Provided is a drone with a multiple DOF flight mode according to the present invention. The drone may include: a fuselage in which a battery is mounted and a forward direction is set in an x-axis; a plurality of rotors disposed around the fuselage in four or more, each rotational axis of which is aligned in a z-axis direction; an x-axis tilting mechanism unit formed to tilt the plurality of rotors about an axis parallel to the x-axis; a y-axis tilting mechanism unit formed to tilt the plurality of rotors about an axis parallel to the y-axis; a first drive motor unit driving the y-axis tilting mechanism unit; a second drive motor unit guiding the x-axis tilting mechanism unit; and a control unit configured to implement a plurality of flight modes by controlling the first rotor, the second rotor, the third rotor, the fourth rotor, the first drive motor unit, and the second drive motor unit.

Provided is a control method of a drone with a multiple DOF flight mode according to the present invention. The drone may include a fuselage in which a battery is mounted and a forward direction is set in an x-axis, a plurality of rotors disposed about the fuselage in four or more, each rotational axis of which is aligned in a z-axis direction, an x-axis tilting mechanism unit formed to tilt the plurality of rotors about an axis parallel to the x-axis, a y-axis tilting mechanism unit formed to tilt the plurality of rotors about an axis parallel to the y-axis, a first drive motor unit driving the y-axis tilting mechanism unit, a second drive motor unit guiding the x-axis tilting mechanism unit, and a control unit configured to implement a plurality of flight modes by controlling the first rotor, the second rotor, the third rotor, the fourth rotor, the first drive motor unit, and the second drive motor unit.

One embodiment is an aircraft including first and second fuselages; a wing assembly connecting the first and second fuselages, wherein the first and second fuselages are parallel to one another; first and second forward propulsion systems tiltably attached to forward ends of the first and second fuselages; and first and second aft propulsion systems fixedly attached proximate aft ends of the first and second fuselages.

The present disclosure is directed to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a convertible body operably coupled to at least one sensor, and further configured to rotate at least about a longitudinal axis, thereby providing a full field of regard for the at least one sensor, and a plurality of arms extending laterally from the convertible body, each arm of the plurality of arms having a rotor assembly coupled thereto.

Aerial vehicles may be selectively transitioned between a fixed wing flight configuration and a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) configuration. In the fixed wing flight configuration, a forward propeller may rotate in a first forward plane, whereas in the VTOL configuration, the forward propeller may be tilted to rotate in a second forward plane. A forward landing arm may extend downward in the VTOL configuration and be configured to be tilted to a stowed position when the aerial vehicle is in the fixed wing flight configuration. The forward landing arm may be coupled to the forward propeller such that tilting of the forward propeller causes corresponding tilting of the forward landing arm. In some examples, a plurality of such landing arms and propellers are tilted during transitioning of the aerial vehicle, such as one or more forward propellers and landing arms and/or one or more aft propellers and landing arms.

A tandem tiltrotor aircraft in which the tiltrotor assemblies are operably coupled at the forward and aft ends of the fuselage of the aircraft is disclosed. The tiltrotor assemblies are capable of rotating between a vertical lift position and a horizontal flight position. The in-line location of the tiltrotor assemblies allow the aircraft to have the vertical take-off and landing capabilities, and, in combination with the at least one wing, can be used in horizontal flight. The aft rotor assembly can assume a horizontal flight position that places the rotor blades forward of a vertical fin of the aircraft. In another embodiment, a winged triple tiltrotor aircraft is disclosed. In another embodiment, a winged quad tiltrotor aircraft is disclosed.

A vehicle comprises a propulsion assembly that includes a rotor system configured to swivel about a pivot axis and a flight control system in communication with the propulsion assembly. In one embodiment, the pivot axis is fixedly oriented at an angle relative to a lateral axis of the vehicle in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The flight control system is configured to activate a particular operational mode of the propulsion assembly, in which the rotor system is configured to swivel about the pivot axis to move a rotor axis of the rotor system from a first gimbal angle to a second gimbal angle. In various embodiments, the gimbal angle is configured to change a center of gravity, or direction of thrust vectors, or attitude of the vehicle. The operational mode may comprise a one engine inoperative (OEI) mode in an example embodiment.

A convertible ducted fan engine and mounting system. The convertible ducted fan engine has a shroud encircling a mechanical fan. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud rotates about the rotational axis. The mounting system includes at least one gimbal ring and may include a circular track system thereby enabling the convertible engine to be oriented in any direction.

Embodiments of the present invention are a returning method, a controller, an unmanned aerial vehicle and a storage medium. The returning method includes: first obtaining a flight mode of an unmanned aerial vehicle, and determining a returning mode of the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the flight mode; then controlling, according to the returning mode, the unmanned aerial vehicle to return from a current position to a landing point, and determining, in a returning process, whether to switch the returning mode of the unmanned aerial vehicle according to a flight speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle; returning according to a switched returning mode when it is determined to switch the returning mode of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and keeping the current returning mode and returning when it is determined not to switch the returning mode of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

An electric VTOL aeronautical apparatus is disclosed that has folding wings each having an inboard wing portion coupled to an outboard portion via a hinge. Folding wings are known to be used during flight, although using a motor to fold and unfold the wings. In the present disclosure, the motor with its concomitant weight and complication is obviated or reduced by making the rotational axis of the hinge such that end of the hinge on the leading edge of the wing is displaced more outboard and lower than the end of the hinge on the trailing edge to allow the wing to fold and unfold passively. When in forward flight, a folded wing has more of the underside of the wing facing the flow, which pushes the wing upward, i.e., unfolding the wing. When the aeronautical apparatus transitions to vertical flight, gravity pulls the wings downward into the folded position.