Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a vehicle, comprising: a housing; a battery comprising a plurality of layers and disposed within the housing; and a first removable battery compression device disposed within the housing and configured to apply compressive force to the plurality of layers of the battery via a first side of the battery.

The present disclosure primarily relates to interceptor unmanned aerial systems and methods for countering Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), although the inventions disclosed herein are useful for capture of any aerial object. The system utilizes a rigid effector frame, an effector attached directly to the frame, and at least two propulsion elements connected to the effector frame, and is configured to intercept and disable threat UAS. The disclosed systems can be oriented to any virtually any angle to maximize the chances of intercept.

A collapsible flying device is provided having a housing including first and second housing sections forming an enclosure, and a motorized assembly that includes a drive motor and a drive shaft driven by the drive motor. The drive shaft matingly receives the first housing section and is coupled to the second housing section, wherein operation of the drive motor drives the drive shaft to move the first housing section from a closed position adjacent the second housing section to an open position spaced from the second housing section. A rotor hub is rotatingly driven by the drive motor. At least two rotor blades are coupled thereto and positioned within the enclosure in a collapsed position when the first housing section is in the closed position, and extend beyond the enclosure in an expanded position when the first housing section is in the open position.

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a central body having a plurality of sides and a plurality of arms extendable from the central body. Each arm is configured to support one or more propulsion assemblies that provide a propulsion force while the unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight. The arms are configured to transform between a flight configuration in which the arms are extended away from the central body and a compact configuration in which free ends of a first subset of the arms collectively define a rectangular area. Free ends of a second subset of the arms are closer to a yaw-axis of the unmanned aerial vehicle than the free ends of the first subset of the arms. The yaw-axis passes through the rectangular area.

The present disclosure provides a system and device for drones with ducted rotors. In some aspects, drones may comprise one or more systems of ducted rotors. In some embodiments, ducted rotors may increase the durability of the drone, limiting exposure of the rotors to external conditions and objects. In some aspects, a drone with ducted rotors may comprise a control vane or cone that may direct airflow within the drone as a mechanism to control flight path. In some implementations, a drone may comprise expandable landing gear than may allow for controlled landing, even in the event of rotor failure. In some aspects, a drone may comprise rotatable ducted rotors.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body having a plurality of sides and a plurality of arms extendable from the central body. Each arm of the plurality of arms comprises a plurality of foldable sections. Each arm of the plurality of arms is configured to transform between a flight configuration and a compact configuration. When an arm is in the flight configuration, the plurality of foldable sections of the arm are extended away from the central body. When an arm is in the compact configuration, the plurality of foldable sections of the arm are folded toward a corresponding side of the central body such that the plurality of foldable sections are substantially parallel to one another.

A heavy-lift UAV frame includes a central frame portion having a symmetrical shape and forming a pocket area for receiving an avionics package. Top and bottom plates are secured to the central frame portion and include four corner members that extend diagonally outward therefrom. A plurality of boom arms are pivotally connected to the corner members and transition between an extended position for flight and a retracted position for storage and transport. Each boom arm includes a complementary dimension to one side of the central frame portion and is arranged parallel thereto when in the retracted position.

A locking mechanism for locking a driveshaft in cooperative engagement with an apparatus includes a drive portion coupled to the driveshaft and a driven portion coupled to the apparatus. The drive portion of the locking mechanism includes a housing with a first engagement portion, a ball cage with a plurality locking balls contained at least partially therein, and a chock biased away from the housing by a chock spring. The chock includes an outer wall configured to push the locking balls outward in a locked position and allow inward movement in an unlocked position. Movement of the chock, and therefore locking, is controlled by an actuator rod extending through a center of the locking mechanism. The driven portion includes a second engagement portion configured to cooperatively engage and receive torque from the first engagement portion, and a locking groove configured to receive a portion of each of the plurality of locking balls therein.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a power system providing flight power to the UAV and a frame assembly supporting the power system and including a center frame and an arm assembly. The arm assembly includes an arm connected with the center frame, a deformation rod, and a support rod parallel to the arm. Two ends of the deformation rod are rotatably connected with the arm and the support rod, respectively. The support rod is configured to move translationally relative to the arm while remaining parallel to the arm, so as to be selectively in a folded state or an unfolded state. Each of two ends of the deformation rod forms a first or a second preset angle with one of the arm and the support rod when the support rod is in the folded or unfolded state. The second preset angle is smaller than the first preset angle.

Equipment and methods that combine the use of wave powered vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). A UAV can be launched from a wave-powered vehicle, observe another vessel, and report the results of its observation to the wave-powered vehicle, and the wave-powered vehicle can report the results of the observation to a remote location. The UAV can land on water and can then be recovered by the wave-powered vehicle.