Systems and methods relate to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform that can include a stator and a rotor magnetically levitated by the stator. The rotor and stator can be annular, such that the rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The stator can include magnets that provide guidance, levitation, and drive forces to drive the rotor, as well as to control operation of rotor blades of the rotor that can be independently rotated to specific pitch angles to control at least one of lift, pitch, roll, or yaw of the VTOL platform. Various controllers can be used to enable independent and redundant control of components of the VTOL platform.

Systems and methods relate to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform that can include a stator and a rotor magnetically levitated by the stator. The rotor and stator can be annular, such that the rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The stator can include magnets that provide guidance, levitation, and drive forces to drive the rotor, as well as to control operation of rotor blades of the rotor that can be independently rotated to specific pitch angles to control at least one of lift, pitch, roll, or yaw of the VTOL platform. Various controllers can be used to enable independent and redundant control of components of the VTOL platform.

A VTOL aircraft (1), including: a fuselage (2) for transporting passengers and/or load; a front wing (3) attached to the fuselage (2); an aft wing (4) attached to the fuselage (2), behind the front wing (3) in a direction of forward flight (FF); a right connecting beam (5a) and a left connecting beam (5b), which connecting beams (5a, 5b) structurally connect the front wing (3) and the aft wing (4), which connecting beams (5a, 5b) are spaced apart from the fuselage (2); and at least two propulsion units (6) on each one of the connecting beams (5a, 5b). The propulsion units (6) include at least one propeller (6b, 6b′) and at least one motor (6a) driving the propeller (6b, 6b′), preferably an electric motor, and are arranged with their respective propeller axis in an essentially vertical orientation (z).

A configuration instruction associated with configuring a plurality of batteries which supply power to a plurality of motors in a vehicle is received. The batteries are configuring as specified by the configuration instruction, where the batteries are able to be configured in a plurality of configurations, including: a first configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in parallel and a second configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in series.

A multi-modal robot capable of legged and aerial locomotion includes a body structure including a plurality of legs, each leg having at least one joint; a plurality of thrusters connected to the body structure; and a plurality of actuators for controlled movement of the legs and thrusters. The plurality of actuators are embedded within composite housing structures in the body structure. The composite housing structures are formed by additive printing of composite material over components of the actuators. The composite housing structures are reinforced by layers of continuous carbon fiber material. A method of constructing an actuator for use in a multi-modal robot is also disclosed. Additionally, a computer-implemented method is disclosed to identify particular locations and sizes of components in multi-modal robots providing the lowest total cost of transport.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including an inner frame, an inner flight propulsion system mounted on the inner frame, an outer frame, a gimbal system comprising at least two rotational couplings coupling the inner propulsion system to the outer frame, a control system, a power source, and an outer frame actuation system configured to actively orient the outer frame with respect to the inner frame.

The present invention relates to a protective foldable cage (100) adapted to flying drones. It comprises several ribs linked at their extremities by a ring and comprising on their length several connexion points allowing strings to join each of the adjacent ribs. The length of the string corresponds to the maximal angular shift between the first and the last ribs. The protective cage further comprises easily removable locking means adapted to maintain the ribs at predetermined relative angular position once deployed. The resent invention further relates to a system comprising such a protective cage and a drone support, as well as a method of protection of flying drones.

An aircraft (100) includes a body (10) and an outer frame (1) rotatably coupled to the body (10). The body (10) includes a plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and a driver (14a-14d) configured to rotate the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d). The outer frame (1) includes a rotary frame (1a-1c) rotatable about a rotation axis intersecting the direction of gravity, and a center of gravity of the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and the driver (14a-14d) is located lower than the rotation axis in the direction of gravity.

An aircraft (100) includes a body (10) and an outer frame (1) rotatably coupled to the body (10). The body (10) includes a plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and a driver (14a-14d) configured to rotate the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d). The outer frame (1) includes a rotary frame (1a-1c) rotatable about a rotation axis intersecting the direction of gravity, and a center of gravity of the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and the driver (14a-14d) is located lower than the rotation axis in the direction of gravity.

A double-ring rotary wing spherical cabin aircraft includes a spherical cabin; an upper protective cover; a lower protective cover; a rotary wing fixing ring connected between inner circles of the upper and lower protective covers, and mounted with a gyroscope and a rotatable attitude-adjusting ring; an upper rotary wing rotor and a lower rotary wing rotor rotationally mounted on the rotary wing fixing ring; and a control system. The spherical cabin is rotationally mounted in the attitude-adjusting ring. Two attitude-adjusting articulated shafts opposite to each other are connected between the attitude-adjusting ring and the rotary wing fixing ring. Two cabin articulated shafts opposite to each other are connected between the spherical cabin and the attitude-adjusting ring. The attitude-adjusting articulated shaft and the cabin articulated shaft are in transmission connection with an attitude-adjusting motor. The attitude-adjusting motor and the gyroscope are electrically connected to the control system.