Provided is an unmanned aerial vehicle including: a discharge port configured to discharge contents in a container; an expansion/contraction unit configured to connect the discharge port and the container and be expandable; and a discharge position control unit configured to control expansion/contraction of the expansion/contraction unit.

Provided is an unmanned aerial vehicle including: a discharge port configured to discharge contents in a container; an expansion/contraction unit configured to connect the discharge port and the container and be expandable; and a discharge position control unit configured to control expansion/contraction of the expansion/contraction unit.

There is provided a holding member including: a holding unit configured to hold a package with a variable volume; and a connection unit configured to connect the holding unit and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The holding member may include a posture change unit configured to change a posture of the holding member, and a posture fixing unit for the holding unit. The holding member may include a package fixing unit configured to fix the package to the holding unit. There is provided a spraying method in which in a state in which the holding member holds the package, and the holding member holding the package is mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle, a content of the package is sprayed from the unmanned aerial vehicle.

A fluid tank for integration into a structure of an unmanned aircraft includes a shell having a first axial wall, an oppositely arranged second axial wall, an upper side, a lower side, and an enclosed interior, at least one receiving chamber in the interior for storing fluid, and a collection chamber, which is arranged on the lower side and which is fluidically connected to the at least one receiving chamber. The collection chamber includes a bottom surface, through which there extends a drain, wherein a covering surface is arranged above the bottom surface and covers at least a portion of the collection chamber. At least one flow opening could be arranged on an upper side of the collection chamber, which flow opening allows gas bubbles to escape in the direction of the upper side of the fluid tank.

A fluid tank for integration into a structure of an unmanned aircraft includes a shell having a first axial wall, an oppositely arranged second axial wall, an upper side, a lower side, and an enclosed interior, at least one receiving chamber in the interior for storing fluid, and a collection chamber, which is arranged on the lower side and which is fluidically connected to the at least one receiving chamber. The collection chamber includes a bottom surface, through which there extends a drain, wherein a covering surface is arranged above the bottom surface and covers at least a portion of the collection chamber. At least one flow opening could be arranged on an upper side of the collection chamber, which flow opening allows gas bubbles to escape in the direction of the upper side of the fluid tank.

A UAV catch and release system has a UAV adapted to fly a mission, an aircraft adapted to carry, launch, and retrieve the UAV, a fuel hose deployed and retrieved by mechanisms from the aircraft, an end effector joined by a gimbal joint to a lowermost end of the fuel hose, a downward projecting aerodynamic acquisition blade connected at a lowermost end of the hose, and an acquisition port opening upward from the body of the UAV, with a roller mechanism operable to engage the acquisition blade, and to draw the blade into the body until a refueling nozzle on an end of the acquisition blade is engaged to a refueling port of the UAV.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) system for energy transport includes a UAV having an energy tank configured to transport energy, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, may cause the system to receive a first location for collecting or releasing the energy, determine an energy level of the energy tank, and transport the energy by the UAV to or from the first location based on the determined energy level.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) system for energy transport includes a UAV having an energy tank configured to transport energy, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, may cause the system to receive a first location for collecting or releasing the energy, determine an energy level of the energy tank, and transport the energy by the UAV to or from the first location based on the determined energy level.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The tank assembly further comprises an attachment mechanism attached to the upper frame structure and configured to engage a main rotor transmission of the helicopter to suspend therefrom. A helicopter comprising a fuselage, a main rotor transmission, and a tank assembly is also provided.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The tank assembly further comprises an attachment mechanism attached to the upper frame structure and configured to engage a main rotor transmission of the helicopter to suspend therefrom. A helicopter comprising a fuselage, a main rotor transmission, and a tank assembly is also provided.