A method includes receiving a digital surface model of an area for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation. The digital surface model represents an environmental surface in the area. The method includes determining, for each grid cell of a plurality of grid cells in the area, a confidence value of an altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell and determining a terrain clearance value based at least on the confidence value of the altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell. The method includes determining a route for a UAV through the area such that the altitude of the UAV is above the altitude of the environmental surface at each grid cell of a sequence of grid cells of the route by at least the terrain clearance value determined for the grid cell. The method includes causing the UAV to navigate through the area using the determined route.

An electronic device is provided, including a device shell and a flight photographing device. The device shell is provided with an opening and an inner cavity. The opening communicates with the inner cavity. The flight photographing device is movably arranged on the device shell. The flight photographing device is capable of extending out of the device shell through the opening or retracting into the device shell. In a case that the flight photographing device is located outside the device shell, the flight photographing device is separable from the device shell.

Eyewear configured to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In one example, a user interacts with the eyewear to generate control signals that are transmitted to the UAV to control the flight path, speed, orientation, and to communicate other instructions to the UAV. An input of the eyewear is controlled by the user to control the UAV, such as a touchpad, a microphone, a head movement tracker and a camera. The user is also able to configure and customize the eyewear to send specific control signals to the UAV as a function of user actions. This includes specific head movements and head gestures of the user as a method of controlling the UAV. This allows the user to control the UAV in a more natural and convenient way.

Disclosed herein are a method for manufacturing a propulsion unit having a rim foil, which can significantly reduce drag during forward flight while protecting a rotor blade from surrounding obstacles, a propulsion unit manufactured by the same, and a flying vehicle including the propulsion unit. The method includes: a plate member formation step in which an airfoil-type plate member is formed to have an outline forming an airfoil shape in side view; a rim foil formation step in which a through-hole is formed in the airfoil type plate member to form a rim foil member having an outline forming at least a portion of an airfoil shape in side view; and a rotor blade installation step in which a rotor blade is installed in the through-hole.

A flying car that does not require complex transformation between a car and an aircraft, the flying car can quickly take off from a land, such as road or parking, and can land on the road or parking. The flying car is of triangular shape having a broad front and narrow rear. Three motorized members are coupled to three corners of a frame of the flying car. Each of the three motorized members includes a wheel assembly that includes a wheel and a wheel frame, an inner ring and an outer ring coupled to each other, and both mounted to the wheel frame. A fan mounted on the inner ring and one or more turbines mounted on the outer ring.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for an aerial vehicle (AV). The AV can include a frame structure comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, and bridges connecting the upper frame and the lower frame. The upper frame can include a housing for electrical components. The AV can include a duct extending from the upper frame to the lower frame. The AV can include a motor to rotate the propeller. The AV can include guides located between the bridges and the duct. A portion of the guides can include a non-linear path. The AV can include actuators. The AV can include flaps, coupled to the guides and the actuators, configured to protrude from the lower frame or retract into the frame structure. The flaps can curve along at least one of a horizontal axis or a vertical axis of the flaps. The flaps can overlap with each other when protruded.

An aircraft includes a wing having an integrated ducted fan. The ducted fan is optionally equipped with inlet louvers and outlet louvers. The inlet louvers and the outlet louvers are adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

An aircraft includes a wing having an integrated ducted fan. The ducted fan is optionally equipped with inlet louvers and outlet louvers. The inlet louvers and the outlet louvers are adjustable between an open position and a closed position.

Systems, devices, and methods for stopping the rotation of propellers used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) such as drones are disclosed. The propellers are stopped in response to detecting when beams of light adjacent the propellers are blocked.

An aerial vehicle including a housing, an outrunner motor including a stator mechanically coupled to the housing and a rotor rotationally coupled to the stator, and a propeller removably coupled to the rotor, the propeller including a hub and a plurality of propeller blades. A rotor, a propeller including a hub and a propeller blade, a radial alignment mechanism, a rotational retention mechanism, and an axial retention mechanism.