A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft capable of six degree-of-freedom motion where lift, pitch, and roll are provided by multirotors oriented vertically, lateral translation is provided by a cyclorotor oriented vertically, and yaw is provided by a combination of the cyclorotor and the multirotors. The invention includes a frame, which supports the multirotors and cyclorotors. The frame also supports a payload and battery which are positioned at the extreme ends of the frame. The aircraft is capable of hovering precisely to position a payload close to or touching a target surface in the air.

Systems and methods related to operating modes and video processing for mobile platforms are disclosed. In one example, a logic device of a mobile platform may receive, from a base station, a command comprising a selection of one of a plurality of operating modes for the mobile platform, where each operating mode is associated with a plurality of corresponding control operations. The logic device may execute the control operations associated with the selected operating mode in response to the command. A video processing device having a low latency pipeline may be implemented in the mobile platform to assist the mobile platform in conducting the operating modes such as by outputting real time video streaming and telemetry information for the mobile platform. Related devices and systems are also provided.

A hydraulic propulsion system is disclosed which includes an input interface configured to receive mechanical power from a power source, a pressure source comprising one or more fixed or variable displacement pumps coupled to the input interface and adaptable to convert mechanical power to hydraulic power and controlling outlet pressure of the pressure source (system pressure), one or more variable displacement motors coupled to the pressure source via a corresponding high-pressure line configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more aerodynamic rotors of an aircraft and comprising a closed loop speed control arrangement in response to a commanded rotor speed, and a controller configured to control the speed of one or more variable displacement motors by providing a control signal for controlling the system pressure.

Disclosed herein is a system comprising: a hydrogen fuel cell; a fuel storage tank; a regulator coupled to the storage tank and the fuel cell; an electronic auto pilot; a rechargeable battery; a power electronics module for delivering power from the fuel cell to the autopilot and the battery; and a heat exchanger coupled to the fuel cell. The fuel cell is characterized by: a minimum continuous power output of no more than 25 W; a maximum continuous power output of no less than 5000 W; a specific power of at least 200 W/kg based on the mass of the fuel cell and any control electronics, cooling components, air delivery components, and water management components; an ability to operate at least 2 psig of hydrogen at an inlet; and an ability to operate at temperatures up to 90° C.

The invention describes the electrical driving mechanism for sonic flying device in, on small airplane, UAV, Aerial observation equipment, includes: electric actuator, the first rotary shaft, the second rotary shaft, piston, cylinder cover, spring, fin, pin. The electric actuator are composed of three main parts including speed reducing gearbox, ball screw, motor, cover. The speed reducing gearbox is composed of spur gears and planetary gears. The electric actuator has small size, can be operated in high temperature, has water resistance, vibration resistance, big load, high speed, is suitable for sonic flying device and meets with working conditions.

The present invention relates to a system (10) for remote and/or autonomous selecting a tree to be harvested and/or to be transported, said system comprising: a remotely and/or autonomously controlled Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (100), UAV, comprising, at least one means for holding (105) and/or harvesting said at least a portion of a tree, means for detecting said a tree to be transported and/or harvested, means for detecting at least one of the group of tree parameters: diameter of said tree, length of said tree, tree species of said tree and/or the weight of said tree, a base station (120) for communication with said means configured for holding (105) and/or harvesting said tree and said UAV (100), and means configured for selecting at least a portion of a tree to be harvested and/or transported depending on at least one of said detected tree parameters.

There is disclosed in one example an unmanned vertical lift aircraft, comprising: an airframe; a drive system configured for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL); a power plant to power the drive system; and an internal cargo bay comprising a fore aperture and an aft aperture, the fore and aft apertures having dimensions substantially conforming to a cross section of the internal cargo bay, and the internal cargo bay comprising a substantially linear and open volume between the fore and aft apertures.

An aircraft that can fly stably when water is discharged from a hose installed on the airframe, and an aircraft system, are provided. The aircraft system can include a master aircraft, slave aircrafts and a remote control device. The aircraft preferably fly as a unit. Each slave aircraft can include four rotary blade portions having propellers, and a suspending means for suspending a part of a hose. The master aircraft may include four first rotary blade portions having first propellers arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, four second rotary blade portions having second propellers arranged to rotate in a vertical plane, and a nozzle on which a tip end part of the hose is installed. The direction of the center axis of the nozzle is parallel to the direction of the rotational axes of the second propellers.

An aircraft that can fly stably when water is discharged from a hose installed on the airframe, and an aircraft system, are provided. The aircraft system can include a master aircraft, slave aircrafts and a remote control device. The aircraft preferably fly as a unit. Each slave aircraft can include four rotary blade portions having propellers, and a suspending means for suspending a part of a hose. The master aircraft may include four first rotary blade portions having first propellers arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, four second rotary blade portions having second propellers arranged to rotate in a vertical plane, and a nozzle on which a tip end part of the hose is installed. The direction of the center axis of the nozzle is parallel to the direction of the rotational axes of the second propellers.

A system and method for the transfer of cryogenic fluid fuel includes a nozzle positionable with respect to fuel tank inlet, e.g., of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a seal to seal the area where the nozzle and inlet are connected, a collapsible and expandable bellows providing an isolation volume where the fluid is transferred from the nozzle into the inlet; a vacuum is provided in the volume to avoid accumulation of fuel or other species in the volume.