A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A modification to conventional aircraft empennage design, which is also adaptable to all-wing aircraft. Vertical stabilizer/rudder assemblies are hinged such that actuator and lock mechanisms are able to vary the aircraft empennage configuration from one with fully functional conventional vertical stabilizer(s)/rudder(s) to one with no vertical stabilizer/rudder.

A modification to conventional aircraft empennage design, which is also adaptable to all-wing aircraft. Vertical stabilizer/rudder assemblies are hinged such that actuator and lock mechanisms are able to vary the aircraft empennage configuration from one with fully functional conventional vertical stabilizer(s)/rudder(s) to one with no vertical stabilizer/rudder.

An internal wing control surface linkage system comprising: an actuator arm configured to rotate around a first rotation axis within an airfoil body. A linking arm is mounted within the airfoil body. The linking arm comprises a linking tube and a linkage rod slideably received within the linking tube. The linking tube comprises a hinged end pivotally coupled to the actuator arm about a first pivot axis parallel to the first rotation axis to cause deflection of a control surface coupled to the airfoil body during rotation of the actuator arm. The linkage rod comprising a hinged end coupled to a clevis about a second pivot axis of the control surface. A spherical bearing swivelly coupling the linking arm and providing a fixed swivel pivot which swivels the linking arm, as the linking tube simultaneously slides within the spherical bearing and, in combination, the rod simultaneously slides within the linking tube.

An internal wing control surface linkage system comprising: an actuator arm configured to rotate around a first rotation axis within an airfoil body. A linking arm is mounted within the airfoil body. The linking arm comprises a linking tube and a linkage rod slideably received within the linking tube. The linking tube comprises a hinged end pivotally coupled to the actuator arm about a first pivot axis parallel to the first rotation axis to cause deflection of a control surface coupled to the airfoil body during rotation of the actuator arm. The linkage rod comprising a hinged end coupled to a clevis about a second pivot axis of the control surface. A spherical bearing swivelly coupling the linking arm and providing a fixed swivel pivot which swivels the linking arm, as the linking tube simultaneously slides within the spherical bearing and, in combination, the rod simultaneously slides within the linking tube.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.

A control surface assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The control surface assembly has a fin configured to be rotatably coupled to a fuselage of the UAV, with a control surface member rotatably coupled to the fin. A control surface linkage is configured to be coupled between the control surface member and an actuator disposed in the fuselage. The fin is rotatable with respect to the fuselage between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the control surface linkage is configured to rotate the control surface member with respect to the fin, when the actuator actuates the control surface linkage. In the stowed configuration, however, the control surface linkage is configured to move with respect to the fin without rotating the control surface member, when the actuator actuates the control surface linkage.

A control surface assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The control surface assembly has a fin configured to be rotatably coupled to a fuselage of the UAV, with a control surface member rotatably coupled to the fin. A control surface linkage is configured to be coupled between the control surface member and an actuator disposed in the fuselage. The fin is rotatable with respect to the fuselage between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the control surface linkage is configured to rotate the control surface member with respect to the fin, when the actuator actuates the control surface linkage. In the stowed configuration, however, the control surface linkage is configured to move with respect to the fin without rotating the control surface member, when the actuator actuates the control surface linkage.