A homeostatic flying hovercraft preferably utilizes at least two pairs of counter-rotating ducted fans to generate lift like a hovercraft and utilizes a homeostatic hover control system to create a flying craft that is easily controlled. The homeostatic hover control system provides true homeostasis of the craft with a true fly-by-wire flight control and control-by-wire system control.

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.

Disclosed is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a pre-defined shape to deploy one or more items. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes an upper housing, a lower housing, and a power unit. The upper housing includes plurality of rotors to lift and propel the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Further the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes various electronic components such as plurality of electronic cards, a processing unit, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a communication unit, an electronic gyroscope, a barometer, engines and flight control system, video camera, a forward looking infrared (FLIR) device, a microphone, and a laser telemeter/designator/range finder. The power unit powers the aforementioned electronic components. The lower housing includes plurality of storage units to stores one or more items. The lower housing is removably attached with the upper housing in a way to deploy the items at a predetermined location through plurality of openings.

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.

Systems and methods for performing insurance damage inspection by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided. A computing device may receive a request to inspect a property, the request comprising a location of the property. The computing device may identify a UAV from a plurality of UAVs that is located closest to the location of the property from other UAVs in the plurality of UAVs. The computing device may instruct the UAV to travel to the location of the property. The computing device may instruct the UAV to collect damage information on the property using one or more onboard sensors of the UAV. The computing device may determine an amount of insurance payout to approve for repairs to the property based on the damage information collected by the UAV.

This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and system that may perform one or more techniques for protecting objects from damage resulting from an unintended or uncontrolled impact by a UAV. As described herein, various implementations utilize a damage avoidance system that detects a risk of damage to an object caused by an impact from a UAV that has lost control and takes steps to reduce or eliminate that risk. For example, the damage avoidance system may detect that the UAV has lost power and/or is falling at a rapid rate of descent such that, upon impact, there is a risk of damage to an object with which the UAV may collide. Upon detecting the risk of damage and prior to impact, the damage avoidance system activates a damage avoidance system having one or more protection elements that work in concert to reduce or prevent damage to the object upon impact by the UAV.

A plug-and-play multifunctional attachment of a remote control rotorcraft, which includes: an attachment body that includes a device board and a remote control receiver unit. The device board has a top surface to which a first coupling member is mounted. The remote control receiver unit is mounted to and electrically connected to a bottom surface of the device board. Wireless transmission of a signal is enabled between a remote control device and the remote control receiver unit. A second coupling member is mounted to a bottom of an unmanned aircraft to enable selective engagement and coupling between the second coupling member and the first coupling member.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including wing sections and hinge assemblies. Each wing section includes an airfoil and a propulsion unit. The wing sections are arranged side-by-side, pivotably connected by the hinge assemblies to define an airframe module. The airframe module is transitionable between a fixed-wing state and a rotor state. In the fixed-wing state, the airframe module has an elongated shape extending between opposing, first and second ends. In the rotor state, the first end is immediately proximate the second end. With this construction, the UAV provides two distinct modes of flight (fixed-wing for low power flight, and rotor for high maneuverability flight (including hover)). The wing sections can carry solar cells and a battery. A maximum power point tracker (MPPT) can be provided for optimizing the match between the solar array and the battery. The propulsion unit can include a variable pitch propeller.

Disclosed herein is a modular aerial vehicle system having a fuselage module configured to couple with a plurality of lift generation modules. The modular aerial vehicle system may comprise a fuselage module and a lift generation module. The fuselage module can include a first attachment interface, an avionics system operatively coupled with a power unit (e.g., via an ESC), and a communications system operatively coupled with the flight controller. The lift generation module can include a second attachment interface and a plurality of propulsors. The fuselage module may be configured to removably couple with the lift generation module via the first and second attachment interfaces. The first and second attachment interfaces may comprise (1) a plurality of electrical contacts to facilitate electrical communication between the fuselage module and the lift generation module and/or (2) one or more retention devices to couple structurally the lift generation module with said fuselage module.

A self-charging modular portable survival drone that recharges by natural elements is disclosed. The self-charging modular portable survival drone is capable of conventionally charging other devices, performing remote flight operations, and signaling for help. The natural elements include wind and water. The self-charging modular portable survival drone is configured to rapidly and repeatedly charge mobile battery units stored in ducted fan assemblies. The ducted fan assemblies can be used to charge personal electronic devices and power remote flight operations via modular drone. The self-charging modular portable survival drone can be used to signal for help using onboard high-output LEDs during SOS flight operations. The self-charging modular portable survival drone can further be used, during SOS flight operations, to broadcast current GPS coordinates over local search and rescue bands.