A multi-rotor flying machine includes a body on or in which a motor is mounted; and a respective head rotor mounted for rotation on a respective mast at each of at least three locations disposed around and spaced laterally outwardly from the motor. The motor is drivingly connected to each mast, for rotating each head rotor, by a respective driveline. Adjacent to at least one mast, the machine further includes a pitch rudder system that includes a pitch driver or rotor, or translational rotor. The arrangement is such that the head rotors are operable to provide thrust, while the pitch rudder system enables yaw to be achieved independently of operation of the head rotors.

A foldable drone is provided to improve the portability of the drone, which includes a drone body and a rotary wing part connected to the drone body. The rotary wing part includes a first rotary wing module and a second rotary wing module with each having at least one rotary wing, and the first rotary wing module and the second rotary wing module are respectively articulated to two sides of the drone body, to allow the first rotary wing module and the second rotary wing module to rotate about their respective articulating shafts, so as to be folded or unfolded.

Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.

A golf caddy system for autonomously carrying a golf bag across a golf course, recording video of golf swings, and providing golfing advice to a user includes an autonomous motorized cart. The cart includes a processor with map data of the golf course in a memory of the processor and a global positioning system receiver for determining a current location of the cart. The cart also includes a camera which is configured to capture video of a golf swing.

A golf caddy system for autonomously carrying a golf bag across a golf course, recording video of golf swings, and providing golfing advice to a user includes an autonomous motorized cart. The cart includes a processor with map data of the golf course in a memory of the processor and a global positioning system receiver for determining a current location of the cart. The cart also includes a camera which is configured to capture video of a golf swing.

Some embodiments relate to a motorized device capable of moving in a fluid and including one or more locomotor systems, each having at least one drive assembly linked to at least one locomotion member and a motor controlled by a voltage. The frequency of a reciprocating motion of the drive assembly matches the resonant frequency of the locomotion member linked to a non-movable portion by at least one prestrained elastic member. The instantaneous amplitude of the reciprocating motion of the drive assembly is adjusted to control the average position and the maximum amplitude of the reciprocating motion of the locomotion member. The Drive assembly includes at least one speed reducer for reducing the speed of rotation of the motor. When the motor is operating at is maximum mechanical power, the speed of rotation transmitted to the at least one locomotion member is reduced to match the resonance frequency.

Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.

Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.

A flying sensor comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and at least one profiler mounted on the UAV, the profiler comprising a base, a scanning unit for providing (LiDAR) data, the scanning unit mounted on the base and comprising a shaft carrying a deflector and being mounted in the scanning unit and rotatable, a transmitter transmitting a transmission beam, a first receiver configured for receiving a first reception beam reflected from the setting via the deflector, and an electric port configured for connecting the profiler to the UAV, and comprising a data interface and a power interface, and wherein the UAV comprises a visual sensor providing visual data, and comprising one or more cameras, a pose sensor for providing pose data, and a computer to compute a 3D point cloud based on the LiDar data and a Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm using the visual and pose data.

Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.