Abstract: The drone comprises M antennas, with in particular two offset antennas located symmetrically at the ends of two arms for the connection to the propulsion units (24), and a ventral antenna under the drone body. The radio transmission is operated simultaneously on N similar RF channels, with 2?N<M. An antenna switching circuit couples selectively each of the N RF channels to N antennas out of the M antennas according to a plurality of different coupling schemes, dynamically through a piloting logic selecting one of the coupling schemes. The selection is operated as a function of a signal delivered by the drone-borne microprocessor, as a function of the flight and signal transmission conditions, determined at a given instant.

Abstract: The displacements of the drone are defined by piloting commands to take moving images of a target carrying the ground station. The system comprises means for adjusting the sight angle of the camera during the displacements of the drone and of the target, so that the images are centerd to the target, and means for generating flying instructions so that the distance between drone and target fulfills determined rules, these means being based on a determination of the GPS geographical position of the target with respect to the GPS geographical position of the drone, and of the angular position of the target with respect to a main axis of the drone. These means are also based on the analysis of a non-geographical signal produced by the target and received by the drone. The system allows freeing from the uncertainty of the GPS systems equipping this type of device.

Abstract: A drone including a barometric sensor adapted to deliver a drone altitude signal; a sensor for measuring the attitude of said drone, adapted to estimate at least one angle of attitude of the drone, and altitude determination means adapted to deliver a drone altitude value, expressed in an absolute terrestrial reference system. The drone includes a relative wind speed sensor adapted to measure the relative wind speed and the altitude determination means includes a device for memorizing predetermined altitude compensation data, an altitude estimator receiving as an input the signals delivered by the attitude measurement sensor and by the relative wind speed sensor and by the barometric sensor and combining these signals with the altitude compensation data memorized in the memorized device to output the estimated drone altitude value.

Abstract: A compact antenna for centimetric frequency bands includes an active planar element forming a radiator, coupled to an input of a receiver circuit and/or to the output of an emitter circuit, and a passive planar element forming a reflector. The passive planar element is formed by a periodic structure of the metamaterial type comprising a network of resonating cells, in particular cells of the complementary concentric slit-ring type Complementary Split-Ring Resonator (CSRR). A clip-shaped support made of a dielectric material supports the active planar element and the passive planar element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary-wing drone (10) comprising a drone body comprising an electronic board controlling the piloting of the drone, a wireless communication module and a plurality of connection arms, the wireless communication module being connected to a communication antenna (46), a plurality of propulsion units (36) mounted at the end of respective connection arms (34), and at least one drone body support (38) adapted to maintain the drone body remote from the ground. The drone body support (38) comprises an antenna housing (44) for holding the communication antenna.

Abstract: A primary user terminal is interfaced with the drone so as to constitute a local network of the infrastructure type, where the drone is configured as an access point (AP) and the primary user terminal is configured as a mobile station. The primary user terminal comprises an adaptive software program able i) to generate piloting and control instructions to be transmitted to the drone, and ii) to establish a connection to the local network and to register the primary user terminal into a registration table of the drone. The network further comprises at least one secondary user terminal with an applicative software program adapted to establish a connection to the local network and to register the secondary user terminal into the registration table of the drone with a hierarchized management of the rights with respect to the primary terminal.

Abstract: This method for detecting a target, using an electronic detection system includes acquiring an image of a scene including the target, the acquired image including a representation of the target, determining at least one segment relative to the target from at least one reference segment relative to a reference representation of the target, and estimating, from the determined segment(s), an area surrounding the representation of the target in the acquired image. At least one of the determined segments is distinct from a contour of the representation of the target and includes at least one point included inside said representation.

Abstract: An electrowetting optical device having a non-aqueous conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, the liquids being non-miscible, and a dielectric enclosure on which both liquids are in contact and form a triple interface. The non-aqueous conductive liquid includes a non-ionic polar organic solvent, and at least 2 weight % of a first compound, where the first compound is non-aqueous and is either ionic or non-ionic. If the first compound is non-ionic, the first compound is more polar than the solvent, the polarity of the non-ionic first compound being measured by Hansen parameters, a sum of the Hansen parameter for polarity (?p) and of the Hansen parameter for hydrogen bonding (?h) being higher than the sum of the corresponding Hansen parameters of the non-ionic polar organic solvent, and the non-aqueous conductive liquid having an ionic second compound.

Abstract: The drone comprises a camera, an inertial unit measuring the drone angles, and an extractor module delivering data of an image area (ZI) of reduced size defined inside a capture area (ZC) of the sensor. A feedback-control module dynamically modifies the position and the orientation of the image area inside the capture area, in a direction opposite to that of the angle variations measured by the inertial unit. The sensor may operate according to a plurality of different configurations able to be dynamically selected, with a base configuration using a base capture area (ZCB) for low values of roll angle (?), and at least one degraded mode configuration using an extended capture area (ZCE) of greater size than the base capture area (ZCB), for high values of roll angle (?).

Abstract: An electrowetting optical device including a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, the liquids being non miscible, and a dielectric enclosure on which both fluids are in contact and form a triple interface. The non-conductive liquid includes from 0.0001 weight percent to 1 about weight percent of a surface adsorbing agent. The surface adsorbing agent is an amphiphilic molecule having a solubility in water lower than 0.1 about weight percent at 25° C.

Abstract: A vertical-view camera (16) delivers an image signal (ScamV) of the ground overflown by the drone. Gyrometric sensors (102) measure the Euler angles (?, ?, ?) characterizing the attitude of the drone and delivering a gyrometric signal (Sgyro) representative of the instantaneous rotations. Rotation compensation means (136) receive the image signal and the gyrometric signal and deliver retimed image data, compensated for the rotations, then used to estimate the horizontal speeds of the drone. The camera and the inertial unit are piloted by a common clock (160), and it is provided a circuit (170) for determining the value of the phase-shift between the gyrometric signal and the image signal, and to apply this phase-shift value at the input of the rotation compensation means (136) to resynchronize the image signal onto the gyrometric signal before computation of the retimed image data.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a drone with a flattened tubular part protrudingly mounted on a module located on the fuselage of the drone, where the free distal end of the drone may also include a Pitot tube dynamic pressure front air intake. An internal duct may further connect the air intake to a pressure sensor mounted on the module. The tubular part may be mobile with respect to the module and may further include a means or mechanism for the mechanical coupling to a contractor mounted on the module. The tubular part may further include a light guide in light communication with a luminescent element mounted in the vicinity or at the level of the proximal end thereof. The tubular part may also include two sectionalized portions that are nested and in continuation of each other, where the base portion may be permanently linked to the module and a removable protruding portion may be located at the top base portion, which may include a front air intake and an internal duct.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a rotary-wing drone that includes a drone body with two front linking arms and two rear linking arms extending from the drone body with a propulsion unit located on a distal end of the linking arms. The points of fixation of the front linking arms and the points of fixation of the rear linking arms are located at different respective heights with respect to the horizontal median plane of the drone body. The two front linking arms of the drone may form a first angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal median plane of the drone body and the two rear linking arms may form a second angle of inclination. Additionally, the linking arms of the drone may further be adapted to be folded over along the drone body.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include a rotary-wing drone that includes a drone body and linking arms, such that a propulsion unit is located at the distal ends of the linking arms. The rotary-wing drone may also include a stiff battery pack with at least one fixation means and a guiding profile. The drone body may also include a platform with at least one guiding rail configured to cooperate and receive the complementary guiding profile of the battery pack and at least one fixation means complementary to the fixation means of the battery pack so that the battery pack attaches onto and stiffens the drone body.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a rotary-wing drone that includes a drone body, linking arms that extend from the drone body with a propulsion unit located on a distal end of the linking arms, and at least two drone supports extending from the drone body. The drone supports may include a lifting means so that the drone supports are able to be lifted when the drone flies, where the drone supports come into alignment with the linking arms. The drone supports may form the leading edge of the rear linking arms and/or the trailing edge of the front linking arms of the drone.

Abstract: A drone propulsion unit includes a propeller with a hub and a plurality of blades, an electric motor with a motor support, and a motor control device, wherein the electric motor includes a fixed part with a stator connected to the motor support and a mobile part with a rotor mobile about an axis of rotation for driving the propeller, the propeller includes a blade with a plurality of electroluminescent diodes and a diode control device, the motor includes a hollow central shaft, and the motor support includes a communication device adapted to communicate with a communication device integrated in the propeller, with the communication devices being positioned on either side of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A drone including a barometric sensor adapted to deliver a drone altitude signal; a sensor for measuring the attitude of said drone, adapted to estimate at least one angle of attitude of the drone, and altitude determination means adapted to deliver a drone altitude value, expressed in an absolute terrestrial reference system. The drone includes a relative wind speed sensor adapted to measure the relative wind speed and the altitude determination means includes a device for memorizing predetermined altitude compensation data, an altitude estimator receiving as an input the signals delivered by the attitude measurement sensor and by the relative wind speed sensor and by the barometric sensor and combining these signals with the altitude compensation data memorized in the memorized device to output the estimated drone altitude value.

Abstract: A method for interactive adjustment of a parameter of a continuously variable optical lens involving having a subject view an eye chart through a variable lens frame comprising at least one continuously variable optical lens, applying a modulation to a selected parameter of said continuously variable optical lens around an average value, and tuning said average value by minimizing the flickering visible to the subject and due to the modulation.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an intraocular variable focus implant comprising a non-conducting liquid with a melting temperature above 0° C., a conducting liquid, a liquid interface formed by the non-conducting and conducting liquids, a first electrode in contact with the conducting liquid, a second electrode insulated from the conducting liquid, wherein the liquid interface is movable by electro wetting according to a change in a voltage applied between the first and second electrodes.