A propulsion assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a motor configured to rotate in a first direction, a propeller seat configured to be driven by the motor to rotate in the first direction and to receive a propeller, and a sensor configured to collect sensing data useful for determining whether the propeller is locked to the propeller seat, without requiring operation of the motor.

The present invention relates to an aerially distributable communications device (ACCD) including one or more gyrochutes and communications module configured for wireless communication with external communication nodes. The communications module can be configured for mesh network type communication with similar aerially distributable communications device, or as a gateway type communications device to a wide area network such as a satellite network. The ACCD is for deployment in remote areas and/or areas where normal communications networks are down, such as disaster areas. The ACCD can be deployed from an aircraft or a spacecraft. The ACCD can further be configured with emergency equipment such as water purification equipment, power charging equipment, or the like.

The present invention relates to an aerially distributable communications device (ACCD) including one or more gyrochutes and communications module configured for wireless communication with external communication nodes. The communications module can be configured for mesh network type communication with similar aerially distributable communications device, or as a gateway type communications device to a wide area network such as a satellite network. The ACCD is for deployment in remote areas and/or areas where normal communications networks are down, such as disaster areas. The ACCD can be deployed from an aircraft or a spacecraft. The ACCD can further be configured with emergency equipment such as water purification equipment, power charging equipment, or the like.

A rotor-regulation system includes a rotor that includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast operable to drive the rotor, and a rotor disc-brake system operable to modulate rotation of the rotor mast.

A rotor-regulation system includes a rotor that includes a plurality of rotor blades, a rotor mast operable to drive the rotor, and a rotor disc-brake system operable to modulate rotation of the rotor mast.

Disclosed is a blade lock assembly, which may include a drag brace coupled to a fold crank assembly and to a rotary wing blade and may further include an actuator assembly configured to be coupled to a rotary wing cuff. The actuator assembly may include an actuator pin housing, an actuation pin at least partially sheathed by the actuator pin housing, and an actuator configured to extend and retract the actuation pin away from and toward the actuator pin housing.

A rotor assembly for a fixed-wing VTOL aircraft. The rotor assembly is configured to provide vertical flight for the fixed-wing VTOL aircraft. In one embodiment, the rotor assembly includes a hub assembly, a first rotor blade affixed to the hub assembly, and a second rotor blade affixed to the hub assembly. The hub assembly orients the second rotor blade in relation to the first rotor blade about an axis of rotation of the hub assembly with the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade vertically stacked when the hub assembly is stopped for wing-borne flight.

A rotor assembly for a fixed-wing VTOL aircraft. The rotor assembly is configured to provide vertical flight for the fixed-wing VTOL aircraft. In one embodiment, the rotor assembly includes a hub assembly, a first rotor blade affixed to the hub assembly, and a second rotor blade affixed to the hub assembly. The hub assembly orients the second rotor blade in relation to the first rotor blade about an axis of rotation of the hub assembly with the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade vertically stacked when the hub assembly is stopped for wing-borne flight.

A propeller blade assembly includes a spar extending along a propeller blade axis and an outer sleeve surrounding the spar portion at a root end of the rotor blade assembly. The spar is adhesively bonded to the outer sleeve at an interface portion. A spar maximum diameter along the interface portion is larger than an outer sleeve minimum diameter along the interface portion. A method of assembling a propeller blade includes installing an outer sleeve over a spar at a root end of the spar, the spar a not fully cured composite component, and urging the spar into compressive conformance with the outer sleeve at an interface portion of the propeller blade assembly. A spar maximum diameter along the interface portion is larger than an outer sleeve minimum diameter along the interface portion. The spar is cured thereby adhesively bonding the spar to the outer sleeve at the interface portion.

A propeller attaching device includes a coupler that rotates integrally with an output shaft of a motor, a movable body, and a resilient body. The coupler allows attachment/detachment of an attachment portion of the motor by rotation of the propeller in the circumferential direction and restricts the movement of the propeller in an axial direction. The movable body includes a second receiving portion, and is supported by the coupler so as to be movable in the axial direction. The attachment/detachment position is a position where attachment/detachment of the attachment portion to/from the first receiving portion is allowed. The restriction position is positioned in a first direction relative to the attachment/detachment position, the first direction extending from the other end to one end of the output shaft in the axial direction of the output shaft, and restricts the rotation of the propeller in the circumferential direction relative to the base.