US Patent 9840339 Sensors embedded within aerial vehicle control surfaces

Aerial vehicles may include one or more directional sensors embedded into wings, rudders, ailerons, flaps or other control surfaces. When the aerial vehicles are operating in modes that do not require the use of such surfaces, a surface having a directional sensor embedded therein may be repositioned or reoriented to align the directional sensor toward an area or axis of interest, and information may be gathered from the area or axis of interest using the directional sensor. One or more safety lights, running lights or other illuminators may cast light of a desired color, frequency or wavelength toward the area or axis of interest. The directional sensors may include cameras, radar or laser sensors, or any other reorientable sensors.