US 11,912,406 B2
Paramotor with contrarotating propellers
Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Potomac, MD (US); Karl Nicholas Murphy, Cocoa Beach, MD (US); William Becker, Monrovia, MD (US); and Steven Rotundo, Baltimore, MD (US)
Assigned to Robotic Research OpCo, LLC, Clarksburg, MD (US)
Filed by Robotic Research OpCo, LLC, Clarksburg, MD (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/939,451.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024575 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 31/036 (2006.01); B64C 11/48 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); B64C 11/00 (2006.01); B64C 15/02 (2006.01); B64D 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 31/036 (2013.01) [B64C 11/001 (2013.01); B64C 11/48 (2013.01); B64C 15/02 (2013.01); B64D 5/00 (2013.01); B64D 27/02 (2013.01); B64D 2027/026 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A paramotor system with contrarotating propellers, comprising:
I. a paramotor, comprising:
a. a structural frame;
b. a wing for providing lift, the wing being connected to the frame;
c. a first propeller configured to rotate in a first direction;
d. a second propeller configured to rotate in a second direction; and
e. a series electric hybrid powertrain coupled to the structural frame, the series electric hybrid powertrain, comprising:
i. a set of batteries;
ii. a generator coupled to charge the set of batteries;
iii. a first electric motor coupled to receive electrical power from the set of batteries and coupled to power the first propeller; and
iv. a second electric motor coupled to receive electrical power from the set of batteries and coupled to power the second propeller; and
f. an autopilot system that automatically adjusts speeds of the first and second propellers to guide the paramotor along a navigational route, the autopilot system comprising:
i. a sensor device capable of determining location information for the paramotor,
ii. a first speed controller coupled to adjust a speed of the first propeller;
iii. a second speed controller coupled to adjust a speed of the second propeller;
iv. a speedbar actuator coupled to adjust an angle-of-attack of the wing; and
v. a processing unit in communication with each of the sensor device, the first speed controller, the second speed controller, and the speedbar actuator, wherein the processing unit (a) automatically instructs the first speed controller and the second speed controller to adjust a heading of the paramotor and (b) and automatically instructs the speedbar actuator to adjust an altitude of the paramotor, both in response to location information received from the sensor device.