US Patent 11220335 Hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle systems with quick release tether assembly

An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes a ground station, a tether assembly coupled to the ground station, and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle having a quick release mechanism selectively coupled to the tether assembly to restrain movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The quick release mechanism is electrically actuatable to decouple the tether assembly from the unmanned aerial vehicle for enabling the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly freely.