The proposed design is of a generally spherical, semi-spherical, cone-shaped, or bell-shaped mini-autonomous airship that has an internal guidance and control system connected to ground operations. The structure of the airship is approximately 2.25 ft in diameter and 2.625 ft in height with a double layered ballonet structure and a gondola on the bottom housing the propulsion, guidance, control, sensor, and communication systems. This unique mini-airship serves to provide persistent low-altitude low-cost surveillance. The airship has a propulsion and control system that permits it to rise over a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that location for a period of time. In one embodiment the airship may achieve neutral buoyancy when the internal envelope is about 60% full of lifting gas, and may have a service ceiling of about 100 meters. The airship has an equipment module that can include either communications equipment, or monitoring equipment, or both. The airship can be remotely controlled from a ground operator. The airship has electric motors for propulsion and control systems that are driven by power obtained from these motors and systems.

The proposed design is of a generally spherical, semi-spherical, cone-shaped, or bell-shaped mini-autonomous airship that has an internal guidance and control system connected to ground operations. The structure of the airship is approximately 2.25 ft in diameter and 2.625 ft in height with a double layered ballonet structure and a gondola on the bottom housing the propulsion, guidance, control, sensor, and communication systems. This unique mini-airship serves to provide persistent low-altitude low-cost surveillance. The airship has a propulsion and control system that permits it to rise over a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that location for a period of time. In one embodiment the airship may achieve neutral buoyancy when the internal envelope is about 60% full of lifting gas, and may have a service ceiling of about 100 meters. The airship has an equipment module that can include either communications equipment, or monitoring equipment, or both. The airship can be remotely controlled from a ground operator. The airship has electric motors for propulsion and control systems that are driven by power obtained from these motors and systems.

An aircraft includes: a plurality of rotor units each including a propeller and a motor that drives the propeller; and a shock absorber covering the entire vertical length of lateral sides of the plurality of rotor units.

An aircraft includes: a plurality of rotor units each including a propeller and a motor that drives the propeller; and a shock absorber covering the entire vertical length of lateral sides of the plurality of rotor units.

An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system is disclosed including a ground station and one or more aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles are autonomous systems capable of communicating intelligence data to the ground station and be used as part of a missile delivery package. A plurality of aerial vehicles can be configured to cast a wide net of reconnaissance over a large area on the ground including smaller overlapping reconnaissance areas provided by each of the plurality of the aerial vehicles.

An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system is disclosed including a ground station and one or more aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles are autonomous systems capable of communicating intelligence data to the ground station and be used as part of a missile delivery package. A plurality of aerial vehicles can be configured to cast a wide net of reconnaissance over a large area on the ground including smaller overlapping reconnaissance areas provided by each of the plurality of the aerial vehicles.

An airship in the shape of an annular aerofoil, designed so that the sides of the airship have a streamlined shape. Within the central passage is an efficient propulsion unit, the thrust from which is vectored to provide manoeuvrability.

An airship in the shape of an annular aerofoil, designed so that the sides of the airship have a streamlined shape. Within the central passage is an efficient propulsion unit, the thrust from which is vectored to provide manoeuvrability.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.