In some embodiments, a rotor assembly for an aerial vehicle includes a main body; and four or more rotors having blades mounted relative to the main body for rotation about respective axes configured to provide thrust predominantly in a common direction. Respective blade trajectories of rotors of at least one pair of adjacent rotors of the four or more rotors rotate in different planes. The blade trajectories of the at least one pair of adjacent rotors partially overlap when viewed along a line containing the common direction.

An adaptable lattice structure (110, 120, 130, 140) for a an Unmanned Aerial System, UAS, comprising: a plurality of lattice voxels (100, 102), wherein each lattice voxel (100, 102) comprises: a plurality of same shape elements (10, 12); wherein each same shape element (10, 12) comprises a plurality of connector elements (20), wherein the plurality of connector elements (20) are configured to temporarily couple a first same shape element (10) to at least a second same shape element (12); wherein the plurality of same shape elements (10, 12) are configured to be temporarily coupled so as to form a three dimensional lattice voxel (100); and wherein at least one of the connector elements (20) on a first lattice voxel (100) is configured to temporarily couple the first lattice voxel (100) to a second lattice voxel (102) after the formation of the first lattice voxel (100) and the second lattice voxel (102).

An adaptable lattice structure (110, 120, 130, 140) for a an Unmanned Aerial System, UAS, comprising: a plurality of lattice voxels (100, 102), wherein each lattice voxel (100, 102) comprises: a plurality of same shape elements (10, 12); wherein each same shape element (10, 12) comprises a plurality of connector elements (20), wherein the plurality of connector elements (20) are configured to temporarily couple a first same shape element (10) to at least a second same shape element (12); wherein the plurality of same shape elements (10, 12) are configured to be temporarily coupled so as to form a three dimensional lattice voxel (100); and wherein at least one of the connector elements (20) on a first lattice voxel (100) is configured to temporarily couple the first lattice voxel (100) to a second lattice voxel (102) after the formation of the first lattice voxel (100) and the second lattice voxel (102).

An unmanned vehicle (UV) is provided. The UV comprises an aircraft component, an interposer component electrically and mechanically coupled to the aircraft component, and a payload component electrically and mechanically coupled to the interposer component. The interposer component comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configured the processor to receive a communication from one of the aircraft component or the payload component, and sent the communication to the other of the aircraft component or the payload component.

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for mission-adaptable aerial vehicle. In some aspects, a mission-adaptable aerial vehicle includes a configuration having swappable, manipulatable, and interchangeable sections and components connectable by a connection and fastening system able to be modified by an end-user in the field. In some embodiments, a mission-adaptable aerial vehicle can be configured to include a main center body extending along a longitudinal direction, a wing with a lateral cross-sectional airfoil shape, and/or stabilizer and control surface structures with corresponding cross-sectional airfoil shapes.

Systems and methods for powering and controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle are provided. The unmanned aerial vehicles can be used in a networked communication system. A tether management system can be used to facilitate both mobile and static tethered operation to provide power and/or voice and data communication.

An approach is provided for routing an aerial drone while preserving privacy. The approach involves processing model data depicting at least one structure to determine one or more privacy-sensitive features of the at least one structure. The approach also involves calculating line-of-sight data between a route of an aerial drone and the one or more privacy-sensitive features. The approach further involves configuring a routing of the aerial drone based on the line-of sight data when the aerial drone is traveling near the at least one structure.

A modular vehicle system includes at least one body module having at least one body connection interface, and a kit. The kit includes a plurality of utility modules including at least one first utility module (in the form of a fixed-wing utility module) and at least one second utility module (in the form of a rotor-wing utility module). Each first utility module includes at least one utility module connection interface in the form of a first utility module connection interface for coupling with the body connection interface. Each second utility module includes at least one utility module connection interface in the form of a second utility module connection interface, distinct from the first utility module connection interface, for coupling with the body connection interface. Each body connection interface is configured for selective reversible coupling at least with respect to any one of the utility module connection interfaces while concurrently excluding coupling of another utility module connection interface thereto, to provide an air vehicle.

In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that include a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; propulsion system; and a universal coupler configured to interchangeably couple with and decouple from one of multiple different tool systems each having different functions to be put into use while carried by a UAV, wherein a coupling system of the universal coupler is configured to secure a tool system with the UAV and enable a communication connection between a communication bus and the tool system, and wherein the multiple different tool systems comprise at least a package securing tool system configured to retain and enable transport of a package while being delivered, and a sensor tool system configured to sense a condition and communicate sensor data of the sensed condition to the UAV control circuit over the communication bus.

Example implementations may relate to using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dedicated to deployment of operational infrastructure, with such deployment enabling charging of a battery of a UAV from a group of UAVs. More specifically, the group of UAVs may include at least (i) a first UAV of a first type configured to deploy operational infrastructure and (ii) a second UAV of a second type configured to carry out a task other than deployment of operational infrastructure. With this arrangement, a control system may determine an operational location at which to deploy operational infrastructure, and may cause the first UAV to deploy operational infrastructure at the operational location. Then, the control system may cause the second UAV to charge a battery of the second UAV using the operational infrastructure deployed by the first UAV at the operational location.