Patent attributes
The invention described here offers a low-cost method of remote flight control suitable for use in toy airplanes and ornithopters (flapping-wing aircraft). To accomplish this, the aircraft is powered by a reversible electric motor. The propeller or flapping wing produces a torque force, which is dependent upon the direction of motor rotation. This torque force is used to bank the aircraft and cause a turn. In the case of an airplane, a reversible-pitch propeller enables the propeller to produce thrust in either rotational direction. In the case of an ornithopter, the torque force results from an asymmetrical motion of the wings. By reversing the motor direction, the asymmetry is reversed and the ornithopter turns in the opposite direction. This control method reduces costs, because unlike other toy aircraft control systems, it provides full directional control of the aircraft without the need for any servo or actuator in addition to the drive motor.
