UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.

A configurable electrical architecture for an eVTOL aircraft having a takeoff and landing power mode and a cruise power mode. The configurable electrical architecture includes a power-optimized power source including a high-power battery array and an energy-optimized power source selected from a plurality of interchangeable energy-optimized power sources including a high-energy battery array, a hydrogen fuel cell system and a turbo-generator system. A distribution system is electrically coupled to the power-optimized power source and the energy-optimized power source. At least one electric motor is electrically coupled to the distribution system. In the takeoff and landing power mode, both the power-optimized power source and the energy-optimized power source provide electrical power to the at least one electric motor. In the cruise power mode, the energy-optimized power source provides electrical power to the at least one electric motor and to the power-optimized power source to recharge the high-power battery array.

An unmanned Wing In Ground Effect vessel (UWIG) for transporting the cargo with internal cargo hold contained in a seaworthy fuselage. The UWIG is autonomous or semi-autonomous. A pair of wings are attached to the fuselage. An on-board controller controls lift sufficient lift to travel in ground effect. The controller also controls UWIG surface maneuvering, taxiing and flying. The UWIG may be autonomous or semi-autonomous.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes obtaining, from a user device, flight operation information describing an inspection of a vertical structure to be performed, the flight operation information including locations of one or more safe locations for vertical inspection. A location of the UAV is determined to correspond to a first safe location for vertical inspection. A first inspection of the structure is performed is performed at the first safe location, the first inspection including activating cameras. A second safe location is traveled to, and a second inspection of the structure is performed. Information associated with the inspection is provided to the user device.

Described here are multicopter systems and methods of operating multicopter systems, including those with a chassis with at least two mounted lift motors and at least four mounted control motors mounted within the chassis, wherein, the at least two mounted lift motors each having a lift propeller, the at least four mounted control motors each having a control propeller, wherein the lift propellers and the control propellers are in parallel planes or coplanar, a computer mounted on the chassis, the computer in communication with the control motors, an electric power source mounted on the chassis, the electric power source connected to the control motors, and an antennae mounted on the chassis, in communication with the computer. In some examples, the control systems are encrypted.

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 disengagement mechanism interposed between the motor and an output shaft of the internal-combustion engine; an cooling shroud defining a shroud inlet between the rotor and the internal-combustion engine, extending over the internal-combustion engine, and defining a cooling shroud outlet opposite the rotor; a cooling fan coupled and configured to displace air through the cooling 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.

A method for managing an irrigation system by generating a multi-dimensional model of an environment of the irrigation system; determining irrigation system control options based on the model, a current state of the irrigation system and the environment of the irrigation system; analyzing water spray pattern, wind speed and weather parameters, and beamforming water spray to reach edges of the spray pattern to water a predetermined area; with a drone, inspecting plants or crops for a problem; and controlling the irrigation system to respond to the problem.

A compact muffler (40) for an engine exhaust system, which is particularly applicable for use with small, reciprocating piston two-stroke engines of the type used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The compact muffler (40) comprises an exhaust gas flow path (67) between an inlet (61) and an outlet (63). The exhaust gas flow path (67) comprises a plurality of adjacent flow passages (65), wherein at least two of the adjacent flow passages (65) are fluidly connected in series to enable the flow of exhaust gas from one to the other along the flow path (67). The adjacent flow passages (65) are configured for fluid flow therealong in opposed directions. A bypass passage (70) is provided between the two adjacent flow passages (65) for further communication between the two flow passages and to promote an equalisation of fluid pressure within the two adjacent passages (65). A UAV having an internal combustion engine (31) fitted with an exhaust system comprising the compact muffler (40) is also disclosed.

A vertical take-off and landing aerial vehicle (VTOL) includes a plurality of rotors for producing lift. For each respective rotor the VTOL has an auxiliary power source (APS) and a transformation gear set (TGS) both being associated with the respective rotor, and the VTOL further includes at least one main power source (MPS). Each TGS is configured to form an outgoing power towards its respective rotor from input powers received into the TGS from the MPS and from the APS associated with the respective rotor.

A muffler (40) devised particularly for use with an engine of the type used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and a UAV (10) having an engine (30) fitted with the muffler (40). The muffler (40) comprises a body (51) having an interior chamber (60). The muffler body (51) has a first end section (53) and a second end section (55). The first end section (51) is adapted for mounting onto the engine (31) by way of a first mount (81), with the interior chamber (60) in communication with an exhaust outlet of the engine (31) to receive exhaust flow therefrom. The second end section (53) is adapted to be mounted by way of a second mount (82) in a manner resisting movement with respect to the engine (31). In one arrangement, the second mount (82) is configured to yieldingly resist movement with respect to the engine (30). In another arrangement, the second mount (82) is configured to mount the second end section (55) under a preload resisting movement of the second end section with respect to the engine (30).