A runway arrangement comprising: a first runway section (202-1) designated as a landing runway section; a second runway section (202-2) designated as a take-off runway section; and a sterile safety area (210); wherein the first and second runway sections are linked by the sterile safety area (210); the runway arrangement comprising a missed approach point for aircraft due to land on the first runway section, displaced from the start of the second runway section (202-2) by a distance greater than H/tan θ.sub.1; where H is a safe turning height and θ.sub.1 is an angle of ascent following a missed approach; wherein H is greater than 150 m and θ.sub.1 is greater than 2°.

The passenger boarding includes a rotunda, a tunnel portion, a cab and a first detection device configured to detect an angle of the rotunda from the first axis around an origin point, and a second detector configured to measure a distance of the tunnel from the origin point in the extensible/contractable direction, provided at the tunnel.

A reconfigurable system capable of autonomously exchanging material from unmanned vehicles of various types and sizes. The system comprises an environmental enclosure, a landing area, a universal mechanical system to load and unload material from the unmanned vehicle, and a central processor that manages the aforementioned tasks. The landing area may comprise a one or more visible or non-visible markers/emitters capable of generating composite images to assist in landing the unmanned vehicle upon the reconfigurable, autonomous system.

A freight vehicle on which a drone is docked, may include: a transfer device provided in the vehicle and configured to move up and down between an internal space of the vehicle and a roof to receive freight from the drone through the roof of the vehicle or transfer freight to the drone; and a loadspace separated, as a portion of the internal space of the vehicle, from a space where the transfer device is provided and including an open portion formed on a side or a rear of the vehicle, and onto which the freight is loaded.

A runway guidance sign includes a housing defining an interior space and an opening at a front side. The housing includes opposite upper and lower walls. An interior upright is received in the interior space of the housing. The interior upright is fastened to and extends between the upper and lower walls. The interior upright is integrally formed from a one-piece sheet of material.

A mechanically secure docking platform for unmanned VTOL aircraft (“drone”) or other automated vehicle, acting as an automated battery recharging system for drones or a battery quick change system for drones. The system also is capable of enabling an automated data logistics system for drones, an autonomous guidance system for landing and docking for drones, and/or an autonomous guidance system for undocking and takeoff for drones.

Methods and systems of prescribing navigational instructions to autonomous vehicle, aerial as well as terrestrial, are discussed. In one embodiment, mission relevant data is collected and passed to an assessment unit. The assessment unit assess data relevant to the mission, rules and authorizations. The assessment unit either approves the mission by sending mission instructions or denies the mission by sending a rejection response. A mission is an assembly of one or more navigational containers, a navigational container being a repository for navigational guidance and rule-based authorization assessment.

Methods and systems of prescribing navigational instructions to autonomous vehicle, aerial as well as terrestrial, are discussed. In one embodiment, mission relevant data is collected and passed to an assessment unit. The assessment unit assess data relevant to the mission, rules and authorizations. The assessment unit either approves the mission by sending mission instructions or denies the mission by sending a rejection response. A mission is an assembly of one or more navigational containers, a navigational container being a repository for navigational guidance and rule-based authorization assessment.

A mobile calibration room may be used for calibrating one or more sensors used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A system can include folding or collapsible walls to enable the system to be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the system can comprise a calibration room including one or more 2D or 3D targets used to calibrate one or more sensors (e.g., cameras) on a UAV. The system can include a turntable to rotate the UAV about a first axis during calibration. The system can also include a cradle to rotate the UAV around, or translate the UAV along, a second axis. The turntable can include a frame to rotate the UAV around a third axis during calibration. The mobile calibration room can be coupled to a vehicle to enable the mobile calibration room to be moved between locations.

A device for the automated charging and discharging of an object on a free-flying autonomously controlled drone includes a landing platform for the drone, a storage device for storing objects, a robot where the robot is configured to remove an object from the storage apparatus in an automated manner and to provide the object on the landing platform to be picked up by the drone and is configured to pick up in an automated manner an object that is provided on the landing platform by the drone and to deposit the object in the storage apparatus, and a controller where the robot is controllable by the controller.