An unmanned aerial vehicle that delivers a package includes a plurality of rotary wings, a plurality of first motors, a main body, a connector, a movable block, and a processor. When the connector is connected to a rail, the processor sets a rotation rate of the plurality of first motors to a rotation rate that is lower than a minimum rotation rate necessary for floating and higher than a minimum rotation rate necessary for propulsion along the rail. Furthermore, the processor causes the movable block to increase the angle formed by the normal direction of an imaginary plane containing the plurality of rotary wings relative to a support direction of the connector.

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a tether for use with an airborne device, where the tether contains an elongate member having a first end for attaching to a ground attachment point and an opposing second end for attaching to the airborne device where the elongate member has a cross-sectional area which varies across the member. In some embodiments, the tether contains one or more electrically conductive elements, an optional strength element, insulation separating any adjacent electrically conductive elements, and a jacket which surrounds and protects each of the tether components.

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a tether for use with an airborne device, where the tether contains an elongate member having a first end for attaching to a ground attachment point and an opposing second end for attaching to the airborne device where the elongate member has a cross-sectional area which varies across the member. In some embodiments, the tether contains one or more electrically conductive elements, an optional strength element, insulation separating any adjacent electrically conductive elements, and a jacket which surrounds and protects each of the tether components.

In an unmanned aerial vehicle detection system, an omnidirectional camera images a monitoring area. A microphone array picks up a sound in the monitoring area. A monitoring device detects an unmanned aerial vehicle appearing in the monitoring area using the sound data picked up by the microphone array. When displaying image data of the monitoring area captured by the omnidirectional camera on a monitor, a signal processor in the monitoring device superimposes an identification mark obtained by converting the unmanned aerial vehicle into visual information on the image data of the monitoring area.

System and methods for controlling the oscillation of floating ground stations in aerial wind turbine systems are disclosed. Thrusters on the ground station or on one or more aerial vehicles associated with the ground station apply a compensatory force to the oscillating ground station to reduce and/or substantially eliminate wave-induced oscillations. Submerged thrusters may also rotate the ground station to a preferred alignment direction with the waves. Additionally, control systems use environmental and/or positional sensor data to develop a predictive force profile that maps desired compensatory force magnitude versus time. The control systems use that predictive force profile to direct the thrusters to apply a varying compensatory force over time.

System and methods for controlling the oscillation of floating ground stations in aerial wind turbine systems are disclosed. Thrusters on the ground station or on one or more aerial vehicles associated with the ground station apply a compensatory force to the oscillating ground station to reduce and/or substantially eliminate wave-induced oscillations. Submerged thrusters may also rotate the ground station to a preferred alignment direction with the waves. Additionally, control systems use environmental and/or positional sensor data to develop a predictive force profile that maps desired compensatory force magnitude versus time. The control systems use that predictive force profile to direct the thrusters to apply a varying compensatory force over time.

An example system includes an aerial vehicle, a tower, a tether, a gimbal assembly coupled to the tower, and a ring or landing surface coupled to the tower. The tether is connected between the gimbal assembly and the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is not in flight, the aerial vehicle may hang from the tether or park on the landing surface. In some embodiments, the ring or landing surface may support the tether away from the tower to prevent the aerial vehicle from contacting the tower. In some examples, the tower may include a lattice structure and guy wires, in other examples the tower may be tubular, while in other examples the tower may be a buoy.

An example system includes an aerial vehicle