US 12,486,029 B2
Aircraft having reverse thrust capabilities
Herman Lucas Norbert Wiegman, Essex Junction, VT (US); Nathan William Joseph Wiegman, Essex Junction, VT (US); Riley Clinton Griffin, Montpelier, VT (US); and Lochie Ferrier, Sydney (AU)
Assigned to BETA AIR LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/103,627.
Application 18/103,627 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/319,155, filed on May 13, 2021, granted, now 11,597,508.
Prior Publication US 2023/0227147 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 13/04 (2006.01); B64D 27/34 (2024.01); B64D 27/351 (2024.01); B64D 27/357 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2006.01); B64D 31/16 (2024.01)
CPC B64C 29/0025 (2013.01) [B64C 13/04 (2013.01); B64D 27/34 (2024.01); B64D 27/351 (2024.01); B64D 27/357 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2013.01); B64D 31/16 (2024.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft having reverse thrust capabilities, the aircraft comprising:
a fuselage;
a plurality of flight components configured to enable the aircraft to operate in a low-speed flight mode comprising a low-speed threshold;
a pilot control located within the fuselage;
a sensor attached to the pilot control configured to detect an aircraft datum from the pilot control;
an energy source configured to provide power to a flight component of the plurality of flight components; and
a flight controller, located within the fuselage, wherein the flight controller:
receives, while the aircraft is operating in the low-speed flight mode, the aircraft datum from the sensor at an initial time, wherein the initial time occurs when the flight component produces a positive thrust in a first thrust direction;
initiates, while the aircraft is operating in the low-speed flight mode, a reverse thrust command as a function of the aircraft datum at a subsequent time, wherein:
the reverse thrust command causes the flight component to:
enter a thrust reversal region comprising a regenerative drag operation; and
produce a negative thrust in a second thrust direction opposite the first thrust direction and while the aircraft is operating in the low-speed flight mode; and
the subsequent time occurs temporally after the initial time;
initiates, at the subsequent time, a reverse torque command of flight component or a second flight component as a function of the aircraft datum; and
commands the flight component to enter a speed reversal region, wherein:
the speed reversal region comprises a dissipative drag operation, wherein the dissipative drag operation comprises pushing air against a forward motion of the aircraft; and
the flight component is in a negative speed mode.