A layered architecture for customer payload systems is disclosed to provide a scalable, reconfigurable integration platform targeted at multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and remove both UAV specific and payload equipment specific characteristics that increase complexity during integration. The layered architecture is a modular design architecture that is split by function. Standard interfaces are implemented between functional layers to increase reconfiguration possibilities and to allow reuse of existing components and layers without modification to the payload or UAV. The standard interfaces also promote easy connection and disconnection from other layer components. Additionally, once the layered architecture is implemented, technological or functional requirements changes can be isolated to one specific component layer, not the entire payload stack. As a result, payload designs based on the layered architecture reduces design time and cost, and allows for easier integration, operation, upgrades, maintenance, and repair.

A circulation control system for an aerial vehicle. The system comprises an air supply unit attached to the aerial vehicle configured to generate a specified amount of mass air flow; an air delivery system, the air supply unit and the air delivery system being connected via at least one tube that turns at least one right angle; a circulation control wing through which air from the air supply unit is delivered through the air delivery system, the circulation control wing comprising at least one plenum configured to blow the air out of a slot in a trailing edge of the wing, and at least one dual radius flap positioned behind the slot.

Techniques and systems for providing miniaturized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. The techniques and systems can include significant off-board processing support for the UAVs to enable the UAVs to be smaller, lighter, and less expensive than conventional UAVs. The techniques and systems can include routines to provide enhanced support for police during routine traffic stops. The techniques and systems can also include routines to locate objects or people including, for example, locating a lost child in a crowd or a lost vehicle in a parking lot. The miniaturized UAVs can provide enhances perception for the user to enable the user to over and around objects for improved visibility and safety, among other things.

An improved unmanned aerial vehicular system having a rotor head assembly with any balanced number of rotary wings or blades, a generally tubular body assembly, a gimballed neck connecting the head to the body, and a navigation, communications and control unit such as for military and humanitarian operations, including payload delivery and pickup. The vehicle is generally guided using a global positioning satellite signal, and by pre-programmed or real time targeting. The vehicle is generally electrically powered and may be launched by one of (a) hand-launch, (b) air-drop, (c) catapult, (d) tube-launch, or (e) sea launch, and is capable of landing on both static and dynamic targets. Once launched, unmanned aerial vehicles may be formed into arrays on a target area and find use in surveillance, warfare, and in search-and-rescue operations.

The disclosure relates to a biomimetic insect. The biomimetic insect includes a trunk and at least two wings connected to the trunk. The wing includes a carbon nanotube layer and a vanadium dioxide layer (VO.sub.2) layer stacked with each other. Because the drastic, reversible phase transition of vanadium dioxide, the wing has giant deformation amplitude and fast response.

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.

A robust localization approach for UAVs that fuses measurements from inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a rotating laser scanner is described. An Error State Kalman Filter (ESKF) is used for sensor fusion and is combined with a Gaussian Particle Filter (GPF) for measurements update. Additionally, a new method to evaluate localizability of a given 3D map is described to show that the computed localizability can precisely predict localization errors, thus helping to find safe routes during flight.

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.

Technology for achieving the behavior and benefits of traditional cyclic control in one rotor may be implemented with a simple under-actuated passive mechanism. An air vehicle employing the disclosed technology maintains lifting thrust by regulating the average rotor speed and generates control moments through coordinated pulsing of the motor torque. Rapid pulsing of the motor torque induces oscillations in propeller angle of attack, and so causes cyclic control without requiring the traditional auxiliary actuators and linkages. The MAV propulsion system is capable of using a minimum number of actuators in dual roles of thrust and moment objectives.

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing energy of a UAV during flight. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods assist in safely returning a UAV to ground while reducing diversionary time for providing energy to the UAV. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods calculate a measure of remaining energy with regard to a UAV flying a mission plan and a measure of landing energy needed to travel to a landing station. The disclosed systems and methods can select a transition point from a mission plan and route leading from the mission plan to the landing station by comparing the calculated measure of remaining energy and the calculated measure of landing energy. Moreover, the disclosed system and methods can modify a mission plan to include the selected transition point and route.