Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move independently in any of six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw).

Abstract: A fuel cap assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes a fuel cap and a pipe stub that extends from the fuel cap and defines a first internal passage. A sensor element and a fuel tube are adjacent to each other and both extend from the fuel cap through the first internal passage. A cylindrical coupler is composed of an elastomer and defines a second internal passage that extends between an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a first inner diameter and the pipe stub is receivable into the inlet port. The outlet port has a second inner diameter that differs from the first inner diameter.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a distribution station moveable between a first location and a second location, a pump on the distribution station, at least one manifold on the distribution station and fluidly connected with the pump, a plurality of hoses connected with the at least one manifold, each of the hoses including a tube and a protective sleeve that circumscribes the tube, a plurality of valves on the distribution station, each of the valves situated between the at least one manifold and a respective different one of the hoses, a plurality of fluid level sensors, each of the fluid level sensors being associated a respective different one of the hoses, and a plurality of sensor communication lines. Each of the sensor communication lines is connected or connectable with a respective different one of the fluid level sensors. Each of the sensor communication lines is routed with a respective different one of the hoses.

Abstract: A fuel cap assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes a fuel cap and a pipe stub that extends from the fuel cap and defines a first internal passage. A sensor element and a fuel tube are adjacent to each other and both extend from the fuel cap through the first internal passage. A cylindrical coupler is composed of an elastomer and defines a second internal passage that extends between an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a first inner diameter and the pipe stub is receivable into the inlet port. The outlet port has a second inner diameter that differs from the first inner diameter.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that can operate in either a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) orientation or a horizontal flight orientation. The aerial vehicle includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll) when in the VTOL orientation. The aerial vehicle also includes a ring wing that surrounds the propulsion mechanisms and provides lift to the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is operating in the horizontal flight orientation.

Abstract: Lightweight and strong components may be manufactured using self-skinning foam material compositions by the processes described herein. One or more mandrels may be inserted into a molding tool, and a self-skinning foam material composition may be injected into the molding tool. After closing the molding tool, the self-skinning foam material composition may expand and cure to form a component, and one or more skins may be formed on exterior and/or interior surfaces of the component. For example, an external skin may be formed on an exterior surface of the component in contact with surfaces of the molding tool, and one or more internal skins may be formed on one or more interior surfaces of negative space spars of the component in contact with surfaces of the one or more mandrels.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that can operate in either a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) orientation or a horizontal flight orientation. The aerial vehicle includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll) when in the VTOL orientation. The aerial vehicle also includes a ring wing that surrounds the propulsion mechanisms and provides lift to the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is operating in the horizontal flight orientation.

Abstract: Tool including a pivot and a handle provided on one side of the pivot. The handle includes a first handle and a second handle. Jaws are provided on another side of the pivot, and the jaws include a first jaw and a second jaw. A first joint is provided in the first jaw. The first jaw includes a base provided between the first joint and the handle.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

Abstract: A distribution station includes a mobile trailer and a delivery system. The delivery system includes a pump, a manifold fluidly connected with the pump, reels, hoses, valves situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses, and fluid level sensors. There is also an additive injector fluidly connected with the delivery system and operable to introduce controlled amounts of an additive into the delivery system.

Abstract: A fluid delivery apparatus includes a mobile distribution station, at least one manifold on the mobile distribution station, a pump configured to deliver fluid to the at least one manifold, a plurality of reels fluidly connected with the at least one manifold, a plurality of hoses, a plurality of valves, and a plurality of fluid level sensors. Each hose is fluidly connected with a different one of the reels. Each valve is situated between the at least one manifold and a respective different one of the reels, and each fluid level sensor is paired with a different one of the hoses. A controller is configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that will facilitate extended flight duration. The UAV may have any number of lifting motors. For example, the UAV may include four lifting motors (also known as a quad-copter), eight lifting motors (also known as an octo-copter), etc. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of horizontal flight, the UAV also includes a pivot assembly that may rotate about an axis from a lifting position to a thrusting position. The pivot assembly may include two or more offset motors that generate a differential force that will cause the pivot assembly to rotate between the lifting position and the thrusting position without the need for any additional motors or gears.

Abstract: Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Disclosed are systems, methods, and apparatus for actively adjusting the position and/or configuration of one or more propeller blades of a propulsion mechanism to generate different sounds and/or lifting forces from the propulsion mechanism.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that can operate in either a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) orientation or a horizontal flight orientation. The aerial vehicle includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll) when in the VTOL orientation. The aerial vehicle also includes a ring wing that surrounds the propulsion mechanisms and provides lift to the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is operating in the horizontal flight orientation.

Abstract: Described is an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), that includes a plurality of sensors, such as stereo cameras, mounted along a perimeter frame of the aerial vehicle and arranged to generate a scene that surrounds the aerial vehicle. The sensors may be mounted in or on winglets of the perimeter frame. Each of the plurality of sensors has a field of view and the plurality of optical sensors are arranged and/or oriented such that their fields of view overlap with one another throughout a continuous space that surrounds the perimeter frame. The fields of view may also include a portion of the perimeter frame or space that is adjacent to the perimeter frame.

Abstract: A distribution station includes a mobile trailer and first and second pumps on the trailer. At least one manifold on the mobile trailer is fluidly connected with the first pump. A plurality of first reels on the mobile trailer are fluidly connected with the at least one manifold. A plurality of first hoses are connected with different ones of the first reels. A plurality of first valves on the mobile trailer are situated between the manifold and respective different ones of the first reels. A plurality of fluid level sensors are associated with different ones of the first hoses. A second reel is not fluidly connected with the manifold, and is fluidly connected with the second pump. A second hose is connected with the second reel that has a manual pump handle, and a controller is configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

Abstract: A distribution station includes a mobile trailer, a pump on the mobile trailer, a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump, a plurality of hoses in communication with the manifold, and a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer. Each of the valves is situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses. Each of a plurality of fluid level sensors is associated with a respective different one of the hoses. The fluid level sensors are operable to detect respective different fluid levels. A controller is configured to operate the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors, activate and deactivate the pump, identify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter, and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition.