To provide an unmanned aerial vehicle that can allow its airframe to approach a structure surface safely and is able to move on a surface of the structure, while keeping a constant clearance between the structure surface and the airframe. This is solved by an manned aerial vehicle including one or a plurality of rotors and a plurality of rotating bodies having one or more driving sources, wherein at least a part of each of the rotating bodies in their rotational radius direction extends forth on an air intake side of the rotors relative to a position of rotational planes of the rotors, and negative pressure produced on the air intake side of the rotors causes the airframe to adhere by suction to a structure surface, and in this state, by driving the plurality of rotating bodies, the vehicle is enabled to travel on the surface.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for assisted takeoff of an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may takeoff using a first control scheme and switch to a second control scheme for normal flight when a takeoff threshold is met. The first control scheme optionally does not use integral control while the second control scheme may use integral control. The aerial vehicle may determine that a takeoff threshold is met, based on an output to a motor of the aerial vehicle and/or an acceleration of the aerial vehicle.

Systems and methods are provided for autonomous robotic surgery which is preferably integrated with autonomous-assisted intraoperative real-time single modality and/or multi-modality fusion imaging/electrophysiological diagnostics. The robotic surgery systems and methods can be integrated with autonomous-assisted intraoperative body/limb positioning, and integrated with autonomous-assisted land and unmanned aerial vehicular patient transportation.

A hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle may comprise a chassis, a plurality of leg-wheel components coupled to the chassis, wherein the plurality of leg-wheel components may be configured to be collectively operable to provide wheeled locomotion and walking locomotion, an airborne propulsion system, coupled to the chassis, and a processor configured to cause the plurality of leg-wheel components and the airborne propulsion system to propel a hybrid vehicle. The airborne propulsion system may be configured to operate synchronously with at least one of the wheeled locomotion and walking locomotion.

A hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle may comprise a chassis, a plurality of leg-wheel components coupled to the chassis, wherein the plurality of leg-wheel components may be configured to be collectively operable to provide wheeled locomotion and walking locomotion, an airborne propulsion system, coupled to the chassis, and a processor configured to cause the plurality of leg-wheel components and the airborne propulsion system to propel a hybrid vehicle. The airborne propulsion system may be configured to operate synchronously with at least one of the wheeled locomotion and walking locomotion.

A multi-modal robot capable of legged and aerial locomotion includes a body structure including a plurality of legs, each leg having at least one joint; a plurality of thrusters connected to the body structure; and a plurality of actuators for controlled movement of the legs and thrusters. The plurality of actuators are embedded within composite housing structures in the body structure. The composite housing structures are formed by additive printing of composite material over components of the actuators. The composite housing structures are reinforced by layers of continuous carbon fiber material. A method of constructing an actuator for use in a multi-modal robot is also disclosed. Additionally, a computer-implemented method is disclosed to identify particular locations and sizes of components in multi-modal robots providing the lowest total cost of transport.

In one aspect, there is provided a combination vehicle system, including a drone and a hovercraft body. The drone has a plurality of motor-driven rotors and a controller. The hovercraft body defines a ground-facing chamber having a hover air inlet, and includes a mount for the drone. The drone is removably connectable to the mount in a mounted position so as to form a hovercraft. The controller is programmed to drive the plurality of rotors to maintain stable flight of the drone without the hovercraft body connected thereto. The controller is programmed to drive the first rotor to at least partially lift the hovercraft off a support surface and to drive the second rotor to propel the hovercraft along the support surface.

The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing firefighting drone which, in case of a fire in a house, a structure, a building, or the like, can be rapidly introduced and extinguish a fire in an early stage of the fire, and can be remotely operated in an unmanned manner through connection with a central control system. The fire extinguishing firefighting drone includes a flight unit configured to include propeller units, a disaster prevention turret unit configured to spray a fire-extinguishing chemical, a plurality of movement units configured to move a body unit, and a disaster prevention means unit configured to be provided with items adapted to spray a fire-extinguishing chemical, to launch a fire-extinguishing bomb, or to save lives.

Embodiments include devices and methods for navigating an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) based on a measured magnetic field vector and strength of a magnetic field emanated from a charging station. A processor of the UAV may navigate to the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength. The processor may determine whether the UAV is substantially aligned with the charging station, and the processor may maneuver the UAV to approach the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength in response to determining that the UAV is substantially aligned with the charging station. Maneuvering the UAV to approach the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength may involve descending to a center of the charging station. The UAV may follow a specified route to and/or away from the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength.

The present application discloses an apparatus capable of walking and flight. This apparatus includes a central section supported by a plurality of limbs, wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of limbs defines a contact surface. These limbs are configured to generate a walking-type motion in which the contact surfaces of the limbs cooperate with an environmental surface in a manner sufficient to propel the central section relative the environmental surface. The apparatus further includes a motor operably coupled to at least one limb of the plurality of limbs, wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a propeller, and wherein the motor and propeller are configured to propel the central section in flight.