In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode. A pod assembly is selectively attachable to the flying frame such that the flying frame is rotatable about the pod assembly wherein, the pod assembly remains in a generally horizontal attitude during vertical takeoff and landing, forward flight and transitions therebetween.

A multi-modal aircraft recovery system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a first aircraft recovery parachute having a first set of physical attributes optimized for a first set of conditions and a second aircraft recovery parachute having a second set of physical attributes optimized for a second set of conditions different from the first.

An automated aircraft recovery system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes an interface configured to receive sensor data; and a control mechanism configured to: perform automatically a recovery action that is determined based at least in part on the sensor data. In various embodiments, the control mechanism may determine an expected state of an aircraft, determine whether a state of the aircraft matches the expected state, and in the event the state of the aircraft does not match the expected state, perform the recovery action.

A movable object for responding to an object includes a first passive infrared sensor having a first detection range and a first field of view, and one or more second passive infrared sensors each having a second detection range and a second field of view. The second detection range is longer than the first detection range and the second field of view is smaller than the first field of view. The movable object further includes one or more processors configured to recognize the object based on one or more heat signals received from at least one of the first passive infrared sensor or the one or more second passive infrared sensors, and perform a flight response measure to control the movable object based on the recognized object.

Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.

A UAV-carried surveillance and remote sensing platform is launched from a high altitude and flies over a target area, collecting remote sensing imagery before returning to earth. The UAV may be towed to a desired altitude by a powered aircraft or a balloon and then launched for cruising over a target area while capturing data. Instead of being piloted remotely, the UAV employs an autonomous flight control system.

An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety mechanism, a drive mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a control mechanism. The safety mechanism is used for securing safety of at least one of an aerial vehicle and an object outside the aerial vehicle. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive unit serving as a drive source of the safety mechanism. The ejection mechanism ejects the drive mechanism together with the safety mechanism. The control mechanism controls operations of the drive mechanism for the drive mechanism to drive the safety mechanism after the ejection mechanism starts ejection of the safety mechanism.

An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes an expandable object and an ejection apparatus. The ejection apparatus includes a container that accommodates the expandable object and has an opening provided on one end side, a moving member provided in the container, the moving member including an emission base carrying the expandable object on a side of the opening, the moving member being movable along an inner wall of the container, and a driver that ejects the expandable object by moving the moving member toward the opening. A space located opposite to the opening when viewed from the emission base and surrounded by the container and the moving member communicates with a space located outside the space through a communication portion.

Provided is a parachute device capable of reliably opening a parachute. A parachute device includes a parachute, a parachute accommodation section formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the parachute accommodation section being configured to accommodate the parachute inside the parachute accommodation section, at least one flying body formed in a tubular shape including an opening at one end and a bottom at another end, the flying body being connected to the parachute, a tubular ejection section fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to hold the flying body and eject the held flying body, a gas generating device fixed at the parachute accommodation section, and configured to generate gas, and a gas introduction path configured to introduce the gas generated from the gas generating device to an interior of the ejection section, wherein at the ejection section, one open end portion of the ejection section is inserted into the flying body, and another open end portion of the ejection section communicates with the gas introduction path.

An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety mechanism, a drive mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a control mechanism. The safety mechanism is used for securing safety of at least one of an aerial vehicle and an object outside the aerial vehicle. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive unit serving as a drive source of the safety mechanism. The ejection mechanism ejects the drive mechanism together with the safety mechanism. The control mechanism controls operations of the drive mechanism for the drive mechanism to drive the safety mechanism after the ejection mechanism starts ejection of the safety mechanism.