A system and method for controlling a multi-rotor aircraft that implements the unconventional use of an odd number of rotors. The odd or auxiliary rotor is designed to be smaller in diameter than the remaining main rotors and accordingly generates a smaller unbalanced torque and pitch on the aircraft. Additional configurations implement the use of smaller thrust rotors that can be used to generate thrust as well as control yaw and thus counteract any remaining unbalanced torque from the odd auxiliary rotor.

Various methods for utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor hazards for a user may include maintaining the UAV at a monitoring position relative to the user, monitoring an area surrounding the user for approaching objects, detecting an approaching object, determining whether the approaching object poses a danger to the user, and performing one or more actions to mitigate the danger of the approaching object in response to determining that the approaching object poses a danger to the user.

To provide an unmanned aerial vehicle that is optimized for freight purposes and that efficiently performs loading and unloading of freight and efficiently performs airframe management. This object is solved by an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes a plurality of propellers. An airframe of the unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a body having a freight chamber that is a hollow portion and that is integral with the body; and a plurality of arms supporting each of the plurality of propellers. A combination of the one arm and the one propeller or plurality of propellers supported by the one arm constitute a retractable propeller. The retractable propeller is partially or entirely storable in the freight chamber.

Transformable unmanned vehicles and related methods are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a body having, a first cap, a second cap spaced from the first cap, and a plurality of segments radially spaced relative to a longitudinal axis of the body. The segments are movable relative to the first cap and the second cap. The vehicle includes a payload supported by the first cap. An actuation system moves the segments relative to the first cap and the second cap to transform the body between a first configuration and a second configuration different than the first configuration.

The present invention provides an aircraft design which incorporates a modular design including the use of one or more multi-motor assemblies where the motors are in series within the multi-motor assembly. Still further, the multi-motor assemblies may be configured to include modular motor assemblies or modular sections. Ultimately, the present invention provides an aircraft with the ability to easily assemble or expand the multi-motor assemblies and, in doing so, modify the characteristics of the aircraft. The modularity also enhances the ability to maintain the aircraft by enabling motors or the units housing each motor to easily be replaced.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided including an envelope structure configured to have a spherically curved outer surface, and a plurality of propulsion units arranged on the outer surface of the envelope structure; wherein each of the propulsion units is configured to generate an air stream along on the outer surface of the envelope structure; and wherein each of the propulsion units comprises an impeller coupled to a motor, wherein the impeller is configured to generate the air stream.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided including an envelope structure configured to have a spherically curved outer surface, and a plurality of propulsion units arranged on the outer surface of the envelope structure; wherein each of the propulsion units is configured to generate an air stream along on the outer surface of the envelope structure; and wherein each of the propulsion units comprises an impeller coupled to a motor, wherein the impeller is configured to generate the air stream.

An aerial vehicle including a set of rotors, a processor configured to configured to control the set of rotors for aerial vehicle flight, and a housing defining a plurality of cooling channels, wherein, for each rotor of the set, a projection of the processor and the cooling channels onto the respective rotor plane does not intersect the swept area of the rotor, and a distance from the rotor axis of a first rotor of the set to a cooling channel is less than 75% of a rotor diameter of the first rotor. A method for aerial vehicle operation, including providing an aerial vehicle including a rotor, a processor, and a housing, flying the aerial vehicle, and, while flying the aerial vehicle, actively cooling the processor, including, at the rotor, forcing airflow toward the processor.

An aircraft includes: a plurality of rotor units each including a propeller and a motor that drives the propeller; a balloon that laterally covers the plurality of rotor units, across a height of the plurality of rotor units in an up-and-down direction; and a drive unit configured to change the external shape of the balloon at a predetermined timing.

A modular unmanned aerial system includes a chassis for attaching components of the modular unmanned aerial system and one or more rotary wings. Each of the one or more rotary wings is drivable by a respective motor. A central controller is provided for controlling operation of the modular unmanned aerial system. A modular interface portion attached to the chassis and adapted for removably mounting one or more modular devices.