초록 ▼

Embodiments of the subject invention relate to an air vehicle and a power source. Embodiments can operate at reasonable power levels for hovering and withstanding expected wind gusts. Embodiments can have a diameter less than 15 cm. Embodiments can have one or more smooth (continuous curvature) surf

Embodiments of the subject invention relate to an air vehicle and a power source. Embodiments can operate at reasonable power levels for hovering and withstanding expected wind gusts. Embodiments can have a diameter less than 15 cm. Embodiments can have one or more smooth (continuous curvature) surface and can be operated using electromagnetic and electrohydrodynamic principles. The wingless design of specific embodiments can allow operation with no rotating or moving components. Additional embodiments can allow active response to the surrounding flow conditions. The issue of low lift to drag ratio and degradation of airfoil efficiency due to the inability of laminar boundary layers attachment can also be significantly reduced, or eliminated. The electromagnetic force can be generated by applying a pulsed (alternating/rf) voltage between a set of grounded and powered electrodes separated by a polymer insulator, dielectric, or other material with insulating properties.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air vehicle, comprising: a body having an aperture therethrough;a plurality of electrode pairs positioned proximate a surface of the body; anda voltage source, where the voltage source applies a corresponding plurality of voltages across the plurality of electrode pairs, wherein application of

1. An air vehicle, comprising: a body having an aperture therethrough;a plurality of electrode pairs positioned proximate a surface of the body; anda voltage source, where the voltage source applies a corresponding plurality of voltages across the plurality of electrode pairs, wherein application of the plurality of voltages across the plurality of electrode pairs creates a corresponding plurality of dielectric barrier discharges that creates a corresponding plurality of plasmas and causes a corresponding plurality of electrohydrodynamic effects that create a corresponding plurality of near-surface forces, wherein a cumulative effect of the plurality of near-surface body forces creates a vortical fluid column in the aperture that causes the air vehicle to hover. 2. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body has a disc shape. 3. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body has an outer diameter less than 15 cm. 4. The air vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a second plurality of electrode pairs positioned proximate the surface of the body, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding second plurality of voltages across the second plurality of electrode pairs, wherein application of the second plurality of voltages across the second plurality of electrode pairs creates a corresponding second plurality of dielectric barrier discharges that creates a corresponding second plurality of plasmas and causes a corresponding second plurality of electrohydrodynamic effects that create a corresponding second plurality of near-surface forces, wherein a second cumulative effect of the second plurality of near-surface body forces creates a force in the vertical direction. 5. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs is positioned proximate an internal portion of the surface of the body, wherein the internal portion of the surface of the body faces toward the aperture through the body. 6. The air vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the second plurality of electrode pairs is positioned proximate an external portion of the surface of the body, wherein the external portion of the surface of the body faces radially outward from the air vehicle. 7. The air vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more sensors to measure the surrounding flow conditions. 8. The air vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the disc shaped body has an outer diameter less than 11 cm. 9. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the aperture has a diameter greater than 3 cm. 10. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body has a height less than 5 cm. 11. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a hollow portion. 12. The air vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the hollow portion of the body is filled with a fluid that is lighter than air. 13. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least two electrode pairs of the plurality of electrode pairs share a ground electrode. 14. The air vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a power source unit, wherein the power source unit powers the voltage source. 15. The air vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the power source unit is located within the body. 16. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs comprises a corresponding plurality of ground electrodes and a corresponding plurality of exposed electrodes, wherein the plurality of exposed electrodes is located on the surface of the body. 17. The air vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs further comprises a corresponding plurality of one or more additional electrodes, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding plurality of one or more additional voltages across each additional electrode of the corresponding one or more additional electrodes and the ground electrode creates one or more additional dielectric barrier discharges that create one or more additional plasmas and causes a corresponding one or more additional electrohydrodynamic effects that create. 18. The air vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of one or more additional voltages is out of phase with the plurality of voltages. 19. The air vehicle according to claim 17, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrode pairs and the corresponding one or more additional electrodes of the plurality of one or more additional electrode pairs form a corresponding portion of a discontinuous circular electrode set. 20. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body has an outer diameter greater than 15 cm. 21. The air vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the disc shaped body has an outer diameter greater than 1 meter. 22. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises: a first plurality of concentric circular cross-section pipes through which the aperture is present; anda second plurality of concentric circular cross-section pipes at an outer surface of the body. 23. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises: a first plurality of concentric square cross-section pipes through which the aperture is present; anda second plurality of concentric square cross-section pipes at an outer surface of the body. 24. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a wall of the body comprises a hollow gap therethrough, wherein a first wall surface of the wall is exposed to the hollow gap and a second wall surface of the wall is exposed to the hollow gap such that the hollow gap is between the first wall surface and the second wall surface, wherein the first wall surface comprises at least one gap electrode pair positioned proximate the first wall surface, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one gap electrode pair, wherein application of the at least one voltage across the at least one gap electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one dielectric barrier discharge that creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that creates a corresponding at least one near-surface body force. 25. An air vehicle, comprising: a body;a plurality of electrode pairs positioned proximate a surface of the body;a voltage source, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding plurality of voltages across the plurality of electrode pairs, wherein application of the plurality of voltages across the plurality of electrode pairs creates a corresponding plurality of plasmas and causes a corresponding plurality of electrohydrodynamic effects that create a corresponding plurality of near-surface forces, wherein a cumulative effect of the plurality of near-surface body forces from the plurality of electrode pairs creates a force that causes the air vehicle to hover. 26. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the body has a disc shape. 27. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the body has an outer diameter less than 15 cm. 28. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the body has an outer diameter greater than 1 meter. 29. The air vehicle according to claim 25, further comprising: a second plurality of electrode pairs positioned proximate the surface of the body, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding second plurality of voltages across the second plurality of electrode pairs, wherein application of the second plurality of voltages across the second plurality of electrode pairs creates a corresponding second plurality of dielectric barrier discharges that creates a corresponding second plurality of plasmas that creates a corresponding second plurality of near-surface body forces, wherein a second cumulative effect of the plurality of near-surface body forces from the second plurality of electrode pairs creates a force in the vertical direction. 30. The air vehicle according to claim 29, wherein the second plurality of electrode pairs is positioned proximate an external portion of the surface of the body, wherein the external portion of the surface of the body faces radially outward from the air vehicle. 31. The air vehicle according to claim 25, further comprising: one or more sensors to measure the surrounding flow conditions. 32. The air vehicle according to claim 25, further comprising: a power source unit, wherein the power source unit powers the voltage source. 33. The air vehicle according to claim 32, wherein the power source unit is located within the body. 34. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs comprises a corresponding plurality of ground electrodes and a corresponding plurality of exposed electrodes, wherein the plurality of exposed electrodes is located on the surface of the body. 35. The air vehicle according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs further comprises a corresponding plurality of one or more additional electrodes, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding plurality of one or more additional voltages across each additional electrode of the corresponding one or more additional electrodes and the ground electrode creates one or more additional dielectric barrier discharges that create one or more additional plasmas and causes a corresponding one or more additional electrohydrodynamic effects that create a corresponding one or more additional near-surface body forces. 36. The air vehicle according to claim 35, wherein each electrode pair of the plurality of electrode pairs and the corresponding one or more additional electrodes of the plurality of one or more additional electrode pairs form a corresponding portion of a discontinuous circular electrode set. 37. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrode pairs is curved. 38. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein a wall of the body comprises a hollow gap therethrough, wherein a first wall surface of the wall is exposed to the hollow gap and a second wall surface of the wall is exposed to the hollow gap such that the hollow gap is between the first wall surface and the second wall surface, wherein the first wall surface comprises at least one gap electrode pair positioned proximate the first wall surface, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one gap electrode pair, wherein application of the at least one voltage across the at least one gap electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one dielectric barrier discharge that creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that creates a corresponding at least one near-surface body force. 39. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the body has an outer diameter greater than 15 cm. 40. The air vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source is an RF voltage source, wherein the plurality of voltages is a plurality of RF voltages. 41. The air vehicle according to claim 25, wherein the voltage source is an RF voltage source, wherein the plurality of voltages is a plurality of RF voltages.