초록 ▼

A roadable helicopter according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a vehicle that drives like a conventional car in its road configuration, and converts to fly like a helicopter in its flight configuration. The operator of the helicopter only needs to press a button to initiate th

A roadable helicopter according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a vehicle that drives like a conventional car in its road configuration, and converts to fly like a helicopter in its flight configuration. The operator of the helicopter only needs to press a button to initiate the conversion from one configuration to the other. To facilitate the flight configuration, the helicopter is preferably equipped with a dual, coaxial counterrotating rotor system to provide lift, propulsion, and control in the flight configuration. In the road configuration, however, the rotor system automatically folds into a rotor bay formed in the rear of the helicopter. The roadable helicopter may also include an automatic control/stability/navigation system that permits fully automatic flight.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A roadable aircraft having a road configuration and a flight configuration, comprising:a vehicle body having a rotor bay; anda rotor assembly, wherein said rotor assembly is configured to automatically retract into said rotor bay when the roadable aircraft is in the road configurati

[ I claim:] [1.] A roadable aircraft having a road configuration and a flight configuration, comprising:a vehicle body having a rotor bay; anda rotor assembly, wherein said rotor assembly is configured to automatically retract into said rotor bay when the roadable aircraft is in the road configuration and extend from the vehicle body when said roadable aircraft is in the flight configuration, wherein said rotor assembly includes no more than two rotors, said two rotors comprising:a first rotor having a plurality of blades configured to rotate around a rotor axis in a first direction;a second rotor having a plurality of blades disposed coaxially and above said first rotor, wherein said second rotor is configured to rotate around said rotor axis in a second direction opposite to said first direction, and wherein said first and second rotors are configured in the road configuration to fold into said rotor bay;a plurality of wheels mounted on the bottom of said vehicle body configured to support the roadable vehicle on the ground, wherein said plurality of wheels are configured to be least partially retractable into said vehicle body;a power plant configured to rotate said first and second rotors when the roadable aircraft is in the flight configuration and drive at least one of said wheels when the roadable aircraft is in the road configuration, wherein said power plant comprises at least two engines and only one of said engines is configured to drive said at least one of said wheels when the roadable aircraft is in the road configuration;a computer system configured to affect automatic transformation of the roadable aircraft from said road configuration to said flight configuration and from said flight configuration to said road configuration.