US 11,970,264 B2
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems and methods
William Swindt Butterfield, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by William Swindt Butterfield, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/480,890.
Prior Publication US 2023/0406487 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 27/08 (2023.01); B64C 27/52 (2006.01); B64D 17/80 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 27/08 (2013.01) [B64C 27/52 (2013.01); B64D 17/80 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising:
a pivotal coupling having a boom mount;
a fuselage comprising (i) a cabin coupled to the boom mount (ii) and a powerpack assembly, the powerpack assembly comprising an intake duct, an outlet duct, and at least one battery pack within the fuselage positioned above the cabin between the cabin and the pivotal coupling, wherein the intake duct is configured to receive cooling air generated by at least one of a plurality of rotors for cooling the powerpack assembly;
a powerplane assembly having the plurality of rotors and a plurality of booms directly coupled to the boom mount and coupling the plurality of rotors to the boom mount, each of the plurality of rotors comprising at least one rotor blade and an electrical motor for driving the at least one rotor blade, wherein the pivotal coupling permits the powerplane assembly to passively pivot relative to the cabin about a pitch axis and a roll axis, wherein the cabin is indexed to the powerplane assembly about a yaw axis, and wherein the yaw axis is perpendicular to the pitch axis and the roll axis, wherein the at least one battery pack is electrically coupled to the electrical motors of the plurality of rotors;
a plurality of motor controllers coupled to the electrical motors of the plurality of rotors; and
a flight controller configured to communicate with the plurality of motor controllers for controlling spinning speeds of the rotor blades of the plurality of rotors.