Aerial Transportation System

Abstract

An aerial vehicle has a passenger cabin for receiving at least one passenger, a load-bearing structure beneath the cabin, and a propulsion system including a number of propulsion units, which propel the aerial vehicle for powered flight and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). The propulsion units are preferably carried by support arms attached to the load-bearing structure and extending upwards therefrom so as to support the propulsion units at a level above the cabin. The aerial vehicle is preferably reconfigurable to a compact configuration after landing, with at least some of the propulsion units overlapping the cabin and/or each other, while still allowing passenger transfer in and out of the vehicle, thereby facilitating efficient use of space for implementing a vertiport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air transportation system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of aerial vehicles each comprising a passenger cabin for receiving at least one passenger and an electric propulsion system including an onboard electric-energy store; and   (b) a robotic charging system comprising a plurality of mobile charging robots, each of said mobile charging robots provided with a charging-robot energy store, said robot being configured to autonomously approach one of said aerial vehicles while said aerial vehicle is not in flight and to establish an electrical connection for delivering power from said charging-robot energy store to charge said onboard electric-energy store.   
     
     
         2 . The air transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile charging robot is configured to charge said onboard electric-energy store while said aerial vehicle is moving. 
     
     
         3 . The air transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein said charging-robot energy store is integrated with said mobile charging robot. 
     
     
         4 . The air transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein said charging-robot energy store is a detachable electrical-energy store detachably associated with said mobile charging robot to facilitate swapping of said detachable electrical-energy store. 
     
     
         5 . The air transportation system of  claim 4 , wherein said detachable electrical-energy store is detachably associated with a top surface of said mobile charging robot. 
     
     
         6 . The air transportation system of  claim 4 , further comprising a charging station for receiving a plurality of said detachable electrical-energy stores in a vertical stack. 
     
     
         7 . The air transportation system of  claim 6 , wherein said charging station is located on a different level from the aerial vehicle and the mobile charging robot, the air transport system further comprising an elevator for conveying said detachable electrical-energy stores to and from said charging station. 
     
     
         8 . The air transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile charging robot is integrated as part of a handling robot for transporting the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The air transportation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a handling robot, distinct from said mobile charging robot, for transporting the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The air transport system of  claim 9 , wherein said electrical connection for delivering power from said charging-robot energy store to said onboard electric-energy store is established via said handling robot. 
     
     
         11 . An air transportation system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of aerial vehicles each comprising a passenger cabin for receiving at least one passenger and an electric propulsion system including an onboard electric-energy store; and   (b) a robotic charging system comprising a plurality of mobile charging robots, each of said mobile charging robots provided with a charging-robot energy store, said robot being configured to approach one of said aerial vehicles while said aerial vehicle is not in flight and to establish an electrical connection for delivering power from said charging-robot energy store to charge said onboard electric-energy store, said mobile charging robot being further configured to charge said onboard electric-energy store while said aerial vehicle is moving.   
     
     
         12 . The air transportation system of  claim 11 , wherein said charging-robot energy store is integrated with said mobile charging robot. 
     
     
         13 . The air transportation system of  claim 11 , wherein said charging-robot energy store is a detachable electrical-energy store detachably associated with said mobile charging robot to facilitate swapping of said detachable electrical-energy store. 
     
     
         14 . The air transportation system of  claim 13 , wherein said detachable electrical-energy store is detachably associated with a top surface of said mobile charging robot. 
     
     
         15 . The air transportation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a charging station for receiving a plurality of said detachable electrical-energy stores in a vertical stack. 
     
     
         16 . The air transportation system of  claim 15 , wherein said charging station is located on a different level from the aerial vehicle and the mobile charging robot, the air transport system further comprising an elevator for conveying said detachable electrical-energy stores to and from said charging station. 
     
     
         17 . The air transportation system of  claim 11 , wherein said mobile charging robot is integrated as part of a handling robot for transporting the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The air transportation system of  claim 11 , further comprising a handling robot, distinct from said mobile charging robot, for transporting the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The air transport system of  claim 18 , wherein said electrical connection for delivering power from said charging-robot energy store to said onboard electric-energy store is established via said handling robot.