Vehicles such as unmanned air vehicles that are capable of movement from an open, flight configuration to an enclosed configuration in which all major flight components can be protected by an outer shell are disclosed. In the enclosed configuration, the vehicles can take on standard geometric shapes such as a rectangular prism, sphere, cylinder, or another shape, so as to not be recognizable as an unmanned air vehicle. Embodiments of vehicles can also include interchangeable and/or wireless motor arms, motor arms which are electrically connected to the remainder of the vehicle only when in an open configuration, remote controllers removably attached to the remainder of the vehicle, and clip or other attachment mechanisms for attachment to objects such as backpacks.

A drone docking system (10) for multicopter drone (50) comprises a docking station (20) having a receiver (26). The CT receiver (26) is adapted to connect to a docking formation (52) mounted atop the drone (50) such that when the drone (50) is docked with the docking station (20), the drone (50) is suspended from and below the docking station (20). A fail-safe mechanical connection (56, 32) is provided to connect the docking formation (52) to the receiver (26). One or more electromagnets (34, 58) may be used to NI connect the docking formation (52) to the receiver (26), which electromagnets (34, 58) are suitably controllable to provide a smooth transition between docked and free-flight states of the drone (50) and optionally to guide the docking formation (52) into alignment with the receiver (26). The drone (50) suitably has a payload rendering it useful for surveillance and crime prevention/detection purposes.

A modular flat-packable drone kit includes a plurality of components that can be assembled into a drone. Components of the drone kit include elements that may be cut from a flat sheet of material, thereby enabling low cost manufacturing and compact packaging and may be assembled without specialized tools. A set of drones may operate in a standalone mode or may be coupled together and operated in a group configuration.

A modular flat-packable drone kit includes a plurality of components that can be assembled into a drone. Components of the drone kit include elements that may be cut from a flat sheet of material, thereby enabling low cost manufacturing and compact packaging and may be assembled without specialized tools. A set of drones may operate in a standalone mode or may be coupled together and operated in a group configuration.

Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatus for actively adjusting the shape of a propeller blade of an aerial vehicle during operation of the aerial vehicle. For example, the propeller blade may have one or more joints that adjust to alter the shape of the propeller blade. The altered shape of the propeller blade causes the propeller to generate different frequencies of sound as it rotates. By altering multiple propeller blades of the aerial vehicle, the different sounds generated by the different propeller blades may effectively cancel or reduce the total sound generated by the aerial vehicle, and/or alter the total frequency generated.

A transport device for transporting an unmanned aerial vehicle and methods for using the transport device are described herein. An example embodiment of the transport device includes: a carriage configured to engage the unmanned aerial vehicle; a plurality of engagement arms movably attached to the carriage and movable between a first locking position and a second locking position, each of the plurality of engagement arms, and configured to maintain engagement of the unmanned aerial vehicle by the carriage when in the first locking position; and a handle adapter having a first end configured for attachment to the carriage and a second end configured to receive an extension member.

A transport device for transporting an unmanned aerial vehicle and methods for using the transport device are described herein. An example embodiment of the transport device includes: a carriage configured to engage the unmanned aerial vehicle; a plurality of engagement arms movably attached to the carriage and movable between a first locking position and a second locking position, each of the plurality of engagement arms, and configured to maintain engagement of the unmanned aerial vehicle by the carriage when in the first locking position; and a handle adapter having a first end configured for attachment to the carriage and a second end configured to receive an extension member.

The invention specifies key small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) features which include the tactical mounting of the sUAS to a firearm for rapid access in tactical situations. The invention claims both the fixturing of a sUAS to a firearm and technologies and methodologies to allow for deployment of the sUAS utilizing a single hand of the operator.

The invention specifies key small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) features which include the tactical mounting of the sUAS to a firearm for rapid access in tactical situations. The invention claims both the fixturing of a sUAS to a firearm and technologies and methodologies to allow for deployment of the sUAS utilizing a single hand of the operator.

A landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is disclosed. The landing pad includes a support structure, a charging pad, and a plurality of movable UAV supports. The charging pad is coupled to the support structure and able to move relative to the support structure. The UAV supports are also coupled to the support structure and configured to translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position. When the UAV supports are in the first position, the charging pad supports the UAV. When the UAV supports are in the second position, the charging pad is lowered and the UAV supports then provide support to the UAV.