Methods and apparatus for airborne systems
In various representative aspects, an airborne delivery system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a container and an autorotating rotor system. The container may contain contents, and the rotor system facilitates control of at least a portion of the flight of the airborne system and the descent. Exemplary features may include a guidance system, for example to guide and control the airborne system, and a wing for gliding.
1. An airborne delivery system, comprising:
an unmanned container;
an extendable mast connected to the unmanned container comprising a first end and a second end, wherein:
the extendable mast is configured to transition from an undeployed position to a deployed position;
the first end is pivotally connected to an exterior upper surface of the unmanned container;
the second end is held proximate to the exterior upper surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the undeployed position; and
the second end extends away from the exterior upper surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the deployed position;
an unpowered rotor connected to the second end of the extendable mast, wherein the unpowered rotor is:
held above to the upper exterior surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the undeployed position; and
adapted to control the rate of descent of the airborne delivery system when the extendable mast is in the deployed position without a forward thrust component generated by a propulsion system connected to the delivery system; and
a guidance system connected to the unpowered rotor, wherein the guidance system is configured to control a flight path of the delivery system to a predetermined target.
2. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1 , wherein the unpowered rotor comprises a set of deployable rotor blades folded substantially parallel to each other along a longitudinal axis of the exterior upper surface of the unmanned container when the extendable mast is in the undeployed position.
3. An airborne delivery system according to claim 2 , wherein the set of deployable rotor blades is deployable during flight of the airborne delivery system.
4. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1 , wherein the unmanned container is selectively detachable from the extendable mast.
5. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fuselage, wherein the first end of the extendable mast is connected to the unmanned container via the fuselage.
6. An airborne delivery system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the unpowered rotor comprises a control surface; and
the guidance system is connected to the control surface and controls the control surface.
7. An airborne delivery system according to claim 5 , wherein the fuselage further comprises an aft section comprising a control surface.
8. An airborne delivery system for autonomously delivering an unmanned container to a predetermined delivery location, comprising:
a fuselage having an exterior bay conforming substantially to an outer dimension of the unmanned container for detachably receiving the unmanned container into the fuselage;
an extendable mast comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally connected to an exterior upper surface of the fuselage;
an unpowered rotor system having deployable blades mounted on the second end of the extendable mast, wherein the deployable blades:
are in a folded position above the exterior upper surface of the fuselage prior to deployment;
include a set of control surfaces adapted to directionally guide the unmanned airborne delivery system during flight; and
are adapted to control the rate of descent of the airborne delivery system without a forward thrust component generated by a propulsion system connected to the airborne delivery system;
a deployment system engaging the fuselage, extendable mast, and unpowered rotor system, wherein the deployment system:
extends the second end of the extendable mast away from the exterior upper surface of the fuselage to a deployed position; and
repositions the deployable blades into a flight position; and
a guidance system connected to the unpowered rotor system and configured to control the set of control surfaces to control a flight path of the delivery system to the predetermined target delivery location.
9. An airborne delivery system according to claim 8 , wherein the deployable blades are deployable during flight of the airborne delivery system.
10. An airborne delivery system according to claim 8 , wherein the fuselage further comprises an aft section comprising a control surface.