An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for gas transport is disclosed. The UAV includes a fuselage enclosing a volume, and a gas reservoir enclosed within the fuselage, filling at least a majority of the volume. The gas reservoir is configured to receive and store a gas at a pressure no greater than 100 bar. The UAV also includes a propulsion system having at least one engine, each of the at least one engine coupled to a prop that is driven by the at least one engine using energy derived from the gas stored in the gas reservoir. The UAV also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and configured to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle to autonomously transport the gas. The UAV may have a footprint while on the ground, and the footprint of the UAV may be no larger than three standard parking spaces.

An integral hybrid electric aircraft system including a fuselage including an electrical energy source, wherein the electrical energy source includes a plurality of batteries and a fuel tank, and wherein the fuel tank contains fuel. The fuselage also including a generator in fluid communication with the fuel tank. The generator generates electricity using the fuel from the fuel tank. The system including a set of propulsors, wherein each propulsor of the set of propulsors is electrically connected to the electrical energy source and the generator and wherein the set of propulsors is configured to be powered by the generator during fixed-wing flight. The set of propulsors including at least a pusher propulsor configured to provide forward thrust and at least a lift propulsor configured to provide lift.

An air vehicle is provided including a body, a primary propulsion unit mounted to the body, and a set of secondary propulsion units mounted to the body. The primary propulsion unit includes at least one primary rotor and is configured for providing at least a majority of a total vertical thrust required for enabling vectored thrust flight to the air vehicle. The set includes at least three said secondary propulsion units. The set is configured for providing variable vectored thrust at least sufficient for generating control moments for stability and control of the air vehicle. The set of secondary propulsion units includes at least one secondary propulsion unit pivotably mounted with respect to the body about a respective pivot axis and configured for pivoting about the pivot axis between at least a vertical mode and a horizontal mode, to respectively provide a thrust vector at least in a range between a vertical thrust vector and a horizontal thrust vector. The pivotable secondary propulsion units are further configured for providing at least horizontal propulsion to the air vehicle at least when not in vertical mode.

The disclosure is directed to parallel hybrid drive assemblies for lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Specifically, the disclosure is directed to hybrid drive assemblies and control systems for UAVs, utilizing continuous belt tension modulation to couple and decouple an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. In some embodiments, this is achieved through the use of a tensioner module that is configured to couple and decouple the electric motor and the internal combustion engine by continuously and selectably modulating belt tension on drive elements of each of the electric motor and the internal combustion engine.

The disclosure is directed to parallel hybrid drive assemblies for lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Specifically, the disclosure is directed to hybrid drive assemblies and control systems for UAVs, utilizing continuous belt tension modulation to couple and decouple an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. In some embodiments, this is achieved through the use of a tensioner module that is configured to couple and decouple the electric motor and the internal combustion engine by continuously and selectably modulating belt tension on drive elements of each of the electric motor and the internal combustion engine.

One variation of a system for generating thrust at an aerial vehicle includes: a primary electric motor; a rotor coupled to the motor; an internal-combustion engine; a clutch interposed between the motor and an output shaft of the internal-combustion engine; an engine shroud defining a shroud inlet between the rotor and the internal-combustion engine, extending over the internal-combustion engine, and defining a shroud outlet opposite the rotor; a cooling fan coupled and configured to displace air through the engine shroud; and a local controller configured to receive a rotor speed command specifying a target rotor speed, adjust a throttle setpoint of the internal-combustion engine according to the target rotor speed and a state of charge of a battery in the aerial vehicle, and drive the primary electric motor to selectively output torque to the rotor and to regeneratively brake the rotor according to the target rotor speed.

An energy supply system, which is a system constituting a regional power system in a target region, includes a power transmission system including a first power generation facility and a second power generation facility, a power transmission and distribution system that supplies power to each consumer, a management system, and an unmanned flying object. The unmanned flying object has a transport function of transporting a cargo and a power supply function of supplying power to an outside. When the amount of power supplied by the power transmission system is less than the amount of power required by the power transmission and distribution system, the management system performs a power adjustment process of supplying power from the unmanned flying object to the power transmission and distribution system by using the power supply function of the unmanned flying object.

A multicopter (100) having a plurality of propellers (1) is provided with electric motors (2), at least one main battery (3), a generator (4), and an engine (5). The electric motors (2) drive the propellers (1). The main battery (3) is a first electric power source that supplies the electric power to the electric motors (2). The generator (4) is a second electric power source that supplies the electric power to the electric motors (2). The engine (5) drives the generator (4). When a remaining capacity of the main battery (3) is less than a threshold, the generator (4) charges the main battery (3) with the electric power that has been converted from motive power from the engine (5).

An un-manned aerial vehicle including a powered chassis having a top side and a bottom side. The powered chassis includes a fuel powered electricity generator. The vehicle includes a flight system functionally coupled to the powered chassis. The vehicle includes a flood light system functionally coupled to a bottom side of the powered chassis and oriented to project light downward therefrom. The flood light system includes a plurality of modular lights that are able to selectably couple to the bottom side of the powered chassis. The flood light system includes a programmable light control module that controls lighting. The vehicle includes an automated flight control system functionally coupled to the flight system that automatically directs light from the flood light system to a desired region.

An aerial vehicle that can comprise a housing comprising an outer wall at least partially defining an interior space, a mechanical power source at least partially located in the interior space of the housing, an exhaust header in communication with the mechanical power source for communicating exhaust fluid from the mechanical power source, and an exhaust system comprising at least an exhaust chamber extending at least partially in the interior space of the housing. The exhaust chamber can be in communication with the exhaust header, and the exhaust system can comprise an exhaust outlet for communicating the exhaust fluid from the exhaust system outside the aerial vehicle.