Abstract: An assembly for an aerial system includes a wing support foldably connected to a first and second side of a body of the aerial system, a protection structure coupled to the wing support and disposed over propellers coupled to the wing support, wherein at least one of the protection structure and the wing support includes at least one of a positioning hook and a positioning groove, wherein the protection structure and wing support are fixed relative to each other with the at least one of the positioning hook and the positioning groove.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage body, a foldable wing assembly and a gear assembly. The foldable wing assembly, including a pair of opposing wing members, is coupled to the fuselage body and positionable in a stowed position and a deployed position. The gear assembly positions the wing members in a stowed position and a deployed position and include a support bracket assembly and a pair of opposing hinge members. The support bracket assembly is coupled to the fuselage body and including first and second support brackets forming a cavity therebetween and a pair of opposing hinge members. The pair of opposing hinge members are pivotably coupled to the support bracket assembly and positioned within the cavity. Each hinge member is coupled to a corresponding wing member and includes a set of gear teeth extending outwardly from an arcuate radially outer surface and coupled in a meshed arrangement.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body; a lift mechanism; and a two-axis gimbal assembly. A camera housing of the gimbal assembly extends between a first endwall and a second endwall along a pitch axis. An opening in the first endwall receives a camera communication cable. The camera communication cable is coupled to a camera and a control board. The camera housing includes an inner surface that defines a positioning cavity. A positioning cavity in the camera housing receives the camera. A pitch assembly of the support assembly rotates the camera housing about the pitch axis.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body, a lift mechanism coupled to the body, a processing system, and at least one camera. The aerial system also includes a first motor configured to rotate the at least one camera about a first axis and a second motor configured to rotate the at least one camera about a second axis. The processing system is configured to determine a direction of travel of the aerial system and to cause the first motor and the second motor to automatically orient the at least one camera about the first axis and the second axis such that the at least one camera automatically faces the direction of travel of the aerial system.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body; a lift mechanism; and a two-axis gimbal assembly. A camera housing of the gimbal assembly extends between a first endwall and a second endwall along a pitch axis. An opening in the first endwall receives a camera communication cable. The camera communication cable is coupled to a camera and a control board. The camera housing includes an inner surface that defines a positioning cavity. A positioning cavity in the camera housing receives the camera. A pitch assembly of the support assembly rotates the camera housing about the pitch axis.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body, a propeller coupled to the body, and a motor coupled to the propeller. The motor is configured to rotate the propeller in a first direction, wherein an other portion of the aerial system rotates in an opposing second direction. The other portion of the aerial system that rotation in the opposing second direction may be the body or a second propeller. The aerial system also includes a processing system configured to control the motor to cause the aerial system to hover in a substantially fixed pose, and a camera configured to obtain images of an environment proximate the aerial system while the aerial system is hovering.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle including a housing, an outrunner motor including a stator mechanically coupled to the housing and a rotor rotationally coupled to the stator, and a propeller removably coupled to the rotor, the propeller including a hub and a plurality of propeller blades. A rotor, a propeller including a hub and a propeller blade, a radial alignment mechanism, a rotational retention mechanism, and an axial retention mechanism.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle is described herein. The aerial vehicle includes a lift mechanism that includes a rotor blade assembly coupled to a motor assembly. The rotor blade assembly includes a plurality of rotor blades that are pivotably coupled to a rotor blade clamping mechanism. The rotor blade clamping mechanism includes an upper paddle clamp that is coupled to a lower paddle clamp. The upper paddle clamp includes a center protrusion and a plurality of blade support protrusions extending outwardly from the lower outer surface. The center protrusion includes a center shaft aperture sized and shaped to receive a motor shaft therein. Each blade support protrusion is sized and shaped to be inserted through a corresponding positioning aperture of a corresponding rotor blade. The lower paddle clamp includes a central recess to receive the center protrusion therein and a plurality of blade recesses to receive a corresponding blade support protrusion therein.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is described herein. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage body, a lift mechanism coupled to the fuselage body, and a depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system coupled to the fuselage body. The depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system includes a platform assembly, a pair of stereovision cameras coupled to a platform assembly, and a motor assembly coupled to the fuselage body and to the platform assembly. The platform assembly includes a support member extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis. The pair of stereovision cameras includes each stereovision camera positioned at an opposite end of the support member. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the platform assembly with respect to the fuselage body about a rotational axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage body, a foldable wing assembly and a gear assembly. The foldable wing assembly, including a pair of opposing wing members, is coupled to the fuselage body and positionable in a stowed position and a deployed position. The gear assembly positions the wing members in a stowed position and a deployed position and include a support bracket assembly and a pair of opposing hinge members. The support bracket assembly is coupled to the fuselage body and including first and second support brackets forming a cavity therebetween and a pair of opposing hinge members. The pair of opposing hinge members are pivotably coupled to the support bracket assembly and positioned within the cavity. Each hinge member is coupled to a corresponding wing member and includes a set of gear teeth extending outwardly from an arcuate radially outer surface and coupled in a meshed arrangement.

