Lockheed Martin Corporation
Hinge mechanism for a weight-shifting coaxial helicopter

Abstract:

A helicopter includes a gimbal assembly, a first rotor assembly, a second rotor assembly, a fuselage, and a controller. The first rotor assembly, the second rotor assembly, and the fuselage are mechanically coupled to the gimbal assembly. The first rotor assembly includes a first rotor and the second rotor assembly includes a second rotor, the first rotor including a plurality of first fixed-pitch blades and the second rotor including a plurality of second fixed-pitch blades. Each of the plurality of first and the second fixed-pitch blades are coupled to a hub of its respective rotor via a hinge mechanism that is configured to allow each of the fixed-pitch blades to pivot from a first position to a second position, the first position being substantially parallel to the fuselage and the second position being substantially perpendicular to the fuselage.