Provided is a control method of a drone with a multiple DOF flight mode according to the present invention. The drone may include a fuselage in which a battery is mounted and a forward direction is set in an x-axis, a plurality of rotors disposed about the fuselage in four or more, each rotational axis of which is aligned in a z-axis direction, an x-axis tilting mechanism unit formed to tilt the plurality of rotors about an axis parallel to the x-axis, a y-axis tilting mechanism unit formed to tilt the plurality of rotors about an axis parallel to the y-axis, a first drive motor unit driving the y-axis tilting mechanism unit, a second drive motor unit guiding the x-axis tilting mechanism unit, and a control unit configured to implement a plurality of flight modes by controlling the first rotor, the second rotor, the third rotor, the fourth rotor, the first drive motor unit, and the second drive motor unit.

This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core, and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors with each rotor having a separate motor to drive the rotors about a common rotor axis of rotation. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.

The aircraft can include: an airframe, a tilt mechanism, a payload housing, and can optionally include an impact attenuator, a set of ground support members (e.g., struts), a set of power sources, and a set of control elements. The airframe can include: a set of rotors and a set of support members.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including an inner frame, an inner flight propulsion system mounted on the inner frame, an outer frame, a gimbal system comprising at least two rotational couplings coupling the inner propulsion system to the outer frame, a control system, a power source, and an outer frame actuation system configured to actively orient the outer frame with respect to the inner frame.

A technique for operating an aerial vehicle involves enabling a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) propeller of the aerial vehicle to rotate freely. The VTOL propeller is coupled with a VTOL motor (e.g., a 3-phase brushless DC motor). The technique further involves detecting when the VTOL propeller rotates to a predefined position relative to a direction of flight for the aerial vehicle (e.g., when blades of the VTOL propeller extend along an axis that is parallel to the direction of flight). The technique further involves, in response to detecting that the VTOL propeller has rotated to the predefined position, providing a load from the VTOL motor that inhibits further rotation of the VTOL propeller. Accordingly, while the aerial vehicle is in fixed wing horizontal flight, the controller is able to align the VTOL propeller in the direction of horizontal flight to minimize drag from the VTOL propeller.

An example of a collapsible pylon for a drone aircraft includes a bore extending through a length of a barrel, a first and a second flex-pin bore formed through a wall of the barrel, a first arm slidably positioned within a first end of the bore, a first flex pin disposed on the first arm to engage the first flex-pin bore, a second arm slidably positioned within a second end of the bore, and a second flex pin disposed on the second arm to engage the second flex-pin bore.

Systems, devices, and methods for: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); at least one sensorless motor of the UAV, the at least one sensorless motor comprising a set of windings and a rotor; at least one propeller connected to the at least one sensorless motor; a microcontroller in communication with the at least one sensorless motor, wherein the microcontroller is configured to: determine a rotation rate of the at least one propeller; determine a rotation direction of the at least one propeller; provide an output to stop the at least one propeller if at least one of: the determined rotation rate is not a desired rotation rate and the determined rotation direction is not a desired rotation direction; and provide an output to start the at least one propeller if the at least one propeller is stopped at the desired rotation rate and the desired rotation direction.

An insect-like jumping-flying robot is provided, which includes a flying module, a driving module and biomimetic bouncing legs. The flying module provides flying power via a propeller and a miniature model airplane motor, and front wings and rear wings provide lift, and moment required for attitude change. The driving module provides power with high power density via a brushless motor and is provided with two stages of deceleration to amplify the torque provided by the brushless motor. The first stage of deceleration is performed by a synchronous wheel set, and the second stage of deceleration is performed by a gear set. A driving push rod is used to transmit the power provided by the brushless motor to the biomimetic bouncing legs.

Spring-integrated rotors are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a bracket defining a first rotational axis and coupled to a motor for rotating the bracket about the first rotational axis, a pivot body defining a second rotational axis extending along a direction different than the first rotational axis, the pivot body coupled to the bracket for rotation about the second rotational axis, and at least one spring device positioned at the bracket, the at least one spring device urging the pivot body toward a central position when the bracket is rotating.