An aerial vehicle is provided including rotor units connected to the aerial vehicle, and a control system configured to operate at least one of the rotor units. The rotor unit includes rotor blades, wherein each rotor blade includes a surface area, and wherein an asymmetric parameter is defined, at least in part, by the relationship between the surface areas of the rotor blades. The value of the asymmetric parameter is selected such that the operation of the rotor unit: (i) moves the rotor blades such that each rotor blade produces a respective vortex and (ii) the respective vortices cause the rotor unit to produce a sound output having an energy distribution defined, at least in part, by a set of frequencies, wherein the set of frequencies includes a fundamental frequency, one or more harmonic frequencies, and one or more non-harmonic frequencies having a respective strength greater than a threshold strength.

Aerial vehicles may include propulsion units having motors with drive shafts that may be aligned at a variety of orientations, propellers with variable pitch blades, and common operators for aligning the drive shafts at one or more orientations and for varying the pitch angles of the blades. The common operators may include plate elements to which a propeller hub is rotatably joined, and which may be supported by one or more linear actuators that may extend or retract to vary both the orientations of the drive shafts and the pitch angles of the blades. Operating the motors and propellers at varying speeds, gimbal angles or pitch angles enables the motors to generate forces in any number of directions and at any magnitudes. Attributes of the propulsion units may be selected in order to shape or control the noise generated thereby.

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

A rotor unit is disclosed. The rotor unit includes a hub and a stacked rotor blade. The hub is configured to rotate about an axis in a first rotation direction. The stacked rotor blade is rotatable about the axis and further includes a first blade element and a second blade element. The first blade element has a first leading edge and the second blade element has a second leading edge. The blade elements are arranged in a stacked configuration. A leading edge of the stacked rotor blade is formed by at least a portion of the first leading edge of the first blade element as well as at least as portion of the second leading edge of the second blade element. In some embodiments, the rotor unit is coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle.

An autorotating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a data acquisition system and a rotor assembly including a hub that couples the rotor assembly to the UAV. Although not limited thereto, the UAV is suitable for collecting data about the inside of a cavity. The data acquisition system includes a processor and one or more sensors that obtain data about motion of the UAV and at least one parameter of the cavity as the UAV descends though the cavity. Features of the cavity may be mapped by generating a 3D point cloud from the data. The cavity may be natural or man-made, such as a mine.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to various embodiments of the present disclosure comprises: a housing; a wireless communication circuit connected to the housing or positioned in the housing and configured to connect wireless communication with an external controller; a plurality of propulsion systems connected to the housing or at least partially contained in the housing; and a navigation circuit configured to control the plurality of propulsion systems. At least one of the plurality of propulsion systems comprise a motor controlled by the navigation circuit and a propeller assembly connected to the motor. The propeller assembly may comprise: a first structure which is fixed to the motor, which has a cylindrical wall defining an inner space, and which comprises a helical slit formed through the cylindrical wall; a second structure comprising a cylinder portion, at least a part of which is rotatably positioned in the inner space, and at least one protruding portion that protrudes from the outer surface of the cylinder portion to the outside of the cylindrical wall through the helical slit; and a propeller comprising a cylindrical hub engaging with the cylinder portion of the first structure, a plurality of rotating blades extending from the cylindrical hub, and at least one rib extending from the cylindrical hub toward the motor, the propeller being configured such that at least a part of the rib detachably engages with the first structure by the at least one protruding portion of the second structure. Other embodiments are also possible.

Systems and methods designed to facilitate a robust and secure aerial network that supports surveillance and delivery operations of electric battery-powered drones. These operations can be conducted in both autonomous and operator-controlled modes. The integrated system utilizes individual drones and base stations, each functioning as nodes within the aerial network and maintaining continuous internet connectivity. The base stations are equipped to serve as recharge and battery swap points for the drones. Furthermore, the network interfaces with a proprietary, secure internet-based application and servers, which enable the coordination and collaboration of drones, autonomous recharging, and comprehensive data collection. This advanced technology has global operability, extending its reach beyond terrestrial boundaries to other celestial bodies, as long as an internet connection is available.

Systems and methods designed to facilitate a robust and secure aerial network that supports surveillance and delivery operations of electric battery-powered drones. These operations can be conducted in both autonomous and operator-controlled modes. The integrated system utilizes individual drones and base stations, each functioning as nodes within the aerial network and maintaining continuous internet connectivity. The base stations are equipped to serve as recharge and battery swap points for the drones. Furthermore, the network interfaces with a proprietary, secure internet-based application and servers, which enable the coordination and collaboration of drones, autonomous recharging, and comprehensive data collection. This advanced technology has global operability, extending its reach beyond terrestrial boundaries to other celestial bodies, as long as an internet connection is available.

A propeller includes a blade. The blade includes a blade root, a blade tip disposed away from the blade root, a blade front surface, and a blade back surface. The blade also includes a front edge connecting a first side of each of the blade front surface and the blade back surface. The blade also includes a rear edge connecting a second side of each of the blade front surface and the blade back surface. The blade further includes a first suppression member formed by a portion of the front edge adjacent to the blade tip bending toward a first direction. The first direction is a direction from the front edge to the rear edge. The first suppression member is configured to suppress a spanwise air flow.

Presently disclosed subject matter integrates a method of using thousands of semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles, herein called drones, to deliver vastly superior amounts of fire retardant over substantially larger and variably-shaped drop patterns. Each drone is able to swap its own batteries with freshly charged batteries and each drone is able to refill its container with water or fire retardant. Once launched, a swarm of drones can perform repeated trips from the water/retardant source to the fire without human involvement other than the high-level tasking of where to drop the retardant. Once a general drop destination and drop pattern shape is designated, the swarm can transport retardant to that location, form itself into the desired drop shape, and deploy retardant. The drone body is designed to be modular so different components can be attached with ease and no special training or knowledge required.