The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

A method for operating a vehicle chassis includes providing the vehicle chassis including a main body and at least one compartment arranged on the vehicle chassis, selectively receiving one or more components in the compartment, and effecting an operational state of a vehicle comprising the vehicle chassis based on a type of at least one of the one or more components that are selectively received in the compartment. The one or more components is selected from a plurality of components of different types.

An aircraft having a fixed wing is operative to perform vertical takeoff and landing while positioned in a nose-down orientation. The aircraft has a fixed wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge; a propulsion system operative to selectively provide forward propulsion and rearward propulsion; and a controller operative to control operation of the propulsion system. The propulsion system provides rearward propulsion during takeoff of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the trailing edge of the fixed wing, and provides forward propulsion during flight of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the leading edge of the fixed wing. The aircraft maintains the wing substantially vertical with the trailing edge facing upwards during takeoff, and transitions to having the wing substantially horizontal during flight. A vertical landing procedure is also provided.

An aerial vehicle includes a fuselage situated at the center and a main wing body having a pair of half-wings extending on transversely opposite sides of the fuselage. Each half-wing includes an orientable horizontal surface or plane, which acts as an aerodynamic control, and a fixed winglet.

Methods and apparatus to align and couple aircraft are disclosed. An example apparatus for securing a first aircraft to a second aircraft includes a guide to direct movement of a first wing of the first aircraft relative to a second wing of the second aircraft to align the first wing with the second wing, and a lock configured to couple the first wing to the second wing after the guide aligns the first wing to the second wing.

In some embodiment, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe, a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe, the distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies and a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system. The flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode. The flight control system is operable to independently control the propulsion assemblies. The flight control system is also operable to detect faults in individual propulsion assemblies and to perform corrective action responsive to detected faults at a distributed propulsion system level.

A drone is for installing an object on a power line. The drone has a connection means for connecting the drone to the object, so that the drone may carry the object. A first engagement member is for engaging a second engagement member on the object. A power source is for operating the first engagement member so as to actuate a locking means on the object, via the second engagement member, for securely locking the object to the power line. The drone further has a device for limiting one or more degrees of freedom of the object relative to the power line before engaging the locking means.

The present disclosure provides a device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house. The device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house is arranged on a metal rain cap at a top of a chimney. The device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a guide assembly, and two landing gear assemblies. The two landing gear assemblies are arranged at a bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the guide assembly is arranged at a bottom of the two landing gear assemblies, and the guide assembly includes two split assemblies. The two split assemblies correspond one-to-one to the two landing gear assemblies, and the split assemblies are in linked connection to the landing gear assemblies. In the device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house, the unmanned aerial vehicle, the guide assembly and the two landing gear assemblies are arranged to cooperate with each other. The present disclosure can have a function of delivering and fixing a device for detecting carbon emission to a chimney by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle, and can further effectively avoid the shielding of the metal rain cap on the chimney and make the detector smoothly correspond to an air outlet of the chimney. The present disclosure is greatly convenient for personnel to use.

The present disclosure provides a device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house. The device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house is arranged on a metal rain cap at a top of a chimney. The device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a guide assembly, and two landing gear assemblies. The two landing gear assemblies are arranged at a bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the guide assembly is arranged at a bottom of the two landing gear assemblies, and the guide assembly includes two split assemblies. The two split assemblies correspond one-to-one to the two landing gear assemblies, and the split assemblies are in linked connection to the landing gear assemblies. In the device for detecting carbon emission of a passive house, the unmanned aerial vehicle, the guide assembly and the two landing gear assemblies are arranged to cooperate with each other. The present disclosure can have a function of delivering and fixing a device for detecting carbon emission to a chimney by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle, and can further effectively avoid the shielding of the metal rain cap on the chimney and make the detector smoothly correspond to an air outlet of the chimney. The present disclosure is greatly convenient for personnel to use.

An aircraft is described with both VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) capabilities and convention airplane capabilities. A preferred embodiment comprises a fuselage and fixed wing, with one boom on either side of the fuselage. Each boom comprises a tilt rotor on a fore end and a fixed rotor on the aft end. Both rotors can be directed vertically for VTOL capability. During cruise the tilt rotors can be directed forward for thrust and the fixed rotors can be stopped and directed along the boom axis, minimizing drag. The described embodiments have advantages in weight savings and maneuverability compared to other VTOL aircraft.