US Patent 11014663 Aerial vehicle with a flight module

An aerial vehicle includes a body defining a stowage compartment, and a flight module supported by the body in the stowage compartment. The flight module includes rotors operable to generate aerodynamic force, and is reconfigurable between a stowage configuration and a flight configuration. In the stowage configuration, the flight module is housed by the stowage compartment, with each rotor tucked inboard the body in a stowage position. In the flight configuration, each rotor is perched outboard the body with a skyward-facing orientation in a flight position. Aerodynamic force generated by the rotors is thereby usable for flying through the air.