An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adapted for transit in and deployment from a projectile casing is provided. The UAV includes a wing assembly coupled to the projectile casing and the wing assembly moveable between a closed position and a deployed position. The UAV further includes a propulsion system including at least one rotor disposed on the wing assembly to generate lift, wherein in the closed position, the wing assembly is substantially integral with the projectile casing and in the deployed position, the wing assembly is extended outwards from the projectile casing.

A mid-body which a cylindrical housing which defines a longitudinal axis and has an interior compartment. A guidance controller is housed within the mid-body for controlling flight. A plurality of wings are connected to the housing and each of the wings is movable into a deployed position to provide guidance during flight. The mid-body has an access window which facilitates communication between the interior compartment of the housing and an external environment. A normally door covers the access window, but when the door is moved, relative to the access window, into an open position, communication between the interior compartment and the external environment is established. An optical sensor is accommodated within the interior compartment and the optical sensor, once the door is moved relative to the access window, can view the external environment and supply data to the guidance controller for controlling operation of the plurality of wings during flight.

A mid-body which a cylindrical housing which defines a longitudinal axis and has an interior compartment. A guidance controller is housed within the mid-body for controlling flight. A plurality of wings are connected to the housing and each of the wings is movable into a deployed position to provide guidance during flight. The mid-body has an access window which facilitates communication between the interior compartment of the housing and an external environment. A normally door covers the access window, but when the door is moved, relative to the access window, into an open position, communication between the interior compartment and the external environment is established. An optical sensor is accommodated within the interior compartment and the optical sensor, once the door is moved relative to the access window, can view the external environment and supply data to the guidance controller for controlling operation of the plurality of wings during flight.

A ball joint gimbal (BJG) seeker assembly is provided and includes a back shell, a retaining system disposed to urge the seeker ball toward the back shell and a piezoelectric ultrasonic motor and sensor system arrayed between the seeker ball and the back shell. The piezoelectric ultrasonic motor and sensor system is pre-loaded by the retaining system and configured to controllably drive an angular orientation of the seeker ball.

A ball joint gimbal (BJG) seeker assembly is provided and includes a back shell, a retaining system disposed to urge the seeker ball toward the back shell and a piezoelectric ultrasonic motor and sensor system arrayed between the seeker ball and the back shell. The piezoelectric ultrasonic motor and sensor system is pre-loaded by the retaining system and configured to controllably drive an angular orientation of the seeker ball.

The present disclosure describes a signal relay node that is physically displaceable by a delivery system to move the signal relay node to a different location, to enable the signal relay node to overcome physical obstructions to signal propagation. A delivery system, such as a launching system, can launch the signal relay node encased within a housing unit, such as a projectile cap. Upon launch into the air, an additional aloft package may provide an aerostat, parachute, and/or a propeller and motor system to keep the signal relay node aloft in the air for a longer period of time.

Provided is a shell-type monitoring apparatus. The shell-type monitoring apparatus includes a body, a gas storage provided in the body and configured to store a gas, a variable volume portion provided on the gas storage in the body and having a volume that varies depending on an amount of gas supplied from the gas storage, a photographing unit provided on the body and configured to move in the body, and a moving flow path provided in the body and configured to supply the gas in the variable volume portion to the photographing unit and thereby move the photographing unit.

A rescue system includes a wearable article, such as a wristband, which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a radio frequency (RF) beacon, and a power supply. One or more RFID readers (collectively, an RF network) are located on a vessel, the RFID readers being configured to communicate with the RFID tag. Should the RF network detect a passenger overboard event, a modular rocket system is deployed. The modular rocket system comprises a guidance module, the guidance module including a guidance system for guiding the modular rocket system toward a target. A flight control module is removably attached to the guidance module, said flight control module including a plurality of airfoils. A flotation module is removably attached to the flight control module, said flotation module including a flotation device. A rocket motor module removably attached to the flotation module, said rocket motor module including a rocket motor configured to propel the modular rocket system.

Techniques are provided for automated determination of a rocket configuration based on acceleration during rocket motor burn-out and temperature. The rocket configuration is associated with a class of warhead affixed to the rocket. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes measuring the acceleration of the rocket over a period of time associated with the flight of the rocket. The method also includes calculating an acceleration difference between the measured acceleration associated with the start of rocket motor burn-out and the measured acceleration associated with the end of rocket motor burn-out. The method further includes measuring an internal temperature of the rocket and selecting a delta acceleration threshold based on the measured temperature. The method further includes comparing the calculated acceleration difference to the selected delta acceleration threshold, to estimate the rocket configuration. The estimated rocket configuration is used by guidance and control circuitry to select autopilot parameters.

In one aspect, a modular air sampling system includes a sensor module defining a nose, the sensor module including a sensor for sampling contaminants in the atmosphere. A processing and sending module includes processing electronics in communication with the sensor for receiving a signal from the sensor representative of sampled contaminants in the atmosphere. The processing and sending module further includes a radio frequency transmitter operably coupled to the processing electronics for transmitting a radio frequency signal representative of one or more contaminants sensed by the sensor. In another aspect, a modular air sampling system includes a sensor module containing the sensor, processing electronics, and radio frequency transmitter within the sensor module housing.