Abstract:
One example embodiment includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)(12). The VTOL UAV (12) includes a flight control system configured to provide avionic control of the VTOL UAV (12) in a hover mode and in a level-flight mode. The VTOL UAV (12) also includes a body (18) encapsulating an engine and the flight control system. The VTOL UAV (12) further includes a propeller disk (14) coupled to the engine and configured to provide vertical thrust in the hover mode and to provide horizontal thrust for flight during the level-flight mode.