An airborne wind turbine system is provided including an aerial vehicle having a fuselage, an electrically conductive tether having a first end secured to the aerial vehicle and a second end secured to a rotatable drum positioned on a tower onto which the tether is wrapped when the aerial vehicle is reeled in, a perch extending from the tower, one or more perch booms attached to the perch panel and pivotably mounted to the tower, wherein when the aerial vehicle is secured to the perch, the aerial vehicle is positionable in a lowered parked position, and wherein the aerial vehicle is movable to a raised parked position caused by rotation of the one or more perch booms with respect to the tower.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system includes a UAV pod (108) having a UAV pod processor (114) and a UAV (102) selectively enclosed in the UAV pod (108), the UAV (102) having only two rotors (202).

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system provides for UAV deployment and remote, unattended operation with reduced logistics requirements. The system includes a launcher that can include one or more containers, or hangars, configured to house vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs. The system can further include a VTOL UAV orientation and charging module configured to mechanically position a UAV within a container and facilitate electrical mating and charging of a battery in the UAV. These operations, and others, can be performed by remote command that can initiate a series of pre-programmed steps. The UAV system can further include a power generation and storage subsystem, a security subsystem, a command and control subsystem and a communications subsystem. Command, control and communications can be provided between a remote station and the UAV.

Systems and methods for drone support and operation are provided. The system for providing support includes a base with at least one docking area and a cover portion configured to move between an open and closed position and a drone support unit configured to provide support for the drone at least during the time the drone is in the at least one docking area of the base.

A helicopter take-off and landing pad (helipad) includes a drain conduit embedded within a surface, a bed of crushed aggregate within a portion of the surface graded to be inclined toward the drain conduit, and a plurality of pavers supported by the aggregate bed and defining a substantially level top surface to serve as a landing surface for a helicopter. The plurality of pavers are permeable to liquid on the top surface to communicate the liquid to the aggregate bed. A pump connected to the drain conduit is operable to discharge liquid directed from the aggregate bed through the drain conduit to a water separator that is operable to separate water from other liquid components of the discharged liquid. At least one collection tank is fluidly connected to the water separator to receive the other liquid components discharged by the water separator.

A helicopter take-off and landing pad (helipad) includes a drain conduit embedded within a surface, a bed of crushed aggregate within a portion of the surface graded to be inclined toward the drain conduit, and a plurality of pavers supported by the aggregate bed and defining a substantially level top surface to serve as a landing surface for a helicopter. The plurality of pavers are permeable to liquid on the top surface to communicate the liquid to the aggregate bed. A pump connected to the drain conduit is operable to discharge liquid directed from the aggregate bed through the drain conduit to a water separator that is operable to separate water from other liquid components of the discharged liquid. At least one collection tank is fluidly connected to the water separator to receive the other liquid components discharged by the water separator.

A landing platform for an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a plurality of substantially funnel-shaped centering housings configured to cooperate with a corresponding plurality of projections of the aerial vehicle for reaching a predetermined landing position. The platform can include a mechanism for recharging the battery of the aerial vehicle and/or with an arrangement for serial data transfer.

A transportable launch and landing pad for drones includes a round surface member for supporting a drone on a ground surface. The surface member includes an endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter disposable on the flat or undulating topography of the ground surface. The endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter is formed of a stranded carbon steel wire rope. The surface member has a diameter establishing an area of the pad that is greater than any linear distance across an area of downwardly moving air of the drone when operated. The pad maintains a position on the ground surface without any separate securing member inserted into the ground, and the pad is not lifted from the ground surface by air from the thrust of the drone during approach and departure of the drone relative to the pad.

A transportable launch and landing pad for drones includes a round surface member for supporting a drone on a ground surface. The surface member includes an endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter disposable on the flat or undulating topography of the ground surface. The endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter is formed of a stranded carbon steel wire rope. The surface member has a diameter establishing an area of the pad that is greater than any linear distance across an area of downwardly moving air of the drone when operated. The pad maintains a position on the ground surface without any separate securing member inserted into the ground, and the pad is not lifted from the ground surface by air from the thrust of the drone during approach and departure of the drone relative to the pad.

There is provided a landing platform for mounting on a luminaire, where the landing platform provides an interface to a drone. For example, there is provided a landing platform for a drone, the landing platform being adaptable to mount on a luminaire. The landing platform includes two electrically active portions and an elevated portion. The elevated portion is configured to secure the drone on the landing platform and provide electrical contact between the two electrically active portions and electrical connectors of the drone.