Abstract: A hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (10) is provided which comprises a multicopter frame (14) having a plurality of operable multicopter propulsion units (22) thereon, and an airframe body (16) which is connected to the multicopter frame (14). There is also a pair of wings (34) positioned on opposite sides of the airframe body (16) and a wing control means for manipulating the pair of wings (34) with respect to the airframe body (16) to alter an angle-of-attack of the pair of wings (34). In a first wing condition, the angle-of-attack of the pair of wings (34) is alterable with respect to a relative airflow so as to produce zero lift, and, in a second wing condition, the angle-of-attack of the pair of wings (34) is alterable with respect to the relative airflow so as to produce an optimum or near optimum lift. A method of improving the manoeuvrability of the hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (10) is also provided, as is a method of improving the operational range of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Abstract: An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (10) comprising an airframe body; at least one flight system mounted to the airframe body (12); an onboard flight controller (18) which is adapted to control the or each flight system; a memory storage unit having machine-readable flight control instructions which are implementable by the onboard flight controller; an onboard feedback system which is communicatively coupled with the or each flight system to provide real-time internal flight characteristic data to the onboard flight controller (18); and an external feedback system adapted to receive and provide to the onboard flight controller (18) real-time external flight characteristic data; wherein the onboard flight controller (18) is arranged to receive mission parameter data from an external source, determine a pre-take-off flight plan in accordance with the mission parameter data, and dynamically implement the machine-readable flight control instructions to adapt the pre-take-off flight plan to control the or each

Abstract: A hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (10) is provided which comprises a multicopter frame (14) having a plurality of operable multicopter propulsion units (22) thereon, and an airframe body (16) which is connected to the multicopter frame (14). There is also a pair of wings (34) positioned on opposite sides of the airframe body (16) and a wing control means for manipulating the pair of wings (34) with respect to the airframe body (16) to alter an angle-of-attack of the pair of wings (34). In a first wing condition, the angle-of-attack of the pair of wings (34) is alterable with respect to a relative airflow so as to produce zero lift, and, in a second wing condition, the angle-of-attack of the pair of wings (34) is alterable with respect to the relative airflow so as to produce an optimum or near optimum lift. A method of improving the manoeuvrability of the hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (10) is also provided, as is a method of improving the operational range of unmanned aerial vehicles.