Patent ID: 8444081

Claim:
A flying apparatus comprising: a frame configured to couple to a high voltage tether system; at least one motor module mounted to the frame, the module comprising: a holding structure attached to the frame; a rotating structure, including a rotor shaft, configured to rotate relative to the holding structure; a rotor attached to the rotor shaft: and a plurality of motors arranged in a ring about the rotor shaft and attached to the holding structure, each being a low-power. low-torque motor including a drive shaft configured to engage with the rotating structure, and a disengaging mechanism configured to automatically physically disengage the drive shaft from the rotating structure upon the motor experiencing at least one selected type of a plurality of types of motor failures, wherein the motors are configured to receive electrical energy from the high voltage tether system and drive the drive shafts to create a high-torque on the rotor shaft to thereby rotate the rotor and create lift to fly the apparatus from the ground to a desired position aloft while remaining coupled to the tether system.