An en route fluid transmitting apparatus for transmitting a fluid from a transmitting entity to a probe of a receiving vehicle includes a funnel, a hose and a thrust producing device. Thrust producing device includes a main body that is rigidly attached to the funnel, and at least two rotors that are connected to the main body for producing thrust. The thrust producing device is adapted to move the funnel freely in any direction to a predetermined position relative to the probe where the funnel engages with the probe.

A hybrid aerial vehicle (HAV) comprising: a fuselage of the HAV; a first mechanism within the fuselage for accepting a plurality of wings of the HAV, the first mechanism allowing coordinated contraction of the plurality of wings essentially into the fuselage such that tips of the wings are position in proximity of the fuselage and coordinated extension of the wings such that tips of each wing are positioned away from the fuselage; a first wing extending from the port side of the fuselage and connected to the first mechanism; a second wing extending from the starboard side of the fuselage and connected to the first mechanism; a second mechanism placed within the fuselage in proximity to its front end, the second mechanism allowing motion of propellers of the HAV affixed there to between a first plain and a second plain; a first set of propellers affixed at the port side of the fuselage to the second mechanism; a second set of propellers affixed at the starboard side of the fuselage to the second mechanism; a third mechanism placed within the fuselage in proximity to its rear end, the third mechanism allowing motion of propellers of the HAV affixed there to between a first plain and a second plain, and further placing the propellers affixed thereto to be at a vertical displacement with respect to the propellers affixed to the second mechanism; a third set of propellers affixed at the port side of the fuselage to the third mechanism; and a fourth set of propellers affixed at the starboard side of the fuselage to the third mechanism.

A personal transportation device comprises a frame, a wheel pivotably connected to a frame and switchable between a driving configuration and a flying configuration, a motor to rotate the wheel; and an automatic cruise module. The automatic cruise module is configured to control the wheel and guide the personal transportation device to fly from a first location to a second location according to a designated route as an unmanned aircraft.

The present invention provides a simple method and apparatus capable of accurately measuring the water depth of a field, in particular, the whole field.

SOLUTION: An ultrasonic transmitter/receiver and a drone equipped with an infrared transmitter/receiver or a microwave transmitter/receiver are allowed to fly over the field, and the distance between the ultrasonic wave surface reflection and the microwave or infrared ground reflection. Measure the water depth just below the drone from the difference in measurement. By flying the drone all over the field, the water depth of the entire field can be accurately measured. The measurement is preferably performed only while the drone is flying at a predetermined speed or higher.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (200, 300, 400, 700, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500) can include a central body (202, 302, 402, 702, 802, 1002, 1202, 1502), a plurality of rotors, and a plurality of arms (204, 306, 406, 706, 806, 1006, 1206, 1506) extending from the central body (202, 302, 402, 702, 802, 1002, 1202, 1502), where each arm of the plurality of arms (204, 306, 406, 706, 806, 1006, 1206, 1506) is configured to support one or more of the plurality of rotors. The UAV may include at least one sensor (208, 318, 418, 718, 818, 822, 1022, 1218, 1222, 1518) located on the UAV (200, 300, 400, 700, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500) outside of a keep-out zone, where the keep-out zone is defined at least in part by (1) a plurality of rotor disks, a rotor disk of the plurality of rotor disks for each of the plurality of rotors, each rotor disk corresponding to an area that is swept by one or more rotor blades (206, 308, 408, 708, 808, 1008, 1208, 1508) of a corresponding rotor when the rotor blades (206, 308, 408, 708, 808, 1008, 1208, 1508) are spun, and (2) a shape that is formed by adjoining respective centers of adjacent rotor disks.

A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle within a flight operating space. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes one or more sensor arrays on each spar. The method includes determining, using a plurality of sensor arrays, a flight path for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method also includes receiving, by at least one sensor array of the plurality of sensor arrays, sensor data identifying at least one object in the operating space. The sensor data is transmitted over a communications bus connecting components of the UAV. The method further includes determining, by one or more processors onboard the unmanned aerial vehicle, a flight path around the at least one object. The method also includes generating, by the one or more onboard processors, a first signal to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to navigate within the operating space around the at least one object.

A multi-modal vehicle includes a frame, a rotor pivotally mounted to the frame, the rotor including a first position and a second position circumferentially spaced from the first position, and a motor coupled to the rotor and configured to rotate the rotor, wherein, when the rotor is disposed in the first position, the rotor is configured to generate lift when actuated by the motor, wherein, when the rotor is disposed in the second position, the rotor is configured to engage a surface to transport the vehicle when actuated by the motor.

Systems and methods are disclosed for item delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles. Example methods may include receiving, by a management component communicatively coupled to at least one processor via a transceiver, instructions for a UAV, wherein the instructions include a delivery request for one or more items; determining, via a routing component, a predetermined route based on the delivery request, wherein the predetermined route maximizing a visibility of the UAV by one or more users; and accepting, by a payment component communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and at least one memory, payment for the one or more items from one or more users.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with omnidirectional thrust vectoring includes a central unit, a connective structure, and a plurality of propulsion units with omnidirectional thrust vectoring allowing a full six degrees of freedom. A vectored propulsion unit comprises thruster vectored by an omnidirectional mechanism and may include an autonomous sub-vehicle housed within a rotational frame, or an actuator-thruster assembly with directional control. A UAV with omnidirectional thrust vectoring includes a control system with a ground station unit, a central flight control unit, and a propulsion control unit. A plurality of vectored propulsion units working in coordination allows an unmanned aerial vehicle to maneuver with any stance or body orientation.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a flight propulsion system and a support system coupled to the flight propulsion system, the support system comprising a protective outer cage configured to surround the flight propulsion system, wherein the outer cage comprises a plurality of cage frame modules that are manufactured as separate components and assembled together to form at least a portion of the outer cage configured to surround the flight propulsion system.