One variation of a method for imaging an area of interest includes: within a user interface, receiving a selection for a set of interest points on a digital map of a physical area and receiving a selection for a resolution of a geospatial map; identifying a ground area corresponding to the set of interest points for imaging during a mission; generating a flight path over the ground area for execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; setting an altitude for the unmanned aerial vehicle along the flight path based on the selection for the resolution of the geospatial map and an optical system arranged within the unmanned aerial vehicle; setting a geospatial accuracy requirement for the mission based on the selection for the mission type; and assembling a set of images captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission into the geospatial map.

Launch-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A computer-implemented method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle in a representative embodiment includes detecting at least one parameter of a motion of the UAV as a user releases the UAV for flight. Based at least in part on the at least the one detected parameter, the method can further include establishing a flight path for the UAV, and directing the UAV to fly the flight path.

Systems, devices, and methods for impacting, by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), a net having at least three sides; and converting the kinetic energy of the SUAV into at least one of: elastic potential energy of one or more tensioned elastic cords connected to at least one corner of the net, gravitational potential energy of a frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, rotational kinetic energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, and elastic potential energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net.

The subject matter described herein includes a modular and extensible approach to integrate noisy measurements from multiple heterogeneous sensors that yield either absolute or relative observations at different and varying time intervals, and to provide smooth and globally consistent estimates of position in real time for autonomous flight. We describe the development of the algorithms and software architecture for a new 1.9 kg MAV platform equipped with an IMU, laser scanner, stereo cameras, pressure altimeter, magnetometer, and a GPS receiver, in which the state estimation and control are performed onboard on an Intel NUC 3.sup.rd generation i3 processor. We illustrate the robustness of our framework in large-scale, indoor-outdoor autonomous aerial navigation experiments involving traversals of over 440 meters at average speeds of 1.5 m/s with winds around 10 mph while entering and exiting buildings.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided that enable robust operations of a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) using a compound wing. The various embodiments may provide a sUAS with vertical takeoff and landing capability, long endurance, and the capability to operate in adverse environmental conditions. In the various embodiments a sUAS may include a fuselage and a compound wing comprising a fixed portion coupled to the fuselage, a wing lifting portion outboard of the fixed portion comprising a rigid cross member and a controllable articulating portion configured to rotate controllable through a range of motion from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and a freely rotating wing portion outboard of the wing lifting portion and configured to rotate freely based on wind forces incident on the freely rotating wing portion.

The present technology is directed to a remotely controlled aircraft that can be transported without the risk of damaging certain components, such as the arms and/or propellers. In one non-limiting example, the remotely controlled aircraft technology described herein provides a housing that allows the arms of the remotely controlled aircraft to extend and/or retract through openings in the housing. When retracted, the arms and propellers are protected within an area of the structure of the housing, and when extended, the arms and propellers are operable to make the remotely controlled aircraft fly.

A plasma propulsion nozzle incorporates a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet. A plurality of substantially cylindrical planarly disbanded electrodes with sandwiched dielectric spacers is cascaded in an array to be concentrically expanding from the inlet through an interior chamber to the outlet for a nozzle. A voltage source applies aperiodic signal with rapidly reversing polarity to the electrodes with differential phase applied to adjacent electrodes in the array creating and expelling plasma clusters at each dielectric spacer inducing flow from the nozzle outlet to produce thrust.

Systems, devices, and methods for impacting, by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), a net having at least three sides; and converting the kinetic energy of the SUAV into at least one of: elastic potential energy of one or more tensioned elastic cords connected to at least one corner of the net, gravitational potential energy of a frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, rotational kinetic energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, and elastic potential energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net.

One variation of a method for imaging an area of interest includes: within a user interface, receiving a selection for a set of interest points on a digital map of a physical area and receiving a selection for a resolution of a geospatial map; identifying a ground area corresponding to the set of interest points for imaging during a mission; generating a flight path over the ground area for execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; setting an altitude for the unmanned aerial vehicle along the flight path based on the selection for the resolution of the geospatial map and an optical system arranged within the unmanned aerial vehicle; setting a geospatial accuracy requirement for the mission based on the selection for the mission type; and assembling a set of images captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission into the geospatial map.

There is provided a method of using a device capable of controlled flight in a surrounding environment, the device comprising: lifting means for providing lift to the device; object-retaining means for holding an object to be affixed to a target site; and a dispensing assembly for dispensing an adhesive, wherein the method comprises: controlling the lifting means so as to controllably fly the device in the surrounding environment; and using the device to affix an object held by the object-retaining means to a target site in the surrounding environment by dispensing an adhesive from the dispensing assembly. Thus, an aerial device, for example a robotic device, may be used to fly to a desired location and affix an object at the desired location, by dispensing, ejecting or otherwise applying an adhesive.