An insect-like jumping-flying robot is provided, which includes a flying module, a driving module and biomimetic bouncing legs. The flying module provides flying power via a propeller and a miniature model airplane motor, and front wings and rear wings provide lift, and moment required for attitude change. The driving module provides power with high power density via a brushless motor and is provided with two stages of deceleration to amplify the torque provided by the brushless motor. The first stage of deceleration is performed by a synchronous wheel set, and the second stage of deceleration is performed by a gear set. A driving push rod is used to transmit the power provided by the brushless motor to the biomimetic bouncing legs.

A telescoping tail assembly for use on an aircraft having a fore-aft length. The telescoping tail assembly includes a housing extending in an aftward direction, a tailboom slidable along the housing into various positions including an extended position and a retracted position and one or more control surfaces coupled to the tailboom. The tailboom increases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the extended position and decreases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the retracted position.

A telescoping tail assembly for use on an aircraft having a fore-aft length. The telescoping tail assembly includes a housing extending in an aftward direction, a tailboom slidable along the housing into various positions including an extended position and a retracted position and one or more control surfaces coupled to the tailboom. The tailboom increases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the extended position and decreases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the retracted position.

An example of an aerial vehicle includes a rudder removably connected to the aerial vehicle by a twist lock mechanism. The twist lock mechanism is biased in a locked position by an elastic member.

Unmanned aircraft have aligned forward and aft propulsion systems possessing different performance and/or noise characteristics. According to some embodiments, unmanned aircraft have a forward engine and a forward tractor propeller and an aft engine and an aft pusher propeller. Selected ones of forward and aft propulsion systems will thus be provided to have greater and lesser operational flight performance characteristics and greater and lesser noise signature characteristics, respectively, as compared to the other. For example, the forward propulsion system may be provided with the greater operational flight performance and higher signature characteristics as compared to the aft propulsion system, while conversely the aft propulsion system may be provided with a lesser flight performance and lower noise signature characteristics as compared to the forward propulsion system.

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.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for deployable wing portions of an aircraft. An example method of deploying an aircraft includes separating the aircraft from a launch vehicle, the aircraft having a wing pivotably coupled to a fuselage, rotating, about an axis of rotation, the wing relative to the fuselage from a first rotational orientation to a second rotational orientation different from the first rotational orientation, wherein, in the first rotational orientation, the wing extends along a direction that substantially aligns with a longitudinal axis of the fuselage, and extending the wing in a lateral direction away from the fuselage in the second rotational orientation.

The present disclosure provides a versatile drone and nest launching system. A hybrid UAV drone having fixed wings in addition to vertical take-off and landing capabilities is used to enable the launching nest to remain compact and of simple design with few moving parts, while also housing a drone capable of travelling long distances. The entire system is configured function autonomously, utilising a solar-powered charging pad installed on the nest to repeatedly recharge and relaunch depleted drones. Novel mounting systems for situating the nest in a variety of terrains are also disclosed.

A telescoping tail assembly for use on an aircraft having a fore-aft length. The telescoping tail assembly includes a housing extending in an aftward direction, a tailboom slidable along the housing into various positions including an extended position and a retracted position and one or more control surfaces coupled to the tailboom. The tailboom increases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the extended position and decreases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the retracted position.

A telescoping tail assembly for use on an aircraft having a fore-aft length. The telescoping tail assembly includes a housing extending in an aftward direction, a tailboom slidable along the housing into various positions including an extended position and a retracted position and one or more control surfaces coupled to the tailboom. The tailboom increases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the extended position and decreases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the retracted position.