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Issued patent

VTOL UAV With the Cruise Efficiency of a Conventional Fixed Wing UAV

An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.

View at technology.nasa.gov
Media from NASA Technology Transfer

About this technology

Overview

NASA Langley Research Center has developed Greased Lightning, the first UAV that combines vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability with long endurance flight. Previously these two capabilities have been considered mutually exclusive. For example, helicopters offer VTOL capability, yet are inefficient for long-endurance travel. The UAV market is large (multi-billion USD) and growing, with a global reach and many regional markets. This presents numerous opportunities and entry points for a new and superior UAV technology.