A lightweight, pocket-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be held in an outstretched hand by a user for take-off and landing of the UAV. The UAV comprises a semi-toroidal or a substantially toroidal hollow body that defines a duct. The UAV further comprises a motor for rotating a fan that directs air into and out of the duct enabling UAV to take flight. The UAV comprises a flight-control system that comprises at least two flight control surfaces that can alter the directed air as it flows through the duct for controlling the roll and pitch and optionally the yaw of the UAV during flight. The flight control system may be controlled by a microprocessor controller. The UAV further comprises a payload, with at least a wireless transmitter and receiver unit.

Systems, methods, and devices include an aerial vehicle (AV) with a plurality of coaxially aligned vertical ducts. The lower vertical duct has a larger diameter than the upper vertical duct. Furthermore, the upper vertical duct at least partially contains a first propulsion component and the lower vertical duct at least partially contains a second propulsion component. The lower vertical duct can be coupled to the upper vertical duct by duct couplers which forms an air intake gap between the upper vertical duct and the lower vertical duct. The AV also includes one or more steering flaps disposed on the lower vertical duct, configured to manipulate an air flow out the bottom of the lower duct, thus controlling navigation and stability of the AV.

Systems, methods, and devices include an aerial vehicle (AV) with a plurality of coaxially aligned vertical ducts. The lower vertical duct has a larger diameter than the upper vertical duct. Furthermore, the upper vertical duct at least partially contains a first propulsion component and the lower vertical duct at least partially contains a second propulsion component. The lower vertical duct can be coupled to the upper vertical duct by duct couplers which forms an air intake gap between the upper vertical duct and the lower vertical duct. The AV also includes one or more steering flaps disposed on the lower vertical duct, configured to manipulate an air flow out the bottom of the lower duct, thus controlling navigation and stability of the AV.