	US 11,851,178 B2
	Long range endurance aero platform system
Steven Beck, Palos Verdes Estates, CA (US); David Caldwell, Carlsbad, CA (US); Christopher Hartney, Gardena, CA (US); Bernard Harris Jefferson, Jr., Westminster, CA (US); Jeffrey Lang, Torrance, CA (US); John Morales, Victorville, CA (US); Martin Panevsky, San Pedro, CA (US); Kasemsan Siri, Torrance, CA (US); Evan Ulrich, Hermosa Beach, CA (US); Richard Welle, Huntington Beach, CA (US); and Allyson Yarbrough, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US)
Assigned to The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed by The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/791,605.
Prior Publication US 2021/0253240 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/11 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/14 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01)

CPC B64C 39/024 (2013.01) [B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/11 (2023.01); B64U 50/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/14 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01)]

27 Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a power generation system comprising an internal combustion engine and one or more batteries (batteries), configured to generate power for propulsion of the UAV, wherein

the batteries and the internal combustion engine are abutting each other,

the internal combustion engine is mechanically linked to a lift propeller, and is configured to mechanically drive the lift propeller, generating vertical lift of the UAV,

the batteries are configured to electrically rotate a micro-propeller assembly, propelling the UAV in a forward direction or multiple additional directions,

the internal combustion engine and the batteries are decoupled from one another, independently mechanically rotating the lift propeller by the internal combustion engine and independently electrically rotating the micro-propeller assembly by the batteries, and

the lift propeller and the micro-propeller assembly are located within a diameter of a ducted fan.