The tricopter type rotary-wing drone includes three arms connected to a frame. Each of the free ends of the arms support a rotor with an axis perpendicular to the respective free end. The rotor is driven in rotation by a motor connected to power supply. The arms are pivotally mounted on the frame. Two arms automatically drive the rotor supported by their respective free ends into a position in which its axis forms an angle between −30° and +150° with the plane of the frame. The third arm automatically pivots, if necessary, into a position in which its free end is spaced apart from the apex being considered of the triangle by an angle between −60° and +60°.

A modular Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has first and second flight configurations, and includes an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) parent module and a plurality of UAV child modules. The parent module may have a fuselage, forward and aft wings connected to the fuselage, and a first plurality of flight propulsion devices. The child modules have a corresponding second plurality of flight propulsion devices. Each child module docks wingtip-to-wingtip with the parent module or an adjacent edge of a child module using the docking mechanisms. The child modules undock and separate from the forward wing and each other, and achieve controlled flight independently of the parent module while in the second flight configuration. A method for controlling the modular UAS is also disclosed.

A flight control apparatus for fixed-wing aircraft includes a first port wing and first starboard wing, a first port swash plate coupled between a first port rotor and first port electric motor, the first port electric motor coupled to the first port wing, and a first starboard swash plate coupled between a first starboard rotor and first starboard electric motor, the first starboard electric motor coupled to the first starboard wing.

Systems and methods to reduce aerodynamic drag and/or affect flight characteristics of an aerial vehicle may include adjustable fairings associated with one or more components of the aerial vehicle. The adjustable fairings may be coupled to and at least partially surround a motor, propulsion mechanism, motor arm, strut, or other component of an aerial vehicle. In addition, the adjustable fairings may be passively movable between two or more positions responsive to airflow around the fairings, and/or the adjustable fairings may be actively moved between two more positions to affect flight characteristics. Further, the adjustable fairings may include actuatable elements to alter a portion of an outer surface of the fairings to thereby affect flight characteristics. In this manner, adjustable fairings associated with various components of an aerial vehicle may reduce aerodynamic drag and/or may improve control and safety of an aerial vehicle.

Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling a vehicle by generating a multi-dimensional model of a vehicle operating in a 3D environment; determining a hand control gesture as captured by a plurality of cameras or sensors in the vehicle, wherein a sequence of finger, palm or hand movements represents a vehicle control request; determining vehicle control options based on the model, a current state of the vehicle and the environment of the vehicle; and controlling the vehicle to operate based on the model and the 3D environment.

An airframe design may include a bonded frame or assembly, and one or more components that may be removably attached to the bonded frame. The bonded frame may include struts, central bulkheads, a tail section, a plurality of wing sections, and motor mounts that are adhered together using adhesive. The one or more attachable components may include a forward fuselage, motors, propellers, motor pod fairings, stabilizer fins, and landing gear that are attached using fasteners. The bonded frame may reduce the number of parts of the airframe design and may also reduce complexity, cost, and weight, while also increasing stiffness and strength. Further, the various attachable components may facilitate fabrication, assembly, and maintenance of an aerial vehicle having the airframe design.

Deflection of a rotor of a motor, such as a brushless motor, of an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) during operation may cause the magnets coupled to the interior surface of the rotor to move or walk down the surface, imbalancing the motor and potentially creating an unsafe flying condition for the UAV. The described methods and apparatus monitor rotor deflection of the motor during operation and alter one or more flight characteristics of the UAV if the deflection exceeds a tolerance range. By altering flight characteristics, external forces acting on the motor may be reduced, thereby reducing the deflection of the rotor.

A method for measuring noise is disclosed. The method includes a sound pressure measurement step for measuring sound pressure information from a noise source with a sound pressure sensor. The method further includes a distance determination step for determining distance determinant information indicative of distance between the noise source and the sound pressure sensor. The sound pressure measurement step and the distance determination step are executed in an unmanned aerial measurement apparatus. The unmanned aerial measurement apparatus includes an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method includes controlling flight of the unmanned aerial measurement apparatus. A related unmanned aerial measurement apparatus is also disclosed.

A method for measuring noise is disclosed. The method includes a sound pressure measurement step for measuring sound pressure information from a noise source with a sound pressure sensor. The method further includes a distance determination step for determining distance determinant information indicative of distance between the noise source and the sound pressure sensor. The sound pressure measurement step and the distance determination step are executed in an unmanned aerial measurement apparatus. The unmanned aerial measurement apparatus includes an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method includes controlling flight of the unmanned aerial measurement apparatus. A related unmanned aerial measurement apparatus is also disclosed.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage, electronics disposed with the fuselage, a heat sink, and a solar shield. The heat sink is thermally connected to the electronics and includes a cooling plate disposed on or extends through an exterior surface of the fuselage. The cooling plate is exposed to an external environment of the UAV to conduct heat from the electronics to the external environment via convection. The solar shield extends over the cooling plate and defines an air scoop within which the cooling plate is disposed. The air scoop directs airflow from the external environment across the cooling plate. The solar shield shades the cooling plate from solar radiation to prevent or reduce solar heating of the cooling plate.