The application relates to an aircraft, a method, an apparatus and a computer readable storage medium for controlling the aircraft with at least one sensor arranged thereon, the method including detecting a motor state of the aircraft, acquiring at least one sensing data of the at least one sensor, and controlling the aircraft to perform a startup operation or a shutdown operation according to the motor state and the at least one sensing data, so that the aircraft can be autonomously controlled to perform the startup operation or the shutdown operation, and the user experience is improved.

The application relates to an aircraft, a method, an apparatus and a computer readable storage medium for controlling the aircraft with at least one sensor arranged thereon, the method including detecting a motor state of the aircraft, acquiring at least one sensing data of the at least one sensor, and controlling the aircraft to perform a startup operation or a shutdown operation according to the motor state and the at least one sensing data, so that the aircraft can be autonomously controlled to perform the startup operation or the shutdown operation, and the user experience is improved.

Winged tilt-rotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and related methods are disclosed. Aircraft comprise an airframe comprising one or more wings; one or more tilt-adjustable rotors positioned forward of the one or more wings; and one or more fixed-tilt rotors positioned behind at least one of the one or more wings. Methods comprise tilting only one or more forward rotors positioned in front of one or more wings of the aircraft, and not tilting one or more rearward rotors positioned behind at least one of the one or more wings.

Winged tilt-rotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and related methods are disclosed. Aircraft comprise an airframe comprising one or more wings; one or more tilt-adjustable rotors positioned forward of the one or more wings; and one or more fixed-tilt rotors positioned behind at least one of the one or more wings. Methods comprise tilting only one or more forward rotors positioned in front of one or more wings of the aircraft, and not tilting one or more rearward rotors positioned behind at least one of the one or more wings.

An aircraft and a control yoke for operating the aircraft. The control yoke includes a base, a handle for manual operation of the aircraft, and a graphical communication device centered at the base for receiving a command from an operator and autonomously operating the aircraft according to the received command.

An aircraft and a control yoke for operating the aircraft. The control yoke includes a base, a handle for manual operation of the aircraft, and a graphical communication device centered at the base for receiving a command from an operator and autonomously operating the aircraft according to the received command.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of taking a measurement using a sensor mounted on an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle having one or more propellers and one or more motors which are selectively operable to drive the one or more propellers to rotate to cause the vehicle to fly, and a sensor mounted on the aerial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of, operating the one or more motors to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly; at a first time instant, slowing down or turning off said one or more motors; while the one or more motors are slowed down or turned off, taking a measurement using said sensor; at a second time instant, which is after the measurement has been taken using the sensor, operating the one or more motors again to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly. There is further provided a corresponding aerial vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of taking a measurement using a sensor mounted on an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle having one or more propellers and one or more motors which are selectively operable to drive the one or more propellers to rotate to cause the vehicle to fly, and a sensor mounted on the aerial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of, operating the one or more motors to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly; at a first time instant, slowing down or turning off said one or more motors; while the one or more motors are slowed down or turned off, taking a measurement using said sensor; at a second time instant, which is after the measurement has been taken using the sensor, operating the one or more motors again to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly. There is further provided a corresponding aerial vehicle.

An aircraft control system 100 including a control assembly 110 having control units, including a first control unit 130 for controlling actuation of the aircraft component during a first time period, using electrical resource 512 from a first electrical resource device 510, and a second control unit 140 for controlling actuation of the aircraft component during a second time period, and a switch mechanism 120 for switching control of the actuation of the aircraft component between the first and second control units, wherein the switch mechanism has a first electrical resource device status input 513 for indicating the status of the first electrical resource device 510 and wherein, the switch mechanism is configured to switch control between the first 130 and second 140 control units based on the first electrical resource device status input 513.

An aircraft control system 100 including a control assembly 110 having control units, including a first control unit 130 for controlling actuation of the aircraft component during a first time period, using electrical resource 512 from a first electrical resource device 510, and a second control unit 140 for controlling actuation of the aircraft component during a second time period, and a switch mechanism 120 for switching control of the actuation of the aircraft component between the first and second control units, wherein the switch mechanism has a first electrical resource device status input 513 for indicating the status of the first electrical resource device 510 and wherein, the switch mechanism is configured to switch control between the first 130 and second 140 control units based on the first electrical resource device status input 513.