An aircraft has multiple independent yaw authority mechanisms. The aircraft includes an airframe having first and second wings with at least first and second pylons extending therebetween and with a plurality of tail members extending therefrom each having an active control surface. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array is coupled to the airframe that includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies each having a rotor assembly and each operable for thrust vectoring. A flight control system is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A first yaw authority mechanism includes differential speed control of rotor assemblies rotating clockwise compared to rotor assemblies rotating counterclockwise. A second yaw authority mechanism includes differential longitudinal control surface maneuvers of control surfaces of two symmetrically disposed tail members. A third yaw authority mechanism includes differential thrust vectoring of propulsion assemblies.

A multi-axis amphibious copter for flying and cruising at high speeds. The multi-axis amphibious copter includes six propulsion points i.e., four propellors oriented vertically, a coaxial rotor oriented vertically, and a mini turbine thruster on the rear of the aircraft body and configured to propel the multi-axis amphibious copter forward. The multi-axis amphibious copter can land and take off vertically from congested places and can fly at cruising speeds.

A concentric, double hull, damage tolerant airframe vehicle double clad with a lightweight, impact resistant ceramic matrix composite for heat shielding and flame resistance, and fitted with insulation, to provide thermal protection from 35 C. to 1,650 C. of the internal fuselage areas for an extended period of time within an extreme heat environment, that will serve as a semi or fully autonomous vehicle, manned or unmanned, preferably an unmanned aerial vehicle designed as the delivery means to suppress or extinguish flames by repeatedly discharging pressure waves against flames without having to exit the fire environment.

A concentric, double hull, damage tolerant airframe vehicle double clad with a lightweight, impact resistant ceramic matrix composite for heat shielding and flame resistance, and fitted with insulation, to provide thermal protection from 35 C. to 1,650 C. of the internal fuselage areas for an extended period of time within an extreme heat environment, that will serve as a semi or fully autonomous vehicle, manned or unmanned, preferably an unmanned aerial vehicle designed as the delivery means to suppress or extinguish flames by repeatedly discharging pressure waves against flames without having to exit the fire environment.

A method for unmanned delivery of an item to a desired delivery location includes receiving, at an unmanned vehicle, first data representative of an approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, receiving, at the unmanned vehicle, second data representative of a fiducial expected to be detectable at the desired delivery location, using the first data to operate the unmanned vehicle to travel to the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, upon arriving at the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, using the second data to operate the unmanned vehicle to detect the fiducial; and upon detecting the fiducial, using the fiducial to operate the unmanned vehicle to deliver the item.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with omnidirectional thrust vectoring includes a central unit, a connective structure, and a plurality of propulsion units with omnidirectional thrust vectoring allowing a full six degrees of freedom. A vectored propulsion unit comprises thruster vectored by an omnidirectional mechanism and may include an autonomous sub-vehicle housed within a rotational frame, or an actuator-thruster assembly with directional control. A UAV with omnidirectional thrust vectoring includes a control system with a ground station unit, a central flight control unit, and a propulsion control unit. A plurality of vectored propulsion units working in coordination allows an unmanned aerial vehicle to maneuver with any stance or body orientation.

In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode. A pod assembly is selectively attachable to the flying frame such that the flying frame is rotatable about the pod assembly wherein, the pod assembly remains in a generally horizontal attitude during vertical takeoff and landing, forward flight and transitions therebetween.

A multirotor aircraft (100) that comprises a chassis (200), three or more engines (300) and one or more free wings (400). Each free wing (400) is attached to said chassis by an axial connection (18) in such a way that enables to change the attack angle of the free wing relative to said chassis according to the direction of the flow of air over the free wing. The aircraft may be equipped with control surfaces or movement-limiting devices.

Designing intrinsically safe robotic inspection systems used for unmanned navigation and inspection of large tanks with hazardous and explosive atmosphere is challenging. The disclosed methods and devices provide solutions to overcome such challenge. Intrinsically safe devices and methods using a combination of a lighter-than-air blimp with various intrinsically safe subsystems attached to the blimp are presented.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including a vehicle body and an airflow thruster is provided. The vehicle body has a center hub, an airflow guiding structure and an outer circumferential portion. An interior of the airflow guiding structure is interconnected between the center hub and the outer circumferential portion. The center hub has an airflow inlet. The outer circumferential portion has a plurality of lateral guiding outlets facing downward and corresponding to a gravity direction of the gravity direction of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The airflow thruster is disposed inside the center hub for generating a plurality of jet streams, such that the jet streams flow to the lateral guiding outlets through the airflow guiding structure to generate a propulsion.