Various arrangements for recharging an energy source are provided herein. In response to a device having a state of charge below a first threshold, a mobile device, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be provided location information for the device. The mobile device may travel to within a certain proximity from the device. The mobile device may then a connection with the device. A charging sequence may then be initiated to recharge the energy source of the device.

A remotely controlled multirotor aircraft having a frame that includes a first and a second peripheral portions, to which at least one first and one second motor can be respectively coupled, and a central portion including a first end and a second end, to which the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion are respectively coupled, so that the first peripheral portion develops in a plane that is different from that in which the second peripheral portion develops; furthermore, the central portion also includes a coupling mechanism allowing the coupling between the central portion and a mobile device having video acquisition ability.

The present disclosure relates to an electrically powered aircraft comprising: a propulsion system; a navigation control system operatively coupled to said propulsion system to navigate the aircraft to a desired location; a rechargeable electrical power storage to power the aircraft during operation; and a power line charging unit comprising a current transformer operatively coupled to said rechargeable electrical power storage and remotely operable to engage a power line in flight to recharge said rechargeable electrical power storage and remotely disengage said power line once recharged.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a first link to rotate about a pin joint, a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end, and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening.

Techniques for an unmanned aerial system that embeds data into power sent from a control system to one or more motors so that one or more wires between the control system and the one or more motors can be used to transmit power and data are described. As one example, an unmanned aerial system includes a sensor, a control system comprising alternating current power generation circuitry and first embedded data communication circuitry, and a motor system coupled to the control system via a set of one or more wires and comprising at least one motor to provide propulsion from power generated by the alternating current power generation circuitry and second embedded data communication circuitry to embed data from the sensor into the power generated by the alternating current power generation circuitry to produce modulated power, wherein the first embedded data communication circuitry is to extract the data from the modulated power. The unmanned aerial system may include a second set of one or more wires dedicated to send the data from the sensor to the control system.

Systems and methods are described herein for determining an optimized flight route for an aerial vehicle. In some examples, weather conditions for the aerial vehicle during a flight can be predicted based on weather data. At least two flight route segments based on the predicted weather data can be determined. The at least two flight route segments can include one of a solar flight route segment and a thermal flight route segment. A respective flight route segment of the at least two flight route segments can be discarded that can cause the aerial vehicle to violate a flight constraint. A replacement flight route segment for the respective discarded flight route segment can be determined. An optimized flight route for the aerial vehicle can be generated based on the replacement flight route segment and at least one remaining flight route segment of the at least two flight route segments.

Systems and methods are described herein for determining an optimized flight route for an aerial vehicle. In some examples, weather conditions for the aerial vehicle during a flight can be predicted based on weather data. At least two flight route segments based on the predicted weather data can be determined. The at least two flight route segments can include one of a solar flight route segment and a thermal flight route segment. A respective flight route segment of the at least two flight route segments can be discarded that can cause the aerial vehicle to violate a flight constraint. A replacement flight route segment for the respective discarded flight route segment can be determined. An optimized flight route for the aerial vehicle can be generated based on the replacement flight route segment and at least one remaining flight route segment of the at least two flight route segments.

A connector with ambience monitoring capability for charging an electric aircraft. The connector includes a housing, at least a current conductor, at least a ground conductor and at least a control pilot. The housing is configured to mate with an electric aircraft port of the electric aircraft. The at least a current conductor is configured to conduct a current. The at least a ground conductor is configured to conduct to ground. The at least a control pilot is configured to conduct a control signal. The at least a control pilot is further configured to receive a voltage datum of a battery of the electric aircraft, determine, as a function of the voltage datum, an ambient requirement for the battery, and transmit the ambient requirement for implementation. A method, of using a connector with ambience monitoring capability, for charging an electric aircraft is also provided.

An optimization method for UAV-based wireless information and energy transmission includes following steps: S1: reporting, by a wireless device, an energy state of the wireless device to a UAV; S2: detecting, by the UAV, a channel state between the UAV and the wireless device; and S3: selecting, by the UAV, an optimal action based on estimated revenue maximization according to an electric quantity of the UAV, an electric quantity of the wireless device, and the channel state. The use of the wireless device can reduce wiring costs, beautify the space, and ensure a smaller size and a lower power. By applying the UAV to information and energy transmission for the wireless devices, the data transmission rate and the energy conversion efficiency of networks are improved.

A hybrid powerplant can include a main power bus; an engine; a generator coupled to the engine, the generator in electrical communication with the main power bus; an energy storage; an electrical switch disposed electrically between the main power bus and the energy storage; and a controller in electrical communication with the electrical switch.