Apparatus for providing rail-based vertical short takeoff and landing and operational control

Abstract

Apparatus for vertical or short takeoff and landing, and operational control during flight. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a main body assembly, the main body assembly including: a fuselage, the fuselage includes one or more power motor assemblies and one or more actuator motor assemblies; a plurality of power mounting bodies and a plurality of power/articulation mounting bodies; a static rail that is operatively coupled with the plurality of power mounting bodies; a transient rail that is operatively coupled with the plurality of power/articulation bodies; and a plurality of airfoils, each of the plurality of airfoils being coupled to a respective power/articulation mounting body. Various sub-systems of the apparatus and methods of manufacture and use are also disclosed.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . Drive apparatus configured for use in a vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) device, comprising:
 a first apparatus comprising:
 at least one motive power source; and 
 an outer surface, the outer surface forming a substantially circular shape; 
   a second apparatus concentric with the first apparatus and comprising:
 a ring structure operatively coupled to the at least one motive power source and configured to receive a plurality of airfoil apparatus disposed on an outer periphery of the ring structure, the plurality of airfoil apparatus configured to generate lift for the VSTOL apparatus when the plurality of airfoils are moved through air; and 
 a plurality of roller apparatus; 
   wherein the plurality of roller apparatus are configured to engage the outer surface of the first apparatus such as to allow rotation of the second apparatus relative to the first apparatus under power of the at least one motive power source.   
     
     
         29 . The drive apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the outer surface is disposed on an outer surface of the first apparatus, and the outer surface and the plurality of roller apparatus cooperate to retain the first apparatus and the second apparatus in relative alignment. 
     
     
         30 . The drive apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the outer surface is supported by at least an internal support apparatus of the first apparatus such that the outer surface does not distort unacceptably under inward normal forces exerted by one or more of the plurality of roller apparatus during flight of the VSTOL device. 
     
     
         31 . The drive apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one control apparatus; and
 wherein the drive apparatus further comprises articulation apparatus configured to articulate each of the plurality of airfoil apparatus between two or more positions based at least in part on actuation by the at least one control apparatus.   
     
     
         32 . The drive apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the articulation apparatus and control apparatus are further configured to cooperate to enable selective articulation of only a subset of the plurality of airfoil apparatus between the two or more positions in order to at least control a pitch of the VSTOL device during flight. 
     
     
         33 . The drive apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the articulation apparatus comprises a ring structure configured to articulate at one or more of a plurality of points so as to change at least one of an elevation or a pitch of the ring structure relative to the first and second apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . Drive apparatus configured for use in a vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) device, the drive apparatus comprising:
 first and second ring structures configured such that:
 (i) the second ring structure is disposed concentric with the first ring structure; and 
 (ii) the second ring structure is kept in alignment relative to the first ring structure in at least one dimension based at least on a plurality of interface apparatus disposed at least partly between the first and second ring structures; and 
   at least one motive power source, the at least one motive power source operatively coupled to the second ring structure so as to drive the second ring structure in rotation around the first ring structure.   
     
     
         35 . The drive apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one dimension comprises radial distance between the first and second ring structures, the radial distance as measured from an axis of rotation of the second ring structure. 
     
     
         36 . The drive apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one dimension further comprises a vertical height of the second ring structure relative to the first ring structure. 
     
     
         37 . The drive apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one dimension comprises a vertical position of the second ring structure relative to the first ring structure as measured along an axis of rotation of the second ring structure. 
     
     
         38 . The drive apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of interface apparatus comprises a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels:
 having an axis of wheel rotation coupled to the second ring structure; and   shaped so as to at least partly receive at least a portion of an external surface of the first ring structure so that the vertical position stays approximately constant.   
     
     
         39 . The drive apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of interface apparatus comprises a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels (i) having an axis of wheel rotation coupled to the second ring structure, and (ii) being disposed at respective ones of a plurality of locations along an interior periphery of the second ring structure. 
     
     
         40 . The drive apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the second ring structure is configured to receive lift-providing apparatus disposed at a plurality of locations along an exterior periphery of the second ring structure. 
     
     
         41 . The drive apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first ring structure comprises a stepped cross-sectional shape such that a central portion of an exterior surface of the first ring structure is disposed at a greater radius from an axis of rotation of the second ring structure than either of two upper and lower portions of the exterior surface. 
     
     
         42 . The drive apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the operative coupling of the at least one motive power source to the second ring structure comprises at least one power transfer element which rotatably engages one or more corresponding portions of the second ring structure in order to provide said drive of the second ring structure. 
     
     
         43 . The drive apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein:
 the at least one power transfer element comprises at least one sprocket; and   the one or more corresponding portions of the second ring structure comprise a plurality of sprocket-engaging teeth disposed on an inner surface of the second ring structure.   
     
     
         44 . Drive apparatus configured for use in a vertical short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) device, the drive apparatus comprising:
 first and second ring structures configured such that the second ring structure is disposed concentric with the first ring structure and rotates thereabout;   a plurality of airfoil apparatus operatively coupled to the second ring structure and operative to provide lift to said VSTOL device during said rotation;   a plurality of ring interface apparatus disposed at least partly between the first and second ring structures so as to facilitate said rotation of the second ring structure about the first ring structure; and   at least two motive power sources, the at least two motive power sources selectively operable so as to selectively drive the second ring structure in rotation around the first ring structure using either (i) less than all of the at least two motive power sources, or (ii) all of the at least two motive power sources.   
     
     
         45 . The drive apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the at least two motive power sources comprises two or more motive power sources:   the less than all of the at least two motive power sources comprises a single motive power source; and   further comprising apparatus configured to perform at least one of disengagement or retraction of all but one of the two or more motive power sources from coupling with the second ring structure during operation so as enable said selective driving of the second ring structure using the single motive power source.   
     
     
         46 . The drive apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the at least two motive power sources comprises two or more motive power sources:   the less than all of the at least two motive power sources comprises a single motive power source; and   further comprising apparatus configured to enable all but one of the motive power sources to freely spin while remaining coupled to the second ring structure so as enable said selective driving of the second ring structure using the single motive power source.   
     
     
         47 . The drive apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the at least two motive power sources are mounted directly or indirectly to the first ring structure and configured to drive the second ring structure through respective ones of apertures formed within the first ring structure.