Patent ID: 9555884
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: B64C,Y02T

Claim:
1. A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle to enhance stealth and improve and expand ground movement capability in performing military and civilian operations, comprising: a. equipping all wheels of an unmanned aerial vehicle with onboard electric drive means comprising electric drive motors mounted within each of the wheels of the unmanned aerial vehicle to drive each of the wheels and move the unmanned aerial vehicle on wet or dry sandy, muddy, and boggy ground surfaces, a main source of motive power to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a source of electric drive means power separate from the main source of motive power with a reduced acoustic signature and a reduced audible footprint compared to the acoustic signature and the audible footprint of the main source of motive power to operate the drive means to move all of the wheels and drive the unmanned aerial vehicle on the wet or dry sandy, muddy, and boggy ground surfaces; b. defining a ground operation or task to be performed by the unmanned aerial vehicle in one or more selected ground environment locations with one or more of the wet or dry sandy, muddy, and boggy ground surfaces; c. autonomously or remotely controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to take off from a takeoff location separate from the selected ground environment locations, flying the unmanned aerial vehicle with the main source of motive power to a selected ground environment location, and landing the unmanned aerial vehicle at the selected ground environment location; d. further autonomously or remotely controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle after landing at the selected ground environment location to shut off the main source of motive power, powering the electric drive means to drive each of the wheels, driving the unmanned aerial vehicle on the one or more ground surfaces with the source of electric drive means power, and performing the defined operation or task at the reduced acoustic signature and reduced audible footprint; and e. when the defined operation or task has been performed, autonomously or remotely controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to self destruct.