A method of preparing a drone for takeoff, to a drone, and to a system for preparing the drone for takeoff. According to the invention, such a drone has at least one first control member and at least one second control member that are suitable for being actuated manually by at least one person in charge of preparing the drone for takeoff. Such a drone also includes a navigation light and at least one anticollision light for generating various mutually different light signals in a predetermined switch-on sequence.

In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.

An aerial vehicle, preferably including: a rotary wing and a protection housing enclosing the rotary wing. An aerial vehicle, preferably including: a first rotary wing module including a first rotary wing and a second rotary wing module including a second rotary wing, wherein the first rotary wing module and the second rotary wing module are preferably operable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. A method of aerial vehicle operation.

Unmanned aerial systems including an unmanned aerial vehicle and a command device. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a propulsion system, a vehicle power source, a vehicle electronic controller, and a vehicle coupling mechanism. The command device includes a command power source, a command electronic controller, and a command coupling mechanism. The vehicle electronic controller is without power from the vehicle power source when the vehicle coupling mechanism is connected to the command coupling mechanism. The command electronic controller is without power from the command power source when the vehicle coupling mechanism is connected to the command coupling mechanism. The vehicle electronic controller receives power from the vehicle power source when the vehicle coupling mechanism is separate from the command coupling mechanism. The command electronic controller receives power from the command power source when the vehicle coupling mechanism is separate from the command coupling mechanism.

A moving device includes an imaging unit, an acquiring unit, a determining unit and an imaging control unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire a state at a time when the moving device is released from a user. The determining unit is configured to determine an imaging manner to control the imaging unit after the time of being released, based on the state acquired by the acquiring unit. The imaging control unit is configured to control the imaging unit in the imaging manner determined by the determining unit.

An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.

An unmanned flying device including a body; a first blade and at least a second blade; a coupling assembly for coupling the first blade and the at least second blade to the body, wherein the coupling assembly urges the collapsing of the first blade and the at least second blade towards the body; and wherein both the first blade and the at least second blade are rotateable about the body, and wherein the first blade and the at least second blade are deployable away from the body via rotation of the first and the at least second blades about the body.

A method for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises: receiving a pre-launching signal; detecting, via at least one sensor of the UAV, at least one status parameter of the UAV in response to receiving the pre-launching signal; determining a launching mode of the UAV according to the at least one detected status parameter of the UAV; and launching the UAV according to the determined launching mode of the UAV.

An inflatable package enclosure for use on an aerial vehicle including an inflatable exterior chamber, a first inner cavity positioned within the inflatable exterior chamber, an inflation valve positioned on the inflatable exterior chamber, and a handle on the inflatable exterior chamber for securing the inflatable package enclosure to the aerial vehicle, wherein when the inflatable exterior chamber is inflated and when a package is positioned in the first inner cavity, inner surfaces of the inflatable exterior chamber conform to outer surfaces of the package to secure the package within the inflatable exterior chamber.