An aircraft includes an airframe with a thrust array attached thereto. The thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies that are independently controlled by a flight control system. A landing gear assembly is coupled to the airframe and includes a plurality of landing feet. An altitude sensor array includes a plurality of altitude sensors each of which is disposed within one of the landing feet such that when the aircraft is in the VTOL orientation, the altitude sensor array is configured to obtain multifocal altitude data relative to a landing surface. The flight control system is configured to generate a three-dimensional terrain map of the surface based upon the multifocal altitude data.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    VTOL aircraft having multifocal landing sensors



    Publication date :

    2023-04-18


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen / B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge / B64U / G01S RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING , Funkpeilung / G06V



    VTOL Aircraft having Multifocal Landing Sensors

    WITTMAAK JR JOHN ROBERT / PETERS RUSSELL C / HITCHCOCK AARON et al. | European Patent Office | 2022

    Free access

    Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft

    LLOYD JOHN / GRONINGA KIRK LANDON | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access

    Vertical Takeoff and Landing ("VTOL") Aircraft

    GAILLIMORE IAN TODD / DRIVER KENNETH DEAN | European Patent Office | 2019

    Free access

    Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Aircraft

    LLOYD JOHN / GRONINGA KIRK LANDON | European Patent Office | 2018

    Free access

    Vertical Takeoff and Landing ("VTOL") Aircraft

    GAILLIMORE IAN TODD / DRIVER KENNETH DEAN | European Patent Office | 2017

    Free access