A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has a circular body with a cockpit at the center, and multiple vertical, horizontal, and other directional through tunnels inside the body. A propelling device such as ducted fan, jet turbine or rocket is provided inside each tunnel. Each propelling device is completely disposed within a tunnel with no exposed parts. The bottom surface of the aircraft has a circular lip forming the lowest part of the aircraft, and the portion of the bottom surface surrounded by the circular lip is concave, where the multiple vertical through tunnels open to the concave portion. A control system controls the thrust produced by each propelling device so as to precisely control the horizontal and vertical speed and the pitch, roll, and yaw angles of the aircraft. Communication and positioning equipment are provided onboard, as well as various sensors. The aircraft may be manned or unmanned.

An improved drone with 4 flat wings reciprocating up and down, complete with motor and electronics. Appendages on each wing's surface allow air to pass across it during the up-motion, and block it in the down-motion; this creates lift and permits flight and manoeuvres. The drone resembles either a flying bird or an insect, depending on wing motion and on passive attachments appropriate for the respective resemblance, making for inconspicuousness. The drone can execute complex work, either as solitary or in a team, either in flight or at rest in various places, after approaching and adhering expertly.

Embodiments of the present invention enable a user of a drone to operate it more quietly. Embodiments of the present invention relate to such a system, apparatus, and a method of and for a drone that may be quiet, that can fly far while minimizing the need to recharge, that may have protective shells, that may employ operational redundancy, that may provide stealth capabilities due, for example, to the design of the shell, and that may allow a drone to stay in position at, for example, 329,999 feet for months. In one embodiment of the present invention, electro-magnetism is used to propel a drone while another embodiment uses an expandable outer shell. The embodiments, while also increasing a drone's range, provide enhanced maneuverability due to the unique shape and drive and steering systems of the drone. Embodiments may provide stealth and overall convenience, together potentially resulting in increased safety to creating a class of sub-space vehicles.

A drone autonomously operates to track an object, track an object while being stealthy and/or observe the details of an object while maintaining communication at a rate equal to or greater than a threshold. A drone may operate to maintain the image of an object at or above a predetermined resolution in an image captured by a camera mounted on the drone and to maintain a wireless communication rate equal to or greater than a threshold rate. A drone may operate so that the sound intensity level caused by the operation of the drone is less than or equal to a sound intensity level threshold as perceived by an object (e.g., person, target, suspect) being tracked.

Methods and apparatus for vertical or short takeoff and landing, and operational control during flight. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises two or more counter driven rings with one or more airfoils attached. In one variant, there is an upper ring and a lower ring, each with multiple airfoils attached. In one variant, lift is generated largely via ambient air currents, allowing for long term on-station operation of the device. In another variant, a fuselage (or parts thereof) of the apparatus can be independently controlled, including for example as to attitude relative to other components of the craft.

Containment vessels are adapted to facilitate blast and dispersion mitigation. According to one example, a containment vessel may include at least one containment layer. At least one expansion member may be coupled to the at least one containment layer to apply a force sufficient to expand a perimeter of the containment layer(s) laterally outward. A closure system may be coupled with the containment layer(s), where the closure system is configured to cinch the perimeter of the containment layer(s) around a target object without manual intervention. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a containment vessel, as well as methods of making a containment vessel are also disclosed. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Disclosed in the present invention is a high-speed aircraft, comprising a shell and an engine, an outer fluid channel and an inner fluid channel being arranged in succession within the shell, the outer fluid channel and the inner fluid channel respectively connecting to the exterior by means of their own air vent; the outer fluid channel is connected to an air suction port of the engine, such that the pressure difference produced by the flow rate within the outer fluid channel being greater than the flow rate within the inner fluid channel acts as the driving force source of the aircraft. Also disclosed in the present invention is an aircraft having greater lift. The present invention provides an innovative method and apparatus for a driving force source obtained from fluid resistance, thus changing the mutual contradiction of a traditional driving apparatus directing external force to itself whilst also needing to use more driving force to overcome fluid resistance. The present invention changes the direction of fluid pressure, altering the condition that the amount of pressure dictates the size of the driving force source obtained; on this basis, a novel greater first and second lift source and driving force source are produced for use in an aircraft.

A fact checking system utilizes social networking information and analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The social networking fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information and/or provides a status of the information, including automatically modifying a web page to include the fact check results. The fact checking system is able to be implemented utilizing a drone device. The drone device is able to be implemented in conjunction with a security system.

A fact checking system utilizes social networking information and analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The social networking fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information and/or provides a status of the information, including automatically modifying a web page to include the fact check results. The fact checking system is able to be implemented utilizing a drone device.

Disclosed is a low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance system. According to an embodiment, monitoring is performed using a balloon main body filled with gas and staying in the air; radar; camera units being provided outside the balloon main body, and including a camera taking an image of a subject; radio frequency detectors; and sound detectors and correspondingly, interceptor means is included. As interceptor means, a jammer, a jamming gun, and a spoofing device corresponding to jamming are disclosed.