Novel extended range vertical take-off and landing drone
This technology is a quadcopter drone with an airfoil-shaped body that generates lift as it flies forward, similar to a wing. The fuselage is angled so the front rotors sit higher than the rear rotors, allowing the whole body to act as a lifting surface. This design is built using a monocoque structure, meaning the outer shell carries the structural load, keeping the vehicle light and efficient. The combined lift from both the rotors and the body extends the drone's flight range compared to conventional quadcopters.
What you could build
A mid-sized commercial delivery or inspection drone built on this airframe could be sold to logistics companies, energy infrastructure operators, or defense contractors who need extended-range VTOL capability without complex transitioning mechanisms. The buyer is a fleet operator or system integrator seeking a drop-in platform with greater range than off-the-shelf quadcopters.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia's dense concentration of defense contractors and logistics hubs around Northern Virginia and the Port of Virginia makes this extended-range VTOL platform directly relevant to both military unmanned systems programs and last-mile cargo delivery operations in the region.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept, described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated, supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely, the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Kevin Kochersberger, Sarthak Deshmukh, Katie Marie Moncure
- Granted
- August 11, 2026
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12703517
Ready to talk?
the university handles licensing for this technology. Email us for an introduction patents@harbor.capital.
Sonar summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.