UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

• a fuselage;
• a first wing carried by the fuselage;
• a second wing carried by the fuselage;
• a first pod carrying first and second lift rotors, the first pod being pivotable relative to the first wing;
• and
• a second pod carrying third and fourth lift rotors, the second pod being pivotable relative to the second wing.

A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

• changing an angle of attack and center of lift of a first wing of the UAV by changing a configuration of the first wing;
• changing an angle of attack and center of lift of a second wing of the UAV by changing a configuration of the second wing;
• propelling the UAV with a plurality of lift rotors, wherein the lift rotors are rotatable about corresponding rotation axes, and
• rotating the rotation axes of the lift rotors relative to a fuselage of the UAV while the angle of attack and the center of lift of the first and second wings are changing.