A long-distance drone having a main body, a left hind wing, a right hind wing, a left forewing, and a right forewing. There is a left linear support connecting the left forewing to the left hind wing, and a right linear support connecting the right forewing to the right hind wing. A plurality of propellers are disposed on the left and the right linear supports.

A method that includes takeoff of an aircraft assembly in a vertical orientation with a central axis X of the aircraft assembly perpendicular to the ground; rotating the aircraft assembly from the vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation where the central axis X is between −5° and 20° from true horizontal; and flying the aircraft assembly from a first location to a second location in the horizontal orientation with an aircraft of the aircraft assembly generating forward propulsion for forward flight and a wing body of the aircraft assembly generating aerodynamic lift for the aircraft assembly based on the forward flight in the horizontal orientation, the aerodynamic lift generated by the wing body supporting equal to or greater than 70% of the weight of the aircraft assembly.

A method that includes takeoff of an aircraft assembly in a vertical orientation with a central axis X of the aircraft assembly perpendicular to the ground; rotating the aircraft assembly from the vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation where the central axis X is between −5° and 20° from true horizontal; and flying the aircraft assembly from a first location to a second location in the horizontal orientation with an aircraft of the aircraft assembly generating forward propulsion for forward flight and a wing body of the aircraft assembly generating aerodynamic lift for the aircraft assembly based on the forward flight in the horizontal orientation, the aerodynamic lift generated by the wing body supporting equal to or greater than 70% of the weight of the aircraft assembly.

A VTOL drone aircraft can include a rechargeable battery, a primary processor, lift propellers, an internal combustion engine with a thrust propeller, a generator, and a power regulation controller. The generator can receive power from the internal combustion engine and deliver electrical power to the rechargeable battery, the lift propellers, or both. The power regulation controller can regulate dynamically power delivery from the internal combustion engine to the thrust propeller and the generator, and from the generator to the rechargeable battery based upon changing conditions during flight. The power regulation controller can prevent operation of the generator when peak power is needed from the internal combustion engine for the thrust propeller. The power regulation controller can also control a clutch coupled to the thrust propeller to regulate the delivery of power to the thrust propeller when the internal combustion engine is active.

A dual use UAV or “drone” can include a battery and primary processor located at a fuselage, as well as two separate modular units removably coupled to the fuselage and in communication with the primary processor. The two separate modular units can interact with each other to provide an enhanced operation while the drone is in flight. One modular unit can be an ISR unit having a video camera, and the other modular unit can be a cargo unit. The enhanced operation can involve the ISR unit using its video camera to identify a delivery location for a cargo pod of the cargo unit. Alternative modular units can include a secondary ISR unit, a cargo fuel pod unit, or a robotic arm assembly. Standardized interfaces coupled to the fuselage can enable the ready removal of one modular unit and installation of another one.

A flying vehicle with a flight part connected to a plurality of rotor wing parts and a main wing, wherein the main wing is configured such that the lift produced by the main wing during landing is reduced compared to the lift produced by the main wing during cruising. Furthermore, the main wing is fixed at a forward tilt with respect to the flight part. Furthermore, the rotor wing is connected at an angle that produces propulsion and lift during cruise. Furthermore, the rotor blades are connected at an angle that generates propulsive force during cruise.

A flying vehicle with a flight part connected to a plurality of rotor wing parts and a main wing, wherein the main wing is configured such that the lift produced by the main wing during landing is reduced compared to the lift produced by the main wing during cruising. Furthermore, the main wing is fixed at a forward tilt with respect to the flight part. Furthermore, the rotor wing is connected at an angle that produces propulsion and lift during cruise. Furthermore, the rotor blades are connected at an angle that generates propulsive force during cruise.

A system that combines aerial surveying and spraying services in a single remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) popularly known as Drone, in a multirotor configuration, with electric propulsion and power system with hybrid power supply (battery and motor-generator) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system, wherein, the equipment allows, from the coupling of a set comprising aerial survey sensors such as a high definition camera and equipment aimed at spraying activities such as pumps and nozzles, aerial surveying practices, geoprocessing and spraying of chemical substances such as pesticide, herbicide, larvicide, fungicide and fertilizer, or other liquid agricultural products using a single vehicle a vehicle is also provided that is prepared to carry out the described system being a remotely piloted aircraft intended for aerial surveying and spraying activities.

A system that combines aerial surveying and spraying services in a single remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) popularly known as Drone, in a multirotor configuration, with electric propulsion and power system with hybrid power supply (battery and motor-generator) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system, wherein, the equipment allows, from the coupling of a set comprising aerial survey sensors such as a high definition camera and equipment aimed at spraying activities such as pumps and nozzles, aerial surveying practices, geoprocessing and spraying of chemical substances such as pesticide, herbicide, larvicide, fungicide and fertilizer, or other liquid agricultural products using a single vehicle a vehicle is also provided that is prepared to carry out the described system being a remotely piloted aircraft intended for aerial surveying and spraying activities.

UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.