Abstract: An assembly for an aerial system includes a wing support foldably connected to a first and second side of a body of the aerial system, a protection structure coupled to the wing support and disposed over propellers coupled to the wing support, wherein at least one of the protection structure and the wing support includes at least one of a positioning hook and a positioning groove, wherein the protection structure and wing support are fixed relative to each other with the at least one of the positioning hook and the positioning groove.

Abstract: An aerial system, preferably including one or more housings. A housing for an aerial system, preferably including: a first and second piece that cooperatively surround one or more propellers of the aerial system; and a retention mechanism that removably couples the first piece to the second piece. A method for aerial system operation, preferably including attaching and/or detaching housing pieces of the aerial system.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body, a lift mechanism coupled to the body, a processing system, and at least one camera. The aerial system also includes a first motor configured to rotate the at least one camera about a first axis and a second motor configured to rotate the at least one camera about a second axis. The processing system is configured to determine a direction of travel of the aerial system and to cause the first motor and the second motor to automatically orient the at least one camera about the first axis and the second axis such that the at least one camera automatically faces the direction of travel of the aerial system.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body, a lift mechanism coupled to the body, a processing system, and at least one camera. The aerial system also includes a first motor configured to rotate the at least one camera about a first axis and a second motor configured to rotate the at least one camera about a second axis. The processing system is configured to determine a direction of travel of the aerial system and to cause the first motor and the second motor to automatically orient the at least one camera about the first axis and the second axis such that the at least one camera automatically faces the direction of travel of the aerial system.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle including a housing, an outrunner motor including a stator mechanically coupled to the housing and a rotor rotationally coupled to the stator, and a propeller removably coupled to the rotor, the propeller including a hub and a plurality of propeller blades. A rotor, a propeller including a hub and a propeller blade, a radial alignment mechanism, a rotational retention mechanism, and an axial retention mechanism.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle including a housing, an outrunner motor including a stator mechanically coupled to the housing and a rotor rotationally coupled to the stator, and a propeller removably coupled to the rotor, the propeller including a hub and a plurality of propeller blades. A rotor, a propeller including a hub and a propeller blade, a radial alignment mechanism, a rotational retention mechanism, and an axial retention mechanism.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is described herein. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage body, a lift mechanism coupled to the fuselage body, and a depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system coupled to the fuselage body. The depth sensing and obstacle avoidance system includes a platform assembly, a pair of stereovision cameras coupled to a platform assembly, and a motor assembly coupled to the fuselage body and to the platform assembly. The platform assembly includes a support member extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis. The pair of stereovision cameras includes each stereovision camera positioned at an opposite end of the support member. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the platform assembly with respect to the fuselage body about a rotational axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform assembly.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle, preferably including: a rotary wing and a protection housing enclosing the rotary wing. An aerial vehicle, preferably including: a first rotary wing module including a first rotary wing and a second rotary wing module including a second rotary wing, wherein the first rotary wing module and the second rotary wing module are preferably operable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. A method of aerial vehicle operation.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle is described herein. The aerial vehicle includes a lift mechanism that includes a rotor blade assembly coupled to a motor assembly. The rotor blade assembly includes a plurality of rotor blades that are pivotably coupled to a rotor blade clamping mechanism. The rotor blade clamping mechanism includes an upper paddle clamp that is coupled to a lower paddle clamp. The upper paddle clamp includes a center protrusion and a plurality of blade support protrusions extending outwardly from the lower outer surface. The center protrusion includes a center shaft aperture sized and shaped to receive a motor shaft therein. Each blade support protrusion is sized and shaped to be inserted through a corresponding positioning aperture of a corresponding rotor blade. The lower paddle clamp includes a central recess to receive the center protrusion therein and a plurality of blade recesses to receive a corresponding blade support protrusion therein.

Abstract: An aerial system includes a body, a propeller coupled to the body, and a motor coupled to the propeller. The motor is configured to rotate the propeller in a first direction, wherein an other portion of the aerial system rotates in an opposing second direction. The other portion of the aerial system that rotation in the opposing second direction may be the body or a second propeller. The aerial system also includes a processing system configured to control the motor to cause the aerial system to hover in a substantially fixed pose, and a camera configured to obtain images of an environment proximate the aerial system while the aerial system is hovering.