An angle-adjusting sub-assembly (6) that is part of or attached to an unmanned aerial vehicle and apparatus (1), for the targeted distribution of hazardous chemicals onto vegetation, and is comprised of: adjustable arms (7), rotary system, which adjusts the length and angle of the adjustable arms while the aerial vehicle and apparatus are airborne. An unmanned aerial vehicle and apparatus, for the targeted distribution of hazardous chemicals onto vegetation, is comprised of: the angle-adjusting sub-assembly (6), a spray assembly, a flying platform, a storage tank (2) containing pesticide, bactericide, herbicide, fungicide, or any hazardous chemical that can be sprayed on vegetation, a supporting structure (4), and a landing sub-assembly. Using of the above device decreases the runoff of toxic chemical waste to the environment, increases chemical application efficiency, and allows for the precise targeting of pests on crops.

A system for landing an unmanned aerial vehicle has an unmanned aerial vehicle and a ground-based platform. A guide structure for receiving the unmanned aerial vehicle is mounted on the ground base platform. The guide structure has an inner diameter greater than a smallest outer diameter of the unmanned aerial vehicle landing gear and less than the largest outer diameter of the unmanned aerial vehicle landing gear.

Systems and methods for operating UAVs relative to a field includes a UAV are provided. In several embodiments, UAV includes a body, a controller supported on the body, and at least one support element coupled to and extending from the body. In several embodiments, the at least one support element is configured to support the body relative to a support surface of the field when the UAV is in a landed condition on the field. In several embodiments, at least one anchoring device is provided in operative association with the UAV and configured to penetrate through the support surface of the field to anchor the UAV relative to the field when the UAV is in the landed condition.

An aircraft has an airframe with a distributed thrust array attached thereto that includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each of which is independently controlled by a flight control system. Each propulsion assembly includes a housing with a gimbal coupled thereto and operable to tilt about a single axis. A propulsion system is coupled to and operable to tilt with the gimbal. The propulsion system includes an electric motor having an output drive and a rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor blades that rotate in a rotational plane to generate thrust having a thrust vector with a magnitude in the longitudinal direction. Actuation of each gimbal is operable to tilt the respective propulsion system relative to the airframe in the longitudinal direction to change the rotational plane of the respective rotor assembly relative to the airframe, thereby controlling the magnitude of the respective thrust vector in the longitudinal direction.

An aircraft includes a closed wing, a fuselage at least partially disposed within a perimeter of the closed wing, and one or more spokes coupling the closed wing to the fuselage. A plurality of hydraulic or electric motors are disposed within or attached to the closed wing, fuselage or spokes in a distributed configuration. A propeller is proximate to a leading edge of the closed wing or spokes and operably connected to each hydraulic or electric motor. A source of hydraulic or electric power is disposed within or attached to the closed wing, fuselage or spokes and coupled to each hydraulic or electric motor disposed within or attached to the closed wing, fuselage or spokes. A controller is coupled to each hydraulic or electric motor, and one or more processors communicably coupled to each controller that control an operation and speed of the plurality of hydraulic or electric motors.

A system and method for measuring three-dimensional coordinates is provided. The system includes an aerial drone, an optical scanning device and a processor system. The aerial drone includes a plurality of landing support legs on one side and a plurality of plurality of support struts on an opposite side, the aerial drone having at least one thrust device. The optical scanning device is coupled to the aerial drone, the optical scanning device being configured to measure three-dimensional coordinates of at least one point. The processor system is configured to position the plurality of support struts against a surface in the environment using the thrust devices prior to operating the optical scanning device.

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.

An aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing and stationary flight includes a distributed airframe coupled to a modular fuselage. The modular fuselage has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a rotational axis of three or more propellers. The modular fuselage includes a rear module substantially disposed within a perimeter of the distributed airframe, a front module removably connected to the rear module and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. One or more engines or motors are disposed within or attached to the distributed airframe or fuselage. The three or more propellers are proximate to a leading edge of the distributed airframe, distributed along the distributed airframe, and operably connected to the one or more engines or motors to provide lift whenever the aircraft is in vertical takeoff and landing and stationary flight.

An example unmanned aerial vehicle traffic signal and related methods are disclosed. The example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a housing, a rotor, a motor, a sensor, a traffic signal, and a processor. The rotor is to lift the housing off ground. The motor is to drive the rotor. The sensor is to monitor traffic. The traffic signal is carried by the housing. The processor is to control the traffic signal based on the traffic monitored by the sensor.

The present invention relates to unmanned aerial vehicle for agricultural field assessment. It is described to fly (210) an unmanned aerial vehicle to a location in a field containing a crop. A camera is mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle at a location vertically separated from a body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The vertical separation between the camera and the body is greater than an average vertical height of plants of a crop in a field to be interrogated by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The body of the unmanned aerial vehicle is positioned (220) in a sub-stantially stationary aspect above the crop at the location such that the camera is at a first posi-tion above the crop. The unmanned aerial vehicle is controlled (230) to fly vertically at the loca-tion such that the camera is at a second position below that of the first position. The camera acquires (240) at least one image relating to the crop when the camera is between the first position and the second position