Volocopter has been granted a patent for an aircraft featuring a folding mechanism. The design includes a fuselage, multiple longitudinal beams with lifting units, and a crossbeam, all rotatably attached to the fuselage, allowing for pivoting to optimize flight configurations. GlobalData’s report on Volocopter gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Volocopter, Photovoltaic drones was a key innovation area identified from patents. Volocopter's grant share as of June 2024 was 29%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Folding mechanism for an aircraft with multiple lifting units
The granted patent US12017783B2 describes an innovative aircraft design featuring a folding mechanism that enhances its operational versatility. The aircraft comprises a fuselage and multiple longitudinal beams, each equipped with lifting units, such as rotors, arranged in a common rotor plane. These beams extend parallel to one another and are rotatably attached to the fuselage, allowing them to pivot to a compact position when not in flight. Additionally, a crossbeam is integrated into the design, extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal beams and also equipped with lifting units. This crossbeam can pivot independently of the longitudinal beams, providing further flexibility in the aircraft's configuration.
The claims detail various configurations and arrangements of the lifting units, including their placement at branching points or endpoints of the beams, potentially in triangular formations. The design includes connector elements that interconnect the longitudinal beams and the crossbeam, with provisions for rotatable attachments and quick-release mechanisms for ease of assembly and disassembly. The aircraft's structure allows the longitudinal beams to enclose the fuselage in a pivoted position, and it can accommodate additional components such as payloads or landing gear. Overall, this patent presents a sophisticated approach to aircraft design, focusing on adaptability and efficient use of space during flight and ground operations.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
