A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, including: a vehicle controller circuit programmed to operate the VTOL aircraft without an onboard human operator; a rotor system; an airframe; and an external cargo coupling to receive an external payload of at least approximately 300 pounds beneath the airframe.

An aircraft control apparatus (20) includes a display unit (210), a display (220), an input unit (230), a selection unit (240), and a command generation unit (250). The command generation unit (250) acquires an image that has been generated by an image capture unit (350) of an aircraft (30). The display unit (210) displays, on the display (220), the image acquired by the command generation unit (250). The image includes at least one electric wire or at least one pipe that could be an inspection target. The input unit (230) displays, according to an input from a user, a line within the image displayed on the display (220). The selection unit (240) selects an inspection target by use of the line displayed by the input unit (230). The command generation unit (250) generates command information for the aircraft to photograph the inspection target while moving along the inspection target, and transmitting the command information to the aircraft (30).

A link rotor head and an unmanned aerial vehicle are disclosed. The link rotor head includes a main shaft, a rotor hub arranged at an upper end of the main shaft, a rotor assembly rotatably arranged on the rotor hub, a swashplate assembly movably arranged around the main shaft, and a link assembly. The swashplate assembly drives the rotor assembly to rotate via the link assembly. The link assembly includes a phase link, a phase rocker and a pitch link. The phase rocker is rotatably arranged on the rotor hub, with one end of the phase rocker movably connected with the swashplate assembly via the phase link and with an other end of the phase rocker movably connected with the rotor assembly via the pitch link.

A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the landing location based on the second set of flight data.

A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the landing location based on the second set of flight data.

A helicopter includes a propulsion system, gimbal assembly, and a controller. The propulsion system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly. The first rotor assembly comprises a first motor coupled to a first rotor and the second rotor assembly comprises a second motor coupled to a second rotor. The second rotor is coaxial to the first rotor and is configured to be counter-rotating to the first rotor. The gimbal assembly couples a fuselage of the helicopter to the propulsion system. The controller is communicably coupled to the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide instructions to the gimbal assembly in order to weight-shift the fuselage of the helicopter, thereby controlling movements of the helicopter.

A helicopter includes a propulsion system, gimbal assembly, and a controller. The propulsion system includes a first and second rotor assembly, wherein the first rotor assembly comprises a first motor coupled to a first rotor, the first rotor comprising a plurality of first fixed-pitch blades and the second rotor assembly comprises a second motor coupled to a second rotor, the second rotor comprising a plurality of second fixed-pitch blades. The second rotor is coaxial to the first rotor and is configured to be counter-rotating to the first rotor. The controller is communicably coupled to the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide instructions to at least one of the first or second gimbal motors in order to orient the plurality of first and second fixed-pitch blades into a position that permits wind to rotate the first and second fixed-pitch blades and thereby charge the power source.

A ganged servo flight control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided. The flight control system may include a swashplate having first, second, and third connection portions; a first control assembly connected to the first connection portion of the swashplate; a second control assembly connected to the second connection portion of the swashplate; and a third control assembly connected to the third connection portion of the swashplate. The first control assembly may include two or more servo-actuators connected to operate in cooperation with each other.

An unmanned helicopter platform includes a fuselage, a tail coupled with the fuselage, a payload rail coupled with and extending along the fuselage and a main rotor assembly coupled with the fuselage. The tail includes a tail rotor and a tail rotor motor. The main rotor assembly includes a main rotor having an axis of rotation and a main rotor motor. The payload rail allows mechanical connection of payloads to the fuselage and positioning of the payloads such that a center of gravity of the payloads is alignable with the axis of rotation.

A vertical tail of a composite-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a body, a rudder face section, a rotor section, shock absorbing component and a quick installation assembly of circuit. The body includes a tail body frame and a shell. The rudder face section has a rudder machine and a rudder surface. The rudder surface is connected to one end of the tail for steering the directional deflection of the UAV. The shock absorbing component is connected to the lower end plate and the shock absorbing component absorbs the shock to the body. The quick installation assembly of circuit includes a plug, a positioning sleeve and a bias piece, the positioning sleeve is located on the outer circumference of the plug and slidingly connected to the plug, the bias piece is set between the plug and the positioning sleeve, the bias piece can absorb the impact on the plug.