A vehicle-based airborne wind turbine system having an aerial wing, a plurality of rotors each having a plurality of rotatable blades positioned on the aerial wing, an electrically conductive tether secured to the aerial wing and secured to a ground station positioned on a vehicle, wherein the aerial wing is adapted to receive electrical power from the vehicle that is delivered to the aerial wing through the electrically conductive tether; wherein the aerial wing is adapted to operate in a flying mode to harness wind energy to provide a first pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle; and wherein the aerial wing is also adapted to operate in a powered flying mode wherein the rotors may be powered so that the turbine blades serve as thrust-generating propellers to provide a second pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle.

A towing system comprises a bar, a first attachment device arranged at a first end of the bar, the first attachment device being able to attach the towing system to a towing vehicle, a second attachment device arranged at a second end of the bar, the second attachment device being able to attach the towing system to a travelling machine to be towed, the second attachment device comprising a fork able to hold at least one wheel of the travelling machine, the fork having two longitudinal members between which at least one wheel of the travelling machine is able to be received, a separation device able to modify the spacing between the two longitudinal members and a holding device able to hold the wheel between the two longitudinal members.

A system for lifting and transporting an aircraft comprising a trailer, a lower and an upper inflatable airbag system and a plurality of ties. The trailer can comprise a rigid frame having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of hook ups for attaching ties to the aircraft, at least one pair of wheels. The lower inflatable airbag system is configured for placement below the lower surface of the trailer and the upper inflatable airbag system is configured for placement above the upper surface of the trailer. A method of using the system comprises placing the system underneath the aircraft, inflating the airbag systems, attaching the wheels to the frame of the trailer, securing the aircraft to the trailer, deflating the lower inflatable airbag system, and transporting the aircraft.

A system for lifting and transporting an aircraft comprising a trailer, a lower and an upper inflatable airbag system and a plurality of ties. The trailer can comprise a rigid frame having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of hook ups for attaching ties to the aircraft, at least one pair of wheels. The lower inflatable airbag system is configured for placement below the lower surface of the trailer and the upper inflatable airbag system is configured for placement above the upper surface of the trailer. A method of using the system comprises placing the system underneath the aircraft, inflating the airbag systems, attaching the wheels to the frame of the trailer, securing the aircraft to the trailer, deflating the lower inflatable airbag system, and transporting the aircraft.

A deployable airborne sensor array system and method of use are provided herein. The system includes a tether configured to be coupled to and deployed from an aircraft and a plurality of airborne vehicles coupled to the tether. Each of the plurality of airborne vehicles includes different lift characteristics to form a three-dimensional (3D) array of airborne vehicles. Each airborne vehicle includes a sensing device configured to generate sensor data associated with a target. The system also include a computing device configured to process the sensor data received from each of the plurality of airborne vehicles and generate an image of the target based on the sensor data.

A deployable airborne sensor array system and method of use are provided herein. The system includes a tether configured to be coupled to and deployed from an aircraft and a plurality of airborne vehicles coupled to the tether. Each of the plurality of airborne vehicles includes different lift characteristics to form a three-dimensional (3D) array of airborne vehicles. Each airborne vehicle includes a sensing device configured to generate sensor data associated with a target. The system also include a computing device configured to process the sensor data received from each of the plurality of airborne vehicles and generate an image of the target based on the sensor data.

An air-to-air coupling 13 (e.g. for receiving a probe in probe-and-drogue refuelling) comprises retaining members 19, 27 for interacting with a further member (e.g. a refuelling probe) to hold the further member in place. An active drive system 39, 21 may drive the holding members and may thereby also actively drive the further member into place. Alternatively the active drive 39, 21 may drive another member such as a locking member 31 to hold the retaining members 19, 27 in position once the further member is in place. The active drive releases the retaining members 19, 27 or moves them out of position to allow the further member to be removed. This allows the further member to be inserted and removed with a lower force than is used to hold it in place. The coupling may also be used for in-air recovery of an unmanned aircraft.

Refueling devices for use in in-flight refueling operation are provided, including a body configured for being towed by a tanker aircraft and having a boom member that has a fuel delivery nozzle, a spatial control system and a longitudinal control system. The longitudinal displacement control system includes at least one panel element defining a front panel projected area orthogonal to a body longitudinal axis, each panel element being controllably and reversibly deployable incrementally to each one of a plurality of successive deployed positions between a fully retracted position and a fully deployed position, to provide a respective reversible incrementally increasing aft force to the refueling device at least during the in-flight refueling operation.

A deployable device mountable on a carrier vehicle and configured to collect situation awareness data. The deployable device includes at least one recorder device configured to collect situation awareness data. The deployable device is capable of being ejected from the carrier vehicle and can be configured to operate as a vehicle and/or be towed by the carrier vehicle. The deployable device can continue collection of situation awareness data after being ejected.

A deployable device mountable on a carrier vehicle and configured to collect situation awareness data. The deployable device includes at least one recorder device configured to collect situation awareness data. The deployable device is capable of being ejected from the carrier vehicle and can be configured to operate as a vehicle and/or be towed by the carrier vehicle. The deployable device can continue collection of situation awareness data after being ejected.