A thermal regulation system includes a sensor, one or more temperature adjusting devices, and a filler provided in a space between the sensor and at least one of the one or more temperature adjusting devices. The one or more temperature adjusting devices are (1) in thermal communication with the sensor, and (2) configured to adjust a temperature of the sensor from an initial temperature to a predetermined temperature at a rate of temperature change that meets or exceeds a threshold value.

A technique for operating an aerial vehicle involves enabling a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) propeller of the aerial vehicle to rotate freely. The VTOL propeller is coupled with a VTOL motor (e.g., a 3-phase brushless DC motor). The technique further involves detecting when the VTOL propeller rotates to a predefined position relative to a direction of flight for the aerial vehicle (e.g., when blades of the VTOL propeller extend along an axis that is parallel to the direction of flight). The technique further involves, in response to detecting that the VTOL propeller has rotated to the predefined position, providing a load from the VTOL motor that inhibits further rotation of the VTOL propeller. Accordingly, while the aerial vehicle is in fixed wing horizontal flight, the controller is able to align the VTOL propeller in the direction of horizontal flight to minimize drag from the VTOL propeller.

A propeller includes a blade free to rotate. A first stop is positioned to mechanically engage one or both of a first portion of the blade and a first structure coupled to the blade when the blade is in a first position at a first end of the rotational range of motion. A second stop is positioned to mechanically engage one or both of a second portion of the blade and a second structure coupled to the blade when the blade is in a second position at a second end of the defined rotational range. The blade rotates to the first position against the first stop when the propeller is rotated in a first direction and to the second position against the second stop when the propeller is rotated in a second direction.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles also known as UAVs or Drones, either autonomous or remotely piloted, are classified as drones by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as weighing under 212 pounds. The system described herein details Autonomous Flight Vehicles (AFV) which weigh over 212 pounds but less than 1,320 pounds which may require either a new classification or a classification such as Sport Light Aircraft, but without the requirement of a pilot due to the safe autonomous flight system such as the Safe Temporal Vector Integration Engine or STeVIE. Safe Autonomous Light Aircraft (SALA) are useful as drone carriers, large scale air package or cargo transport, and even human transport depending on the total lift capability of the platform.

Multi-rotor hydraulic drone (1) comprising: —a plurality of hydraulic motors (6) each receiving a pressurised fluid, —propellers (5) driven by the hydraulic motors (6), —at least one hydraulic pump (10) driven by at least one motor (11) for pressurising the fluid, —a system for supplying the hydraulic motors (6) with pressurised fluid, —a flight controller (14) for controlling the supply system according to the desired rotation speed for the hydraulic motors (6), the supply system comprising several channels (35; 36; 37; 38) for adjusting the power of at least one portion of the hydraulic motors (6).

A rotor system includes a rotor assembly and a duct system. The rotor assembly includes rotor blades extending from a mast axis and configured to rotate about the mast axis. The duct assembly includes a moveable duct portion and a stationary duct portion. In a first duct configuration, the moveable duct portion surrounds a first portion of the rotor assembly, the stationary duct portion surrounds a second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion and the stationary duct portion enclose the rotor assembly. In a second duct configuration, the stationary duct portion surrounds the second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion is moved away from the first portion of the rotor assembly, such that the rotor assembly is not enclosed.

A rotor system includes a rotor assembly and a duct system. The rotor assembly includes rotor blades extending from a mast axis and configured to rotate about the mast axis. The duct assembly includes a moveable duct portion and a stationary duct portion. In a first duct configuration, the moveable duct portion surrounds a first portion of the rotor assembly, the stationary duct portion surrounds a second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion and the stationary duct portion enclose the rotor assembly. In a second duct configuration, the stationary duct portion surrounds the second portion of the rotor assembly, and the moveable duct portion is moved away from the first portion of the rotor assembly, such that the rotor assembly is not enclosed.

A modular flat-packable drone kit includes a plurality of components that can be assembled into a drone. Components of the drone kit include elements that may be cut from a flat sheet of material, thereby enabling low cost manufacturing and compact packaging and may be assembled without specialized tools. A set of drones may operate in a standalone mode or may be coupled together and operated in a group configuration.

A modular flat-packable drone kit includes a plurality of components that can be assembled into a drone. Components of the drone kit include elements that may be cut from a flat sheet of material, thereby enabling low cost manufacturing and compact packaging and may be assembled without specialized tools. A set of drones may operate in a standalone mode or may be coupled together and operated in a group configuration.

Systems, devices, and methods for: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); at least one sensorless motor of the UAV, the at least one sensorless motor comprising a set of windings and a rotor; at least one propeller connected to the at least one sensorless motor; a microcontroller in communication with the at least one sensorless motor, wherein the microcontroller is configured to: determine a rotation rate of the at least one propeller; determine a rotation direction of the at least one propeller; provide an output to stop the at least one propeller if at least one of: the determined rotation rate is not a desired rotation rate and the determined rotation direction is not a desired rotation direction; and provide an output to start the at least one propeller if the at least one propeller is stopped at the desired rotation rate and the desired rotation direction.