The Multi-Rotor Safety Shield (MRSS) provides a complete and substantial encasement system which can be secured about a Drone, protecting a multitude of aircraft components from contact with any outside disturbance and which can protect the sensitive components from dust, water, wind, rain, snow, fingers, toes, appendages of any kind, and atmospheric changes as example, from disabling the Drone and can protect people, places or things from high velocity spinning exposed rotor/propellers. The MRSS provides rigid non-permeable platform for attaching or incorporating additional safety devices as found in the Drone industry (or other industries) resulting in a safety device that completely prevents the loss a Drone due to the catastrophic failure of any Drone system or combination of systems which would typically result in rapid decent, and/or uncontrolled flight. The MRSS makes Drones safe near humans and safe to use around public gatherings, stadium events, accident scenes, disaster search and rescue and disaster relief, and indoors for the security and communications markets among others expanding the availability of Drones to further assist humanity.

The Multi-Rotor Safety Shield (MRSS) provides a complete and substantial encasement system which can be secured about a Drone, protecting a multitude of aircraft components from contact with any outside disturbance and which can protect the sensitive components from dust, water, wind, rain, snow, fingers, toes, appendages of any kind, and atmospheric changes as example, from disabling the Drone and can protect people, places or things from high velocity spinning exposed rotor/propellers. The MRSS provides rigid non-permeable platform for attaching or incorporating additional safety devices as found in the Drone industry (or other industries) resulting in a safety device that completely prevents the loss a Drone due to the catastrophic failure of any Drone system or combination of systems which would typically result in rapid decent, and/or uncontrolled flight. The MRSS makes Drones safe near humans and safe to use around public gatherings, stadium events, accident scenes, disaster search and rescue and disaster relief, and indoors for the security and communications markets among others expanding the availability of Drones to further assist humanity.

A lift unit for an aircraft, having the following features: a fan, an engine bearing axially offset from the fan, and a cylindrical electric engine having a sheath surface framed by the engine bearing.

A lift unit for an aircraft, having the following features: a fan, an engine bearing axially offset from the fan, and a cylindrical electric engine having a sheath surface framed by the engine bearing.

A method for unmanned delivery of an item to a desired delivery location includes receiving, at an unmanned vehicle, first data representative of an approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, receiving, at the unmanned vehicle, second data representative of a fiducial expected to be detectable at the desired delivery location, using the first data to operate the unmanned vehicle to travel to the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, upon arriving at the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, using the second data to operate the unmanned vehicle to detect the fiducial; and upon detecting the fiducial, using the fiducial to operate the unmanned vehicle to deliver the item.

A method for unmanned delivery of an item to a desired delivery location includes receiving, at an unmanned vehicle, first data representative of an approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, receiving, at the unmanned vehicle, second data representative of a fiducial expected to be detectable at the desired delivery location, using the first data to operate the unmanned vehicle to travel to the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, upon arriving at the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, using the second data to operate the unmanned vehicle to detect the fiducial; and upon detecting the fiducial, using the fiducial to operate the unmanned vehicle to deliver the item.

A multi-modal vehicle includes a frame, a rotor pivotally mounted to the frame, the rotor including a first position and a second position circumferentially spaced from the first position, and a motor coupled to the rotor and configured to rotate the rotor, wherein, when the rotor is disposed in the first position, the rotor is configured to generate lift when actuated by the motor, wherein, when the rotor is disposed in the second position, the rotor is configured to engage a surface to transport the vehicle when actuated by the motor.

Multi-rotor rotorcraft comprise a fuselage, and at least four rotor assemblies operatively supported by and spaced-around the fuselage. Each of the at least four rotor assemblies defines a spin volume and a spin diameter. Some multi-rotor rotorcraft further comprise at least one rotor guard that is fixed relative to the fuselage, that borders the spin volume of at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies, and that is configured to provide a visual indication of the spin volume of the at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies. Various configurations of rotor guards are disclosed.

Multi-rotor rotorcraft comprise a fuselage, and at least four rotor assemblies operatively supported by and spaced-around the fuselage. Each of the at least four rotor assemblies defines a spin volume and a spin diameter. Some multi-rotor rotorcraft further comprise at least one rotor guard that is fixed relative to the fuselage, that borders the spin volume of at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies, and that is configured to provide a visual indication of the spin volume of the at least one of the at least four rotor assemblies. Various configurations of rotor guards are disclosed.

Embodiments are described for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured for autonomous flight using visual navigation that includes a perimeter structure surrounding one or more powered rotors, the perimeter structure including image capture devices arranged so as to provide an unobstructed view around the UAV.