Systems and methods are provided for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vehicle. The UAV may be able to distinguish a companion vehicle from other vehicles in the area and vice versa. The UAV may take off and/or land on the vehicle. The UAV may be used to capture images and stream the images live to a display within the vehicle. The vehicle may control the UAV. The UAV may be in communication with the companion vehicle while in flight.

Systems and methods for uav docking

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a stand for launching, landing, testing, refueling and recharging a UAV, and methods for testing, landing and launching the UAV are disclosed. Further, embodiments may include transferring a payload onto or off of the UAV, and loading flight planning and diagnostic maintenance information to the UAV.

Methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicle landing and launch

The present invention relates to a helicopter having a modular airframe, with multiple layers which can be connected easily, the layers which house the electronics (autopilot and navigation systems), batteries, and payload (including camera system) of the helicopter. The helicopter has four, six, and eight rotors, which can be easily changed via removing one module of the airframe. In one embodiment, the airframe has a vertical stacked appearance, and in another embodiment, a domed shape (where several of the layers are stacked internally). In one embodiment, there is a combination landing gear and camera mount. The helicopter allows for simple flight and usage by remote control, and non-remote control, users.

Helicopter with multi-rotors and wireless capability

A vehicle base station comprises a platform on which a vehicle may be positioned, a first battery bay located on a first side of the platform, a battery replacement assembly to remove a battery from the vehicle and to replace the battery with a new battery, and a power source adapted to provide power to the vehicle while the vehicle is positioned on the platform.

Vehicle base station

A system comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (100) configured to transition (520) from a terminal homing mode (510) to a target search mode (530), responsive to an uplink signal (451) and/or an autonomous determination of scene change.

Multimode unmanned aerial vehicle

A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core, and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors with each rotor having a separate motor to drive the rotors about a common rotor axis of rotation. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.

Rotary wing vehicle

A flying micro-rotorcraft unit is provided for remote tactical and operational missions. The unit includes an elongated body having an upper and a lower end. The body defines a vertical axis. The unit further includes a navigation module including means for determining a global position of the elongated body during flight of the unit. Rotor means of the unit is coupled to the upper end of the elongated body for generating a thrust force that acts in a direction parallel to the vertical axis to lift the elongated body into the air. The rotor means is located between the elongated body and the navigation module.

Micro-rotorcraft surveillance system

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is launched and recovered using a UAV management system. The UAV is stored in a magazine and moved from the magazine during a launch operation and to the magazine during a recovery operation.

Uav launch and recovery system

A rotary wing vehicle includes a body structure having an elongated tubular backbone or core and a counter-rotating coaxial rotor system having rotors. The rotor system is used to move the rotary wing vehicle in directional flight.

Rotarycraft power and propulsion system

A model rotary wing aircraft is provided that includes a fuselage, a power plant, a main rotor, a tail rotor, and a drive apparatus. The power plant includes a passive cooling system to transfer heat produced by the power plant to the atmosphere. The passive cooling system consumes less than about five percent of the power produced by the power plant. The main rotor is driven by the power plant at a main rotor speed of rotation and the tail rotor is driven by the power plant at a tail rotor speed of rotation. The drive apparatus transfers power from the power plant to the main rotor and tail rotor to rotate the tail rotor at a tail rotor speed of rotation that is about three times greater than the main rotor speed of rotation to minimize the amount of power used by the tail rotor.

David J. Arlton

Papers

Rotary wing vehicle

Micro-rotorcraft surveillance system

Uav launch and recovery system

Rotarycraft power and propulsion system

Rotary wing model aircraft