Embodiments disclosed herein present a spring system for use in a torque dependent rotor assembly designed to operate in resonance, where changes in applied torque controls the blade pitch angle and ultimately the movements of a rotary wing aircraft. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spring system used in such a rotor assembly where the stiffness of an associated spring member is allowed to vary in response to the torque applied from a motor to the assembly.

An unmanned delivery system 100 includes a self-propelled robot 2, an unmanned aerial vehicle 1 which transports a package to an intermediate location on the way of delivering the package, and a robot controller which controls the self-propelled robot 2 so that the self-propelled robot 2 delivers to a receiver's address 4 the package which is unloaded at the intermediate location.

Techniques are described for configuring a monitoring system to assist users during a detected emergency condition at a property. In some implementations, sensor data from one or more sensors that are located at the property are obtained by a monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property. A determination that there is an emergency condition at the property is made by the monitoring system based on the sensor data, determining. A location of a person inside the property is determined by the monitoring system based on the sensor data. A first path to the person and a second path to guide the person away from the emergency condition are determined by the monitoring system. The first path to the person and the second path to guide the person away from the emergency condition are navigated by a computing device of the monitoring system.

Disclosed is an apparatus (100) for an aerial transportation of a payload. The apparatus (100) includes a propeller unit (10) to provide a primary thrust whereas a plurality of propellers (50) is fitted around a body of the apparatus (100) to help in maneuvering and orientation control. The apparatus (100) employs gasoline as a primary source of energy that has a higher energy density than lithium polymer batteries. The apparatus (100) facilitates longer flight times. The apparatus (100) is useful for safe transportation of higher payloads and has vertical takeoff and land capability.

An aircraft based object acquisition system includes an airframe capable of flight. The system includes one or more sensors configured to identify a physical characteristic of an object or an environment. An object acquisition mechanism is coupled to the airframe and configured to manipulate and secure the object to the airframe. A ground based movement system may be configured to position the airframe such that the object is accessible to the object acquisition mechanism. A processor is communicatively configured to control operation of the ground based movement system to approach the object based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors, and to control the object acquisition mechanism to pick up the object based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors.

A location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is collected while the UAV is flying along a flight path. A communication signal distribution in a proximity of the location is determined. One or more relay locations for arranging one or more relays are determined based on the communication signal distribution to improve communication coverage along the flight path. An identification of the UAV is transmitted to an authentication center for authentication, without using the one or more relays, in response to determining, based on the communication signal distribution, that the UAV is capable of directly communicating with the authentication center or a communication network associated with the authentication center above a quality threshold.

A disbursement system for a UAV is provided. The disbursement system may include a plurality of disbursement nozzles operable to dispense an agricultural product at variable flowrates, a flow controller responsive to instructions and operable to regulate a volume of the agricultural product dispensed by the disbursement nozzles, and a control system. The control system may include a plurality of sensors operable to monitor a plurality of flight parameters and a processing unit configured to model an effect of the plurality of flight parameters on first flow control instructions corresponding to a prescription coverage of the agricultural product and calculate and output modulated flow control instructions to the flow controller. The control system may modulate the first control instructions to change a flowrate of one or more of the plurality of disbursement nozzles to achieve an actual coverage of the agricultural product that is closer to the prescription coverage.

An aircraft with an airframe and at least one thrust producing unit the at least one thrust producing unit being electrically powered by an associated electrical engine that is electrically connected to an electrical energy source via an electrical energy distribution system, wherein the airframe comprises at least one load carrying section and at least one propulsion system carrying section, wherein the at least one load carrying section and the at least one propulsion system carrying section are segregated from each other, wherein the at least one load carrying section is provided for transportation of passengers and/or cargo, and wherein the at least one propulsion system carrying section is provided for carrying at least essentially the electrical energy source and the electrical energy distribution system.

An aircraft having an electric motor coupled to a rotor and an instrument electronically connected to the electric motor and configured to communicate a time available value before a motor condition reaches a motor condition limit.

A system may include a receiver configured to receive sensor data from one or more aerial vehicles, the sensor data including map data including sensed data related to an aerial view from one or more aerial vehicles of terrain and objects on the terrain. The system may also include a map updating processor in communication with the receiver. The map updating processor may receive the map data and identify a geographic location and/or an orientation associated with the map data. The map updating processor may also align, based at least in part on the geographic location and/or the orientation, the map data with a virtual aerial map providing an aerial view of terrain and objects on the terrain. The map updating processor may also incorporate at least a portion of the map data into the virtual aerial map and generate an updated virtual aerial map.