Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

A method for controlling a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

• activating an engine to rotate a propeller disk to provide vertical thrust in a hover mode of the VTOL UAV corresponding to a substantially vertical orientation of the VTOL UAV, the propeller disk comprising a pair of contra rotating propellers axially fixed to a fore section of and along a central axis of a body of the VTOL UAV, the body being arranged as a flying-wing;
• extending a plurality of wings from the body at a first predetermined altitude in the hover mode, wherein extending the plurality of wings comprises unfolding the plurality of wings from a first side of the body to accommodate placement of a payload on a second side of the body that is opposite the first side of the body;
• changing an orientation of the VTOL UAV from the substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation at a second predetermined altitude that is greater than the first predetermined altitude via at least one of engine speed and control flaps that are coupled to the body and respectively offset equally and oppositely with respect to a central axis of the body substantially entirely within a propeller wash of the propeller disk that is defined by a diameter of the propeller disk;
• and
• controlling the engine to rotate the propeller disk to provide horizontal thrust in a level-flight mode of the VTOL UAV corresponding to the substantially horizontal orientation of the VTOL UAV.

A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a flight control system configured to provide avionic control of the VTOL UAV in a hover mode for takeoff and landing procedures of the VTOL UAV and in a level-flight mode for a mission procedure of the VTOL UAV;
• a body encapsulating an engine and the flight control system and comprising a plurality of retractable wings being configured in a flying-wing configuration, the plurality of retractable wings being in a retracted state in the hover mode and in an extended state in the level-flight mode to provide aerodynamic lift in the level-flight mode, wherein the retracted state comprises the plurality of wings folded toward a first side of the body to accommodate placement of a payload on a second side of the body that is opposite the first side of the body;
• and
• a propeller disk comprising a pair of contra-rotating propellers coupled to the engine and being axially-fixed along a central axis of the body, the pair of contra-rotating propellers being configured to provide vertical thrust in the hover mode and to provide horizontal thrust for flight during the level-flight mode.