Passenger carrying unmanned aerial vehicle powered by a hybrid generator system

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate; a passenger compartment sized to contain a human or animal passenger; and a hybrid generator system configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor and to generate lift sufficient to carry the human or animal passenger. The hybrid generator system includes a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the at least one rotor motor; an engine configured to generate mechanical power; and a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power from the mechanical power generated by the engine.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
 at least one rotor motor configured to drive at least one propeller to rotate;   a passenger compartment sized to contain a human or animal passenger; and   a hybrid generator system configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one rotor motor and to generate lift sufficient to carry the human or animal passenger, the hybrid generator system comprising:
 a rechargeable battery configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one rotor motor; 
 an engine configured to generate mechanical energy; and 
 a generator motor coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical power generated by the engine.