A detachable power transfer device for a rotary-wing aircraft includes a docking station integrated into the rotary-wing aircraft. A power pod of the detachable power transfer device is constructed and arranged to detachably connect to the docking station for transferring power to the rotary-wing aircraft.

A coaxial rotor pair assembly, e.g., for a flight vehicle or drone, with a fixed-pitch rotor and a variable-pitch rotor that are axially spaced relative to one another on a rotor axis for rotation via rotor shafts. A first motor and a second motor are provided for the rotors to drive the respective rotor about the rotor axis. The first and second motors are each controlled by a speed controller, and speed controllers are controlled by a vehicle flight controller. A collective pitch of the plurality of blades of the variable-pitch rotor is configured to be selectively varied by the vehicle flight controller during rotation of both the fixed-pitch rotor and the variable-pitch rotor about the rotor axis. The plurality of blades of the fixed-pitch rotor are maintained a constant, fixed pitch, e.g., during operation of the flight vehicle.

A coaxial rotor pair assembly, e.g., for a flight vehicle or drone, with a fixed-pitch rotor and a variable-pitch rotor that are axially spaced relative to one another on a rotor axis for rotation via rotor shafts. A first motor and a second motor are provided for the rotors to drive the respective rotor about the rotor axis. The first and second motors are each controlled by a speed controller, and speed controllers are controlled by a vehicle flight controller. A collective pitch of the plurality of blades of the variable-pitch rotor is configured to be selectively varied by the vehicle flight controller during rotation of both the fixed-pitch rotor and the variable-pitch rotor about the rotor axis. The plurality of blades of the fixed-pitch rotor are maintained a constant, fixed pitch, e.g., during operation of the flight vehicle.

A helicopter includes a propulsion system, gimbal assembly, and a controller. The propulsion system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly. The first rotor assembly comprises a first motor coupled to a first rotor and the second rotor assembly comprises a second motor coupled to a second rotor. The second rotor is coaxial to the first rotor and is configured to be counter-rotating to the first rotor. The gimbal assembly couples a fuselage of the helicopter to the propulsion system. The controller is communicably coupled to the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide instructions to the gimbal assembly in order to weight-shift the fuselage of the helicopter, thereby controlling movements of the helicopter.

The invention relates to a vector control for an aerial vehicle drive wherein a rotor shaft (16) which is suspended from a frame (19) via a. pivot bearing (18). A rotor (14) is mounted rotatably relative to the rotor shalt (16). A motor (20) is configured to set the rotor (14) in rotation. An actuator (21, 22) which extends between the frame (19) and the rotor shaft (.16) is configured to change the orientation of the rotor shaft (16). The invention also concerns a method for controlling a helicopter drive.

Various embodiments of an unmanned aerial vehicle are disclosed. In some embodiments, the UAV includes a motor assembly rotatable about rotation axis and a propeller hub assembly removably engageable with the motor assembly. The propeller hub assembly includes a retainer configured and dimensioned for engagement with the motor assembly such that rotation of the motor assembly causes corresponding rotation of the propeller hub assembly. The retainer includes a pair of deflectable arms resiliently repositionable between a first position and a second position, for engagement and disengagement with the motor assembly, respectively. The arms are movable inwardly towards the rotation axis from the first position to the second position upon application of an external force and movable outwardly away from the rotation axis from the second position to the first position upon removal of the external force.

A manned or unmanned aircraft has a main body with a circular shape and a circular outer periphery. One or more rotor blades extend substantially horizontally outward from the main body at or about the circular outer periphery. In addition, one or more counter-rotation blades extend substantially horizontally outward from said main body at or about the circular outer periphery, but vertically offset from the main rotor blades.

An aeronautical vehicle that rights itself from an inverted state to an upright state has a self-righting frame assembly has a protrusion extending upwardly from a central vertical axis. The protrusion provides an initial instability to begin a self-righting process when the aeronautical vehicle is inverted on a surface. A propulsion system, such as rotor driven by a motor can be mounted in a central void of the self-righting frame assembly and oriented to provide a lifting force. A power supply is mounted in the central void of the self-righting frame assembly and operationally connected to the at least one rotor for rotatably powering the rotor. An electronics assembly is also mounted in the central void of the self-righting frame for receiving remote control commands and is communicatively interconnected to the power supply for remotely controlling the aeronautical vehicle to take off, to fly, and to land on a surface.

A single-shaft aerial vehicle comprises a propeller, an aerial vehicle body and a wing driver unit constituting a portion of the aerial vehicle body. The aerial vehicle body has a streamlined shape. A ring-shaped wing extending out of the wing driver unit is provided at a central position of the wing driver unit. The ring-shaped wing is movable horizontally under the drive of the wing drive unit. When drag areas of the ring-shaped wing extending out of an outer circumference of the wing drive unit are the same in all directions, the single-shaft aerial vehicle maintains its current flying posture. When the ring-shaped wing moves toward a certain direction to increase the drag area extending out of the wing drive unit in the certain direction, and contracts into the wing drive unit in its opposite direction to reduce the drag area in the opposite direction, the single-shaft aerial vehicle changes its current flying posture.

A manned or unmanned aircraft has a main body with a circular shape and a circular outer periphery. One or more rotor blades extend substantially horizontally outward from the main body at or about the circular outer periphery. In addition, one or more counter-rotation blades extend substantially horizontally outward from said main body at or about the circular outer periphery, but vertically offset from the main rotor blades.