Abstract: A battery includes a thermally conductive housing, a first battery cell enclosed within the thermally conductive housing, and a laminated element enclosed within the thermal conductive housing. The laminated element is in contact with the first battery cell and the thermally conductive housing. The laminated element includes one or more heat conducting layers and one or more intumescent layers. The laminated element is configured to conduct heat generated by the first battery cell from the first battery cell to the thermally conductive housing during normal operational conditions of the first battery cell. A local portion of the laminated element adjacent to where the laminated element contacts the first battery cell is configured to reconfigure into a non-heat conducting configuration when the first battery cell experiences a thermal runaway condition.

Abstract: Data captured during evolutions performed by aerial vehicles prior to one or more missions, and data regarding outcomes of the missions, may be used to train a machine learning system to predict data regarding an outcome of a mission of an aerial vehicle based on the performance of the aerial vehicle during one or more evolutions. The data may be captured by sensors provided aboard an aerial vehicle, or in association with a testing facility, and may include data captured during both pre-flight and/or in-flight evolutions performed by the aerial vehicle. The evolutions may include any pre-flight operation of motors, propellers and/or control surfaces, or any other components, as well as the in-flight operation of such components. If a machine learning system determines that a mission is unlikely to succeed, the mission may be canceled, delayed until further inspections may be performed, or assigned to another aerial vehicle.

Abstract: Example variable pitch propulsion mechanisms may include propeller hubs having variable pitch propeller blades. The propeller hubs may include shape memory actuators operatively connected to the propeller blades to change their pitch. In addition, the propeller hubs may include linkage arms to transfer movement from the shape memory actuators to the propeller blades. Further, the propeller hubs may include geared connections to transfer movement from the shape memory actuators to the propeller blades. Moreover, the propeller hubs may include latch mechanisms, similar to retractable pen mechanisms, to transfer movement from the shape memory actuators to the propeller blades and decouple movement of the propeller blades from alignment of the propeller blades.

Abstract: A battery includes a thermally conductive housing, a first battery cell enclosed within the thermally conductive housing, and a laminated element enclosed within the thermal conductive housing. The laminated element is in contact with the first battery cell and the thermally conductive housing. The laminated element includes one or more heat conducting layers and one or more intumescent layers. The laminated element is configured to conduct heat generated by the first battery cell from the first battery cell to the thermally conductive housing during normal operational conditions of the first battery cell. A local portion of the laminated element adjacent to where the laminated element contacts the first battery cell is configured to reconfigure into a non-heat conducting configuration when the first battery cell experiences a thermal runaway condition.

Abstract: A switch for switching power to a load of a vehicle may be described. In an example, the switch may include a number of members configured to move between switch positions in a predefined order such that a load and a power source are electrically coupled or electrically decoupled via the switch based on the predefined order. In particular, a first member may be configured to move to a first switch position and form a first electrically conductive path having a first electrical property. A second member may be configured to move to a second switch position and form a second electrically conductive path having a second electrical property different from the first electrical property. A third member may be configured to move the second member based on movement of the first member to the first switch position such that movement of the second member to the second switch position may occur based on the movement of the first member to the first switch position.

Abstract: A battery module includes one or more battery cells and one or more laminated elements configured to provide passive management of heat generated by the one or more battery cells. Each laminated element includes one or more heat conducting layers and one or more intumescent layers. The one or more intumescent layers are configured to expand in response to an intumescent layer temperature exceedance to reconfigure the laminated element from a first configuration in which the laminated element transfers heat emitted by the one or more battery cells to a second configuration in which the laminated element does not substantially transfer heat emitted by the one or more battery cells.

Abstract: A modular LIDAR system may be formed of multiple LIDAR components. Each LIDAR component may include a laser emitter and a laser detector configured in a frame. Multiple LIDAR components may be arranged on a rotatable swivel housing. The rotatable housing may rotate about a first axis that is perpendicular to a plane defined by a mounting base. The multiple LIDAR components may be aimed outward from the swivel housing at different directions, which may range up to 90 degrees or up to 180 degrees in separation in some embodiments. When the rotatable housing is rotated completely around the first axis, the multiple LIDAR components may scan a first field of view of 360 degrees around the first axis and may scan a second field of view of substantially 180 degrees about a second axis. The modular LIDAR system may be implemented with an aircraft for navigational purposes.

Abstract: A battery module includes one or more battery cells and one or more laminated elements configured to provide passive management of heat generated by the one or more battery cells. Each laminated element includes one or more heat conducting layers and one or more intumescent layers. The one or more intumescent layers are configured to expand in response to an intumescent layer temperature exceedance to reconfigure the laminated element from a first configuration in which the laminated element transfers heat emitted by the one or more battery cells to a second configuration in which the laminated element does not substantially transfer heat emitted by the one or more battery cells.

Abstract: Aerial vehicles may be equipped with collapsible lift propellers and thrust propellers. The collapsible lift propellers may include retractable tips that may pivot or rotate from a first orientation substantially co-aligned with a main body of the collapsible lift propellers during ordinary operations and a second orientation substantially transverse to the main body of the collapsible lift propellers when rotation of the collapsible lift propellers is stopped. The collapsible lift propellers may further include biasing elements, e.g., springs for biasing the retractable tips into the second orientation, and mechanical stops for inhibiting the pivoting or rotation of the retractable tips beyond the first orientation.

Abstract: A modular LIDAR system may be formed of multiple LIDAR components. Each LIDAR component may include a laser emitter and a laser detector configured in a frame. Multiple LIDAR components may be arranged on a rotatable swivel housing. The rotatable housing may rotate about a first axis that is perpendicular to a plane defined by a mounting base. The multiple LIDAR components may be aimed outward from the swivel housing at different directions, which may range up to 90 degrees or up to 180 degrees in separation in some embodiments. When the rotatable housing is rotated completely around the first axis, the multiple LIDAR components may scan a first field of view of 360 degrees around the first axis and may scan a second field of view of substantially 180 degrees about a second axis. The modular LIDAR system may be implemented with an aircraft for navigational purposes.

Abstract: Aerial vehicles may be equipped with collapsible lift propellers and thrust propellers. The collapsible lift propellers may include retractable tips that may pivot or rotate from a first orientation substantially co-aligned with a main body of the collapsible lift propellers during ordinary operations and a second orientation substantially transverse to the main body of the collapsible lift propellers when rotation of the collapsible lift propellers is stopped. The collapsible lift propellers may further include biasing elements, e.g., springs for biasing the retractable tips into the second orientation, and mechanical stops for inhibiting the pivoting or rotation of the retractable tips beyond the first orientation.