Thermal management system for unmanned aerial vehicles are disclosed. An example housing for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a central portion defining a cavity. The housing also includes a first arm to support a first propeller. The first arm has a first proximal end coupled to the central portion and a first distal end spaced from the central portion. The first distal end defines an inlet. The first arm defines a first fluid path in communication with the inlet and the central cavity. The housing also includes a second arm to support a second propeller. The second arm has a second proximal end coupled to the central portion and a second distal end spaced from the central portion. The second distal end defines an outlet. The second arm defines a second fluid path in communication with the outlet and the central cavity. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication via the first path, the central cavity and the second path.

A vehicle such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can include a heat-generating electronic device coupled with a heat exhaust element by a vibration isolating thermal connector. The thermal connector includes a first heat-conducting element configured to draw heat from the electronic device, a second heat-conducting element separated from the first heat-conducting element, and a flexible seal connected with the first and second heat-conducting elements and defining an enclosed cavity between the elements. The enclosed cavity contains a heat conducting liquid, and allows limited movement of the first and second heat conducting elements with respect to each other while maintaining thermal connection.

A system and kit for dissipating heat generated by a motor assembly and methods for manufacturing and using same. The motor assembly includes a housing that defines an internal chamber. The internal chamber communicates with an air inlet and an air outlet each being formed in the housing, and can at least partially receive motor inner workings. A pump assembly can be included in the internal chamber for generating an air flow during operation of the motor assembly. The pump assembly can draw air into the internal chamber via the air inlet, generating an air flow within the internal chamber. The air drawn into the internal chamber is applied to the motor inner workings, and the air heated by the motor inner workings is expelled from the internal chamber via the air outlet. Thereby, the air flow advantageously can cool the motor assembly as the air traverses the internal chamber.

A drone includes a frame and a plurality of motors attached to the frame. Each motor of the plurality of motors is connected to a respective propeller located below the frame. A tail motor is attached to the frame. The tail motor is connected to a tail propeller located above the frame. Cameras are attached to the frame and located above the frame. The cameras have fields of view extending over the plurality of propellers.

An unmanned aerial signal relay includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a communication relay unit and at least one antenna, communicatively connected to the communication relay unit; a tether comprising at least two wires and at least one fiber optic cable, the wires and cable communicatively connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle; and a surface support system comprising a spool physically connected to the tether and a ground-based receiver communicatively connected to the at least one fiber optic cable, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is powered by electrical energy provided by the at least two wires, and wherein the communication relay unit is configured to relay signals received from the at least one antenna via the fiber optic cable to the ground-based receiver. Various systems and methods related to an unmanned aerial signal relay are also described.

An air-cooled fuel-cell freeze-protection system for a rotorcraft using a controller to vary a heating system for an air-cooled fuel cell. The heating system heats supply air for the air-cooled fuel cell, and a butterfly valve varies a pressure of the supply air to the air-cooled fuel cell. The heating system can be an electric heater, a heat exchanger, or a combination of heater and heat exchanger.

The battery thermal management system includes a battery pack, a circulation subsystem, and a heat exchanger. The system can optionally include a cooling system, a reservoir, a de-ionization filter, a battery charger, and a controller.

A system and kit for dissipating heat generated by a motor assembly and methods for manufacturing and using same. The motor assembly includes a housing that defines an internal chamber. The internal chamber communicates with an air inlet and an air outlet each being formed in the housing, and can at least partially receive motor inner workings. A pump assembly can be included in the internal chamber for generating an air flow during operation of the motor assembly. The pump assembly can draw air into the internal chamber via the air inlet, generating an air flow within the internal chamber. The air drawn into the internal chamber is applied to the motor inner workings, and the air heated by the motor inner workings is expelled from the internal chamber via the air outlet. Thereby, the air flow advantageously can cool the motor assembly as the air traverses the internal chamber.

A motor mounted on a drone includes a rotor including a propeller mounting portion with a propeller detachably attached, the rotor being rotatable about a central axis, a stator radially facing the rotor with a gap therebetween, and an auto-balancer capable of automatically correcting dynamic balance of the rotor.

A line-replaceable thrust module includes a nacelle configured to be mechanically connected to an anchoring location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an electric motor coupled to the nacelle, an electric speed controller configured to control the speed of the electric motor and configured to be electrically connected to a communication network of the UAV, and a fuel cell system configured to produce electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, a pressure regulator coupled to the hydrogen tank, and a supply line coupled between the pressure regulator and the fuel cell.