An autonomous flying device achieving a large payload and a long continuous flight time and also accurately adjust position and orientation while flying. The device includes: a main rotor and the like that provide main thrust; a sub rotor and the like that controls the orientation; an engine that generates energy for rotating the main rotor and the like and the sub rotor and the like; and an arithmetic control device that controls rotation of the sub rotor and the like. Also, the main rotor and the like are rotated by being drivingly connected to the engine, whereas the sub rotor and the like are rotated by motors driven by electric power generated from generator and the like operated by the engine. Further, when orientation control to tilt the fuselage is performed, the arithmetic control device increases the output distribution ratio of the sub rotor to above the output distribution ratio of the sub rotor when hovering is performed.

The invention relates to a protection device for protecting the connection between a detachable wired drone (1) and the wire (5) thereof. This device enables the plug (3) to be reused even when it has fallen many times from a great height and limits the risk of injury and electrocution of people. The device consists of a non-conductive envelope surrounding the electrical contacts of the plug (3), a procedure or a mechanical system that cuts off the power when the plug (3) is detached from the drone (1), a system for mechanical protection against impacts, which can be an energy-dissipating envelope, a parachute-like system (4) for slowing down the fall, or the separation of the plug into a plurality of parts connected by a flexible element. The device according to the invention is particularly applicable to wired drones (1) in order to speed up movement outside the perimeter defined by the wire (5).

The invention relates to a protection device for protecting the connection between a detachable wired drone (1) and the wire (5) thereof. This device enables the plug (3) to be reused even when it has fallen many times from a great height and limits the risk of injury and electrocution of people. The device consists of a non-conductive envelope surrounding the electrical contacts of the plug (3), a procedure or a mechanical system that cuts off the power when the plug (3) is detached from the drone (1), a system for mechanical protection against impacts, which can be an energy-dissipating envelope, a parachute-like system (4) for slowing down the fall, or the separation of the plug into a plurality of parts connected by a flexible element. The device according to the invention is particularly applicable to wired drones (1) in order to speed up movement outside the perimeter defined by the wire (5).

An imaging system, having an imaging apparatus and a moving apparatus that moves with the imaging apparatus mounted thereon, includes: a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a movable time, which is a time when the moving apparatus is capable of moving, based on a residual battery capacity of a first power supply that supplies power to the moving apparatus; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire an imageable time, which is a time when the imaging apparatus is capable of imaging, based on a residual battery capacity of a second power supply that supplies power to the imaging apparatus; and a control unit configured to control whether power is fed from the second power supply to the moving apparatus or power is fed from the first power supply to the imaging apparatus, based on at least one of the movable time and the imageable time.

A method of operating a fuel tanker aircraft for in-flight fuelling comprises: transmitting a deploy command signal from a communication unit of the tanker aircraft to a communication unit of a fuel receiver aircraft, to cause a line and drogue to deploy from the receiver aircraft; controlling at least one of the tanker aircraft and the drogue to engage the drogue with a first end of a fuel hose of the tanker aircraft, a second end of the fuel hose being connected to the tanker aircraft; and transmitting a return command signal from the communication unit of the tanker aircraft to the communication unit of the receiver aircraft, to cause the line and drogue to return to the receiver aircraft with the first end of the fuel hose.

Upon detection of boarding of a person in a vehicle compartment of a vehicle by a vehicle information detector, a controller controls an aircraft such that the aircraft takes off from the vehicle, a photographing unit photographs a periphery of the vehicle, and a video captured by the photographing unit is transmitted to a communication unit.

An airfoil body for an aircraft extending from an inner end to an outer end, and between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil body comprises an internal structure and an airfoil skin covering the internal structure. The skin has a pressure side and a suction side, and the suction side includes a light transmitting portion. The internal structure includes an array of transduce elements attached to a planar sheet with the airfoil body. The present disclosure further relates to wings and aerial vehicles.

The invention relates to an airborne platform comprising a main body configured for flying over a region of interest and an electrical charging system fixed to the main body and located outside of the main body. The electrical charging system comprising at least one induction coil intended to remotely charge at least one battery of at least one apparatus.

UAV airways system generally are disclosed. Such UAV airway systems may comprise UAV cargo transportation systems and UAV surveillance and monitoring systems. Such systems preferably overlay and are commensurate with a system of high-voltage power transmission lines of high-voltage transmission system, and electric field actuated (EFA) generators preferably are utilized in UAVs that travel along the transmission lines, in UAV charging stations located along the transmission lines, or in both. Each EFA generator represents a power supply and comprises first and second electrodes separated and electrically insulated from each other for enabling a differential in voltage at the first and second electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced by the first and second electrodes arising from the power transmission lines of the high-voltage transmission system.

A system for recharging an autonomous aerial vehicle includes a base, a supply boom, a receiving basket, a centering device, and a locking device. The supply boom includes a tip and first recharger. The receiving basket has an inner wall delimiting a cavity that may receive the tip of the supply boom. The receiving basket including a second recharger that is complementary to the first recharger. One of the supply boom and the receiving basket is mounted on the autonomous aerial vehicle while the other is mounted on the base. The centering device centers the tip of the supply boom in the cavity of the receiving basket. The locking device is controlled by a controller and locks the supply boom in the receiving basket.