Transformable unmanned vehicles and related methods

An unmanned vehicle comprising:

• means for forming a body that is transformable between a substantially planer configuration and sphere configuration;
• means for generating lift to enable the body to operate in an aerial mode when the body is in the substantially planer configuration and the sphere configuration;
• and
• means for generating a rolling torque to enable the body to operate in a ground mode when the body is in the sphere configuration, wherein the means for generating lift is the same as the means for generating the rolling torque.

An unmanned vehicle comprising:

• a body configurable between a spherical shape and a disk shape, the body including:
• an upper cap;
• a lower cap spaced from the upper cap;
• a plurality of segments radially spaced relative to the upper cap and the lower cap, each segment including:
• an upper section having a first end pivotally attached to the upper cap;
• a lower section having a second end pivotally attached to the lower cap;
• and
• an intermediate section positioned between the upper section and the lower section, the first upper section having a third end pivotally attached to an upper end of the intermediate section, and the lower section having a fourth end pivotally attached to a lower end of the intermediate section, the upper section having a first opening between the first end and the third end, and the lower section having a second opening between the second end and the fourth end;
• a first rotor supported by the upper section, the first rotor being aligned with the first opening;
• a second rotor supported by the lower section, the second rotor being aligned with the second opening;
• and
• an actuation system to cause the upper cap to move relative to the lower cap to transform the body between the spherical shape and the disk shape.