An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage, a plurality of rotors, and a sensor, wherein the fuselage includes a control module and a signal processing module, and the control module is connected the arms, which is used to control the rotation of arms. The sensor is configured to the fuselage of the UAV, which is used to detect the rotation change value of the UAV. The signal processing module is connected with the sensor and the control module, which is used to receive and analyze the signal of the sensor, and the control module controls the following flying of the UAV.

Aerial vehicles are provided with one or more transformable arms (110, 310, 410, 510, 910). The one or more transformable arms (110, 310, 410, 510, 910) may support one or more propulsion units, and transform between a flight configuration where the propulsion units of the arms effect flight of the aerial vehicle, and a landing configuration, wherein the transformable arms (110, 310, 410, 510, 910) are used as a landing support that bears weight of the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is not in flight. Using the transformable arms (110, 310, 410, 510, 910) as legs when the UAV is in a landed state permits the UAV to reduce weight and reduce obstruction to a payload carried by the UAV when the UA is in flight.

Disclosed herein is a drone landing system. The drone landing system can provide precise landing guidance for drones through detection of X/Y distances and a Z distance of a drone from a center point of a station using an X/Y-axis camera and a Z-axis camera disposed on the station and through automatic or manual control over the drone using a controller.

Payload engagement systems and related methods. A payload engagement system includes a vehicle with at least one engagement latch and a payload with at least one engagement receptor. Each engagement latch is configured to be selectively transitioned between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. The payload engagement system includes an alignment guide configured to guide the payload to a predetermined coupling position prior to each engagement latch transitioning to the engaged configuration. A method of utilizing a payload engagement system includes positioning a vehicle on a first side of a docking platform, guiding a payload toward the vehicle, and coupling the payload to the vehicle via engagement between at least one engagement latch and at least one engagement receptor. Specifically, the coupling the payload to the vehicle includes transitioning each engagement latch from a disengaged configuration to an engaged configuration.

A transportable launch and landing pad for drones includes a round surface member for supporting a drone on a ground surface. The surface member includes an endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter disposable on the flat or undulating topography of the ground surface. The endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter is formed of a stranded carbon steel wire rope. The surface member has a diameter establishing an area of the pad that is greater than any linear distance across an area of downwardly moving air of the drone when operated. The pad maintains a position on the ground surface without any separate securing member inserted into the ground, and the pad is not lifted from the ground surface by air from the thrust of the drone during approach and departure of the drone relative to the pad.

There is provided a landing platform for mounting on a luminaire, where the landing platform provides an interface to a drone. For example, there is provided a landing platform for a drone, the landing platform being adaptable to mount on a luminaire. The landing platform includes two electrically active portions and an elevated portion. The elevated portion is configured to secure the drone on the landing platform and provide electrical contact between the two electrically active portions and electrical connectors of the drone.

A flying machine includes: a flying machine body that includes a rotor blade; a protective member that forms a frame shape inside which the rotor blade is disposed, that is rotatably fixed to both end portions of the flying machine body, and that is pipe shaped; and a connecting wire that passes through an inner portion of the protective member to connect the flying machine body and an external device together.

Short takeoff and landing aircraft are disclosed. An example fixed wing aircraft includes a primary power source to provide power to a propulsion unit, a secondary power source to provide power to the propulsion unit, and a detachable power coupling to transfer power to the secondary power source from a source external to the fixed wing aircraft during takeoff.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for sending a flight plan for execution by a drone, where the flight plan is adapted to a flight controller of the drone. Receiving flight data from the drone while the drone is executing the flight plan. Determining a modification to the flight plan based on the flight data received from the drone. Sending the modification to the flight plan to the drone while the drone is executing the flight plan, such that the drone executes the flight plan as modified by the modification.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a landing method thereof are provided. The landing method includes the following steps. Firstly, a depth image of a scene is obtained. Next, a landing position is determined in accordance with the depth image. Next, a height information of the landing position is obtained. Next, a plurality of relative distances of the landing gears relative to the landing position are adjusted in accordance with the height information to make the relative distances substantially the same. Then, the UAV lands on the landing position.