Embodiments herein describe a reconfigurable UAV to allow for the deployment of a subsurface sensor. The UAV includes a rotor assembly that is slidably coupled to a landing base. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotors and a ring circumscribing the rotors. Upon landing, the rotor assembly rotates in a first direction with respect to the landing base, which reduces a spacing between the rotor assembly and the ground and drives a sensor coupled to the rotor assembly into the ground. To remove the sensor from the ground, the rotor assembly rotates in a second direction to increase the spacing between the rotor assembly and the ground. The ring and/or the landing base may include interlocking features such as helical threads that are utilized to translate a rotational motion of the rotor assembly into a linear translation of the rotor assembly along the length of the landing base.


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    Title :

    RECONFIGURABLE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES FOR SUBSURFACE SENSOR DEPLOYMENT


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2020-01-30


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge



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