Abstract: A fuel less pneumatic and hydraulic lift system flight system provides the following systemic components. A chassis supporting an electric battery and a pressurized base hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic fluid pumping assembly fluidly coupled to the pressurized base hydraulic cylinder; a lift mechanism assembly providing an attractive levitation plate mounted to the chassis; and a repulsive levitation plate mounted to a carriage, wherein the repulsive levitation plate is disposed in a magnetic pole repulsive alignment relative to the attractive levitation plate causing a magnetic lift effect to the chassis; and a plurality of propulsions jets mounted to the chassis, wherein the plurality of propulsion jets enabling motive functionality using hydraulic fluid propulsion and pneumatic pressure via the hydraulic fluid pumping assembly in conjunction with the magnetic lift effect.

Abstract: A drone pod may receive, stow, and launch a drone. The drone pod may include a housing, a canopy movably coupled to the housing, a platform movably coupled to the housing, and a drone bay. The drone pod may be configured to move the canopy to expose the drone bay and raise the platform relative to a floor of the drone bay to receive the drone, lower the platform toward the floor of the drone bay and move the canopy to enclose the drone bay to stow the drone, move the canopy to expose the drone bay and raise the platform relative to the floor of the drone bay to launch the drone. The drone pod may be mounted on a vehicle. A system may include a drone pod and a drone, wherein the drone pod is configured to receive, stow, and launch the drone.

Abstract: An airfoil is provided that includes an exterior substrate surface, and a coating layer adjacent to the exterior substrate surface. The coating layer has an icephobic coating composition that includes a first polymer, a second polymer that is a fluoropolymer, an isocyanate, and a curative. The coating layer is bonded to the airfoil via an intermediate adhesive layer. The coating layer has a bottom surface, and at least one of the exterior substrate surface and the bottom surface has an RMS surface roughness of at least about 1 micron or greater before the coating layer is bonded to the exterior substrate surface.

Abstract: A base station is disclosed for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The base station includes: an enclosure; a slide mechanism that is connected to the enclosure and which is repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position; and a cradle that is connected to the slide mechanism and which defines a chamber that is configured to receive the UAV such that the UAV is movable into and out of the enclosure during repositioning of the slide mechanism between the retracted position and the extended position. The cradle includes: an upper shell; a lower shell that is connected to the upper shell; and at least one thermal insulator that is located between the upper shell and the lower shell.

Abstract: An aerial craft and sealed force vectoring flight system is disclosed. The aerial craft includes a main body hull, lift jets, a generator, an electrical re-introduction circuit, a hydraulic pump, air flow compressors, an RPM sensor, a max speed limiter hydraulic draft by-pass valve, and a battery. The electrical re-introduction circuit throttles the generator into high-velocity rotation and yields excess electrical current to then be applied to the lift jets. The hydraulic pump pulls pressurized hydraulic fluid across a preceding hydraulic drive impellor such that the pressurized hydraulic fluid returns to confinement under pneumatic pressure faster than a discharge of hydraulic fluid. The air flow compressors generate electricity that is re-introduced into the lift electric motors. The RPM sensor and max speed limiter hydraulic draft by-pass valve speed regulate the generator. The battery initially powers the generator.

Abstract: A spacecraft has a flat antenna array having an edge and a middle portion. A reconfigurable reaction-momentum wheel is coupled to the antenna array to roll and/or pitch the antenna array in small magnitudes. The reconfigurable reaction-momentum has a reaction operating state or mode (high-torque, low momentum) and a momentum operating state or mode (low-torque, high momentum). A thruster is coupled to the antenna array to move the antenna array.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes one or more processors and one or more computer storage media storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations that include obtaining flight information of the UAV; determining one or more modifications based on the flight information; and transmitting data messages over data buses based on the one or more modifications.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting power includes a track and an airfoil coupled to the track. The track includes first and second elongate sections, where the first elongate section is positioned above the second elongate section. The airfoil is moveable in opposite directions when alternately coupled to the first elongate section and second elongate section.

Abstract: A trap catches multiple iguanas and/or other nuisance animals in one setting. The trap may include a larger confinement volume having a one-way entry door on at least one side and in other embodiments on all sides that remain active no matter how many iguanas are in the trap. The entry door is designed such that once the iguana has started through the door it cannot turn back. Access to remove the iguanas is also provided. A large bait station that can hold several days of bait and be easily rebaited with minimal contact with the trap is also provided. An auxiliary cage may be coupled to the trap to off-load captured iguanas without moving the primary trap.

Abstract: A Remote Drop Zone Atmospherics and Marking Platform provides wind speed and direction information to parachutists or operators who are using parachutes to deliver a parachutist or autonomous load to the ground.

Abstract: An exemplary tiltrotor aircraft having a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight mode and a forward flight mode includes tiltable rotors located at forward boom ends, tiltable ducted fans located at wings aft of the forward boom ends, and aft rotors located on aft boom portions.

Abstract: A modular blended wing body (BWB) aircraft includes common components containing a nose structure having a left aft edge and a right aft edge intersecting on a centerline of the BWB on one end and intersecting on a leading edge of the BWB on another end, and two wing structures attached to the nose structure, wherein the at least two rear structures includes a left-wing structure arranged on the left side of the centerline, wherein the left-wing structure includes a left forward edge, and a right-wing structure arranged on the right side of the centerline, wherein the right-wing structure includes a right forward edge, and wherein the left-wing structure and the right-wing structure are laterally symmetrical to the centerline, and wherein there is no clear demarcation between the at least two wing structures and the nose structure of the plurality of common components of the BWB aircraft.

Abstract: Drones with propulsions systems supported in a housing are provided where the orientation of the housing is independent from the orientation of the propulsion system. Drones are provided where a propulsion system is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the propulsion system to assume substantially any position with a sphere. Drones are provided where a bladeless inner tube is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the inner tube to assume substantially any position within a sphere. Drone systems are provided with connectable unit drones. An unmanned land vehicle is provided having a wheel assembly that is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the wheel assembly to assume substantially any position with a sphere.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are animal decoys for hunting, birdwatching, photographing, and other outdoor activities. In a specific embodiment, the animal decoy includes: a hinge; a housing unit, where the housing unit includes a head section, a tail section, and an interior space; an electric motor; a switch, where the switch is operative connected to the electric motor; an electric motor housing; a battery housing; at least one wing member attachment member; at least one wing member, where the at least one wing member is attached to the at least one wing member attachment member; a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operative connected to the electric motor and the at least one wing member attachment member; a mounting member; a support member; a coupling member; where the coupling member is attached to the battery housing at a first end and the electric motor housing at a second end.

Abstract: A cargo transport system comprising a spine assembly and a container assembly. The spine assembly comprises a rigid spine and a plurality of mounts arranged on the rigid spine in a plurality of mount rows. The container assembly comprises a plurality of containers and is secured to the spine assembly using at least a subset of the plurality of mounts. Each container of the plurality of containers comprises a plurality of fittings for securing the container to the spine assembly and/or another container of the container assembly. Each mount row extends along a width of the spine assembly, and the plurality of mount rows are spaced apart at regular distance intervals along a length of the spine.

Abstract: Rodent bait station assemblies and methods for assembly and bundling.

Abstract: A peripheral propulsion system having a propulsion unit, an upper section, and a lower section. The propulsion unit has a motor, a motor engagement section, an extension coupled to the motor engagement section, and two or more blades coupled to the extension. The extension is located between the upper section and the lower section. The output section is located about at least a portion of the lower section, and the two or more blades are located outside a periphery of the vehicle. When the motor is running, the two or more blades are capable of drawing fluid from about the periphery of the vehicle and through the output section.

Abstract: A component for an aircraft and an aircraft with such component. The component includes a heat source enclosed by a housing, heat exchanger, heat sink, at least one structural suspension element, and an air duct. Each structural suspension element is attached to an inner surface of the housing and supports one or more of the heat source within the housing. The heat sink is part of the housing and configured to guide air from an inside of the housing an outside of the housing. Each heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heat source. Each heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the heat sink via an inlet line and a return line for a coolant. The air duct is configured to guide ambient air from the outside through the housing, past each of the at least one structural suspension element, and through the heat sink out of the housing.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 1 of the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)-type that can be launched from a launcher tube 2 is provided. A launcher 2 for launching the UAV 1 is also provided. The UAV 1 comprises a housing 10 and a transition mechanism 100 for transitioning the UAV 1 between a collapsed configuration for stowing the UAV 1 in a launcher tube 21 and a flight configuration. The housing 10 and the transition mechanism 100 are configured so that one or more rotors 12a-d that, in use, are connected to the transition mechanism 100 are located substantially within the housing 10 in the collapsed configuration and outside the housing 10 in the flight configuration. The launcher 2 comprises a hollow tube 21 for receiving a UAV 1 in a collapsed configuration and a trigger mechanism 26 for triggering a propulsion mechanism for propelling the UAV 1 out of an end of the hollow tube 21.

Abstract: A power system with a reliability enhancing battery architecture for electric motors adapted for use in an aerial vehicle. Individual batteries may be used to power a subset two or more motors in systems with six or more motors, for example. Each motor may be powered by two or more subsets of batteries, allowing accommodation for motor failure. With a failed motor in a vertical take-off or landing mode, power may be diverted to other motors to continue proper attitude control, and to provide sufficient thrust. With a failed motor a second motor offset from the failed motor may be powered down to facilitate attitude control.