and
the vertical take-off and landing vehicle further comprises a third rotor arm and a fourth rotor arm extending from the second fuselage side in the first horizontal plane and the second horizontal plane, respectively.
3 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first rotor arm or the second rotor arm is at least one of rigidly, pivotably, rotatably, or slidably coupled to the fuselage side.
4 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power storage system; and
at least one solar panel mechanically coupled to a top side of the airfoil-shaped fuselage and electrically coupled to the power storage system.
5 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotor assembly coupled to a distal end of the first rotor arm; and
a landing leg coupled to a bottom side of the rotor assembly.
6 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one landing leg coupled to a bottom side of the airfoil-shaped fuselage.
7 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the airfoil-shaped fuselage comprises at least one of a monocoque aerostructure fuselage, a blended center body fuselage, a blended wing body fuselage, a monocoque blended center body fuselage, or a monocoque blended wing body fuselage.
8 . The vertical take-off and landing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vertical take-off and landing vehicle comprises a monocoque aerostructure quadcopter, a blended center body quadcopter, a blended wing body quadcopter, a monocoque blended center body quadcopter, or a monocoque blended wing body quadcopter.