Reconfigurable battery-operated vehicle system

A reconfigurable unmanned vehicle system configured for a range of missions, comprising:

• a body including a control system configured to control the operation of the vehicle and a power source having a power capacity adequate to provide complete motive force for the vehicle over the range of missions, the body including a set of one or more body connectors;
• a first set of one or more propulsion modules removably attachable to the set of body connectors, the first set of propulsion modules being one propulsion module type selected from the group of unmanned aerial vehicle propulsion modules, unmanned ground vehicle propulsion modules, unmanned surface vehicle propulsion modules, and unmanned underwater vehicle propulsion modules;
• and
• a second set of one or more propulsion modules removably attachable to the set of body connectors, the second set of propulsion modules being one propulsion module type selected from the group of unmanned aerial vehicle propulsion modules, unmanned ground vehicle propulsion modules, unmanned surface vehicle propulsion modules, and unmanned underwater vehicle propulsion modules;
• wherein the first set of propulsion modules are of a different propulsion module type than the second set of propulsion modules.

An unmanned vehicle, comprising:

• a body including a control system configured to control the operation of the vehicle and a power source having a power capacity adequate to provide complete motive force for the vehicle over the range of missions, the body including a first body connector and a second body connector on opposite longitudinal ends of the body;
• a first propulsion module removably attached to the first body connector, the first propulsion module including a first arm configured to support the body, one or more motors configured to use power from the power source to provide propulsive force to move the vehicle through the range of missions, and a first end cap;
• a second propulsion module removably attached to the second body connector, the second propulsion module including a second arm configured to support the body, one or more motors configured to use power from the power source to provide propulsive force to move the vehicle through the range of missions, and a second end cap;
• wherein the first body connector is configured with a first groove adapted to conformingly and longitudinally receive the first arm, the first groove being configured to directly bear all vertical loads from the first arm without vertical loads being carried by the first end cap;
• wherein the second body connector is configured with a second groove adapted to conformingly and longitudinally receive the second arm, the second groove being configured to directly bear all vertical loads from the second arm without vertical loads being carried by the second end cap;
• and
• wherein each end cap is configured to longitudinally hold its respective arm onto the body.