A re-usable intercept drone (104) comprises an elongate fuselage (200), a first wing (202) and a second wing (206) operably coupled to the elongate fuselage (200) and extending substantially away from the elongate fuselage (200). A first propulsion unit (210) and a second propulsion unit (212) are operably coupled to the first wing (202) and the second wing (206), respectively. A third propulsion unit (214) and a fourth propulsion unit (218) are operably coupled to the fuselage (200). The first, second, third and fourth propulsion units (210, 212, 214, 218) are circumferentially spaced about the elongate fuselage (200).

Techniques and systems are provided for the deployment of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and Loitering Munitions (LM) from an airborne Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS).

Techniques and systems are provided for the deployment of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and Loitering Munitions (LM) from an airborne Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS).

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having wings stowed against a fuselage of the UAV in a first arrangement is disclosed. Methods and systems for deploying the wings into a second arrangement are disclosed. For example, after a launch of the UAV, the UAV monitors for at least one precondition. The at least one pre-condition being a pre-condition associated with deploying wings of the UAV into the second arrangement. Upon detecting the at least one precondition, the wings of the UAV are deployed into a second arrangement. Deploying the wings comprises activating, in response to detecting the at least one precondition associated with the UAV, a gearbox configured to transition the wings from the first arrangement to the second arrangement. Roll control may be maintained throughout launch and deployment.

A fabric-based, soft-bodied aerial robot includes contact-reactive perching and embodied impact protection structures while remaining lightweight and streamlined. The aerial robot is operable to 1) pneumatically vary its body stiffness for collision resilience and 2) utilize a hybrid fabric-based, bistable (HFB) grasper to perform passive grasping. When compared to conventional rigid drone frames the soft-bodied aerial robot successfully demonstrates its ability to dissipate impact from head-on collisions and maintain flight stability without any structural damage. Furthermore, in dynamic perching scenarios the HFB grasper is capable to convert impact energy upon contact into firm grasp through rapid body shape conforming in less than 4 ms.

A fabric-based, soft-bodied aerial robot includes contact-reactive perching and embodied impact protection structures while remaining lightweight and streamlined. The aerial robot is operable to 1) pneumatically vary its body stiffness for collision resilience and 2) utilize a hybrid fabric-based, bistable (HFB) grasper to perform passive grasping. When compared to conventional rigid drone frames the soft-bodied aerial robot successfully demonstrates its ability to dissipate impact from head-on collisions and maintain flight stability without any structural damage. Furthermore, in dynamic perching scenarios the HFB grasper is capable to convert impact energy upon contact into firm grasp through rapid body shape conforming in less than 4 ms.

A fabric-based, soft-bodied aerial robot includes contact-reactive perching and embodied impact protection structures while remaining lightweight and streamlined. The aerial robot is operable to 1) pneumatically vary its body stiffness for collision resilience and 2) utilize a hybrid fabric-based, bistable (HFB) grasper to perform passive grasping. When compared to conventional rigid drone frames the soft-bodied aerial robot successfully demonstrates its ability to dissipate impact from head-on collisions and maintain flight stability without any structural damage. Furthermore, in dynamic perching scenarios the HFB grasper is capable to convert impact energy upon contact into firm grasp through rapid body shape conforming in less than 4 ms.

A fabric-based, soft-bodied aerial robot includes contact-reactive perching and embodied impact protection structures while remaining lightweight and streamlined. The aerial robot is operable to 1) pneumatically vary its body stiffness for collision resilience and 2) utilize a hybrid fabric-based, bistable (HFB) grasper to perform passive grasping. When compared to conventional rigid drone frames the soft-bodied aerial robot successfully demonstrates its ability to dissipate impact from head-on collisions and maintain flight stability without any structural damage. Furthermore, in dynamic perching scenarios the HFB grasper is capable to convert impact energy upon contact into firm grasp through rapid body shape conforming in less than 4 ms.

A system and method are provided for automated pre-launch and post-launch inspection of space launch vehicles and associated launch infrastructure using coordinated swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In one implementation, multiple autonomous UAVs equipped with multi-modal sensors and protective design features execute coordinated inspection patterns under control of a mission management system that adapts to environmental conditions and enforces safety constraints. Sensor data are processed to detect and classify anomalies, generate inspection reports, and store results for trending analysis and predictive maintenance.

A system and method are provided for automated pre-launch and post-launch inspection of space launch vehicles and associated launch infrastructure using coordinated swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In one implementation, multiple autonomous UAVs equipped with multi-modal sensors and protective design features execute coordinated inspection patterns under control of a mission management system that adapts to environmental conditions and enforces safety constraints. Sensor data are processed to detect and classify anomalies, generate inspection reports, and store results for trending analysis and predictive maintenance.