An unmanned aerial vehicle system that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an attachment. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an attachment interface located on a side of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The attachment is configured to removably couple to the attachment interface such that the attachment is positioned adjacent to the side of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

An unmanned aerial vehicle system that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an attachment. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an attachment interface. One or more characteristics of the unmanned aerial vehicle are modified in response to the attachment being removably coupled to the attachment interface.

An unmanned aerial vehicle system that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an attachment. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an attachment interface. One or more characteristics of the unmanned aerial vehicle are modified in response to the attachment being removably coupled to the attachment interface.

An unmanned aerial vehicle system that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and one or more attachments. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes an attachment interface, and the one or more attachments are configured to removably couple to the attachment interface and electrically connect to the unmanned aerial vehicle to power the one or more attachments via a power source of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a wing assembly that is coupled to a cargo carrying pod. The pod has a pallet storage volume and an aerodynamic outer surface. The wing assembly has wings that are coupled to rotor booms that include motors and rotors. A tail assembly is coupled to tail booms that extend back from the wings. Rudders are coupled to the rear portions of the tail booms and an elevator is coupled to top portions of the rudders. The elevator is at least 84 inches high and the rudders are at least 48 apart so that a forklift can drive under the elevator and between the rudders to a rear door of the pod to place cargo on a pallet into the storage area of the pod.

A coupling device for coupling modules with each other, comprising: a coupling surface, a primary coupling member and at least two secondary coupling members. The primary coupling member is disposed on the coupling surface. A coupling axis disposed parallel to a direction of action of earth's gravitational acceleration extends through the primary coupling member. The at least two secondary coupling members are configured to be complementary to each other and are disposed on the coupling face, and respectively have a predetermined distance from the coupling axis.

A modular refueling system for an aircraft includes a modular bay recessed within the aircraft. The modular bay includes a modular bay interface. The modular refueling system includes a plurality of payload modules each having a respective function and a payload interface adapted to connect to at least a portion of the modular bay interface. The plurality of payload modules includes an aerial refueling module. The payload modules are interchangeably insertable into the modular bay to enable the modular bay to support the functions of the payload modules. The aerial refueling module is insertable into the modular bay to enable the aircraft to provide fuel to recipient aircraft during flight.

A fixture is provided for securing an annular drone module to a test stand. The fixture includes a rear outside annulus, a front inside annulus, a plurality of tabs, and a plurality of flanges. The rear outside annulus extend radially to an outer rim and longitudinally from an aft surface and a lip surface. The front inside annulus extends radially to a mezzanine rim and longitudinally from the lip surface to a fore surface. The tabs extending radially from the mezzanine rim on the front inside annulus. The plurality of flanges extending from the outer rim on the rear outside annulus. The drone module is disposed facing the lip surface between the tabs and the mezzanine rim by first mechanical fasteners, and the flanges mount to the test stand by second mechanical fasteners, such as screws. The fixture can be a unitary construction and be composed of thermoset plastic.

An aircraft operable to transition between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with first and second pylons extending therebetween. The first and second wings each having first and second outboard nacelle stations. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is attached to the airframe. The thrust array including a plurality of outboard propulsion assemblies coupled to the first and second outboard nacelle stations of the first and second wings. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A cargo hook module is coupled to the airframe. The cargo hook module is operable for external load operations.

A lighter-than-air toy drone assembly that stays aloft using a balloon that is filled with a lighter-than-air gas. The balloon is inflated and deflated with the gas through a remote control vent valve. A ballast chamber can be provided that is filled with and drained of ballast through a purge valve. Controlled flight is achieved by selectively controlling motorized propellers, the vent valve and the optional purge valve. The motorized propeller provides horizontal movement. The purge valve and the vent valve change the buoyancy of the drone assembly and therefore control vertical movement.