A leg mechanism includes an articulated leg system, a passive device and a cable. The articulated leg system has a leg portion. The passive device is coupled to the articulated leg system and is configured to apply a first force to a portion thereof. The cable is coupled to the articulated leg system and is configured to apply a second force, in opposition to the first force, to a portion thereof. When the cable is drawn away from the articulated leg system, the second force moves the leg portion in a first direction. When tension is released from the cable, the passive device exerts the first force so as to move the leg portion a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces comprises a chassis having a plurality of wheels mounted thereto. Two magnetic drive wheels are spaced apart in a lateral direction and rotate about a rotational axis while a stabilizing wheel is provided in front of or behind the two drive wheels. The drive wheels are configured to be driven independently, thereby driving and steering the vehicle along the surface. The vehicle also includes a sensor probe assembly that is supported by the chassis and configured to take measurements of the surface being traversed. In accordance with a salient aspect, the vehicle includes a probe normalization mechanism that is configured to determine the surface curvature and adjust the orientation of the probe transducer as a function of the curvature of the surface, thereby maintaining the probe at the preferred inspection angle irrespective of changes in the surface curvature with vehicle movement.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces comprises a chassis having a plurality of wheels mounted thereto. Two magnetic drive wheels are spaced apart in a lateral direction and rotate about a rotational axis while a stabilizing wheel is provided in front of or behind the two drive wheels. The drive wheels are configured to be driven independently, thereby driving and steering the vehicle along the surface. The vehicle also includes a sensor probe assembly that is supported by the chassis and configured to take measurements of the surface being traversed. In accordance with a salient aspect, the vehicle includes a probe normalization mechanism that is configured to determine the surface curvature and adjust the orientation of the probe transducer as a function of the curvature of the surface, thereby maintaining the probe at the preferred inspection angle irrespective of changes in the surface curvature with vehicle movement.

Systems and methods for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and control are provided. A UAV may include a swashplateless and hinged propulsion system, and a rotating payload system including an ISR device, a wind sensor, explosive charge and an atmospherics and/or CBRN sensor. A UAV flight controller may include a motion, compass, visual and gyroscopic (MCVG) or other gravitational forces sensor, a communications module configured to communicate with a UAV, and a flight module. The flight module may be configured to receive flight data from the UAV and generate flight control instructions based at least on the flight data and data received from the MCVG sensor. The flight control instructions may be operable to pilot the UAV based on movement of the UAV flight controller in 3D space.

Systems and methods for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and control are provided. A UAV may include a swashplateless and hinged propulsion system, and a rotating payload system including an ISR device, a wind sensor, explosive charge and an atmospherics and/or CBRN sensor. A UAV flight controller may include a motion, compass, visual and gyroscopic (MCVG) or other gravitational forces sensor, a communications module configured to communicate with a UAV, and a flight module. The flight module may be configured to receive flight data from the UAV and generate flight control instructions based at least on the flight data and data received from the MCVG sensor. The flight control instructions may be operable to pilot the UAV based on movement of the UAV flight controller in 3D space.

Systems and methods for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and control are provided. A UAV may include a swashplateless and hinged propulsion system, and a rotating payload system including an ISR device, a wind sensor, explosive charge and an atmospherics and/or CBRN sensor. A UAV flight controller may include a motion, compass, visual and gyroscopic (MCVG) or other gravitational forces sensor, a communications module configured to communicate with a UAV, and a flight module. The flight module may be configured to receive flight data from the UAV and generate flight control instructions based at least on the flight data and data received from the MCVG sensor. The flight control instructions may be operable to pilot the UAV based on movement of the UAV flight controller in 3D space.

Systems and methods for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and control are provided. A UAV may include a swashplateless and hinged propulsion system, and a rotating payload system including an ISR device, a wind sensor, explosive charge and an atmospherics and/or CBRN sensor. A UAV flight controller may include a motion, compass, visual and gyroscopic (MCVG) or other gravitational forces sensor, a communications module configured to communicate with a UAV, and a flight module. The flight module may be configured to receive flight data from the UAV and generate flight control instructions based at least on the flight data and data received from the MCVG sensor. The flight control instructions may be operable to pilot the UAV based on movement of the UAV flight controller in 3D space.

An unmanned helicopter platform includes a fuselage, a tail coupled with the fuselage, a payload rail coupled with and extending along the fuselage and a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage. The tail includes a tail rotor and a tail rotor motor. The main rotor assembly includes a main rotor having an axis of rotation and a main rotor motor. The payload rail allows mechanical connection of payloads to the fuselage and positioning of the payloads such that a center of gravity of the payloads is alignable with the axis of rotation.

An unmanned helicopter platform includes a fuselage, a tail coupled with the fuselage, a payload rail coupled with and extending along the fuselage and a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage. The tail includes a tail rotor and a tail rotor motor. The main rotor assembly includes a main rotor having an axis of rotation and a main rotor motor. The payload rail allows mechanical connection of payloads to the fuselage and positioning of the payloads such that a center of gravity of the payloads is alignable with the axis of rotation.

Systems, methods, and aircraft for managing center of gravity (CG) while transporting large cargo are described. Management of CG is achieved in many ways. In some instances, the aircraft itself is designed to assist in managing CG by providing fuel tanks that minimize the impact of fuel on the net CG of the aircraft. The fuel tanks utilize only a small amount of available volume in the wings for fuel. Disclosures related to properly managing CG while loading wind turbines onto cargo aircraft are also provided. The CG management techniques provided for herein allow for the transportation of wind turbine blades via aircraft, running counter to the typical rail or truck transportation of the same. One such management technique includes accounting for how a rotation of the blades when loading impacts the CG of the blades, and thus taking this into account when placing the blades in the aircraft.