US 12,140,945 B2
Modular and dynamically reconfigurable flying systems encompassing flying vehicle modules
Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed by California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/586,628.
Application 16/586,628 is a continuation of application No. 16/586,549, filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/885,395, filed on Aug. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/879,684, filed on Jul. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/879,703, filed on Jul. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/717,220, filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/711,402, filed on Jul. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/711,392, filed on Jul. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0094965 A1, Mar. 26, 2020
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2006.01); B64C 37/02 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64C 39/04 (2006.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 101/00 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0027 (2013.01) [B64C 37/02 (2013.01); B64C 39/02 (2013.01); B64C 39/04 (2013.01); G05D 1/00 (2013.01); G05D 1/104 (2013.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2201/102 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flying surface comprising:
a plurality of interconnected flying vehicles each comprising an associated thrust unit and an associated controller, wherein adjacent interconnected flying vehicles of the plurality of interconnected flying vehicles are connected via a joint formed between connectors of the adjacent interconnected flying vehicles; and wherein the controller of each of the plurality of interconnected flying vehicles is configured for distributed flight control of the flying surface, wherein the controllers of the plurality of interconnected flying vehicles are collectively configured to reconfigure a shape of the flying surface during flight, wherein said shape comprises a conical shape and a concave shape.