US 11,834,163 B2
Aerial vehicle with tape spring arms
David Patterson, Hudson, NH (US); and Mark Silver, Bedford, MA (US)
Assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/196,102.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/024,698, filed on May 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0354812 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B64C 27/33 (2006.01); B64C 1/30 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 27/33 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
a main body; and
a plurality of flexible arms connected to and extending radially outward from the main body, wherein each flexible arm of the plurality of flexible arms comprises:
a rotor connected to an associated flexible arm, wherein each flexible arm is configured to move between a contracted state and an extended state relative to a rigid connection to the main body, and wherein deforming each flexible arm between the contracted state and the extended state displaces the associated rotor radially outward from the main body, wherein each flexible arm of the plurality of flexible arms is configured to move between the contracted state and the extended state by radial elongation of the flexible arm.