The present disclosure provides a system and device for drones with ducted rotors. In some aspects, drones may comprise one or more systems of ducted rotors. In some embodiments, ducted rotors may increase the durability of the drone, limiting exposure of the rotors to external conditions and objects. In some aspects, a drone with ducted rotors may comprise a control vane or cone that may direct airflow within the drone as a mechanism to control flight path. In some implementations, a drone may comprise expandable landing gear than may allow for controlled landing, even in the event of rotor failure. In some aspects, a drone may comprise rotatable ducted rotors.

A technique for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes monitoring a sensed airspeed of the UAV, obtaining a commanded speed for the UAV, wherein the commanded speed representing a command to fly the UAV at a given speed relative to an airmass or to Earth, and when the commanded speed is greater than the sensed airspeed, using the commanded speed in lieu of the sensed airspeed to inform flight control decisions of the UAV.

A lighter-than-air toy drone having at least one balloon that is inflated with a lift gas. The drone has a first conduit progresses along a first axis and a second conduit that progresses along a perpendicular second axis. At least one motorized propeller is provided that can selectively moving air through the first conduit and the second conduit to propel the drone. The motorized propeller can also generate a gyroscopic force that acts to rotate said at least one balloon for directional steering.

The present application relates to an accelerator control method and device, a power system and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method includes: receiving, by an electronic speed control (ESC), an accelerator signal through a serial communication interface; extracting accelerator control data from the accelerator signal; generating, according to the accelerator control data, a motor control signal for controlling operation of a motor; and transmitting the motor control signal to the motor. The accelerator signal received through the serial communication interface is a digital signal subjected to small interference during transmission, unlike an analog signal that is susceptible to interference such as impedance and capacitive reactance, which causes data inaccuracy. In addition, in the manner of serial communication, a higher baud rate may be adopted to shorten an accelerator control cycle, thereby achieving high-speed control of an accelerator and increasing the control frequency.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

Methods, apparatus, systems and a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle are provided. The VTOL vehicle includes: a fuselage having longitudinally a front section, a central section and a rear section; a first lifting surface comprising two wings respectively secured to opposite sides of the rear section of the fuselage; a second lifting surface comprising two wings respectively secured to opposite sides of the front section of the fuselage; where each wing comprises at least one engine module, each of the engine modules being pivotally coupled to the wing and each engine module being independently controlled for transitioning between a vertical mode of flight and a horizontal mode of flight.

The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural field management. The UAV comprises a control and processing unit (20) and a camera (30). The control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crop. The control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the crop at the location inside the canopy of the crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to analyse the at least one image to determine at least one disease, at least one pest and/or at least one nutritional deficiency.

A tethered unmanned aerial spraying system comprising a tether line, a power source, a plurality of supporting beams and a plurality of pairs of motorized propellers, wherein each pair of motorized propellers is supported by the ends of a corresponding supporting beam, and a control unit configured to control each motorized propeller. The tether line includes a flexible hose for delivering spraying agent and a power line, supplying electricity to the motorized propellers from the power source. At least a portion of the tether line is covered by a rigid frame and is carried thereby, wherein the supporting beams are attached to the rigid frame so as to be arranged longitudinally to one another, and the neighboring supporting beams of pairs of motorized propellers have unequal length. The system provides compact configuration of an easily deployable system having increased stability and improved lifting capabilities or energy-effectiveness.

The encased exhaust is a traditional aftermarket expansion chamber muffler system for a two stroke engine encompassing a duct fan/propeller. The propeller is mounted directly to the engine's driveshaft, eliminating reduction gears and belts allowing for more airflow and less weight. This eliminates the muffler and replaces the cage on a paramotor, allowing for more airflow through the funneled air duct. The configuration of these two functions exists in a particular sequence.

A rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes an elongate body 12 having a top end 14 and a bottom end 16 with a plurality of flat sides extending therebetween and defining an internal cavity 30. An exhaust opening 32 and lift propeller 34 are provided at the bottom end 16 of the body 12. The UAV 10 further includes a pressurizing arrangement in the form of spaced-apart openings in the sides and in the top and complementary propellers mounted therein in order to urge air through the openings into the internal cavity 30. This arrangement provides a compact UAV with high lift capabilities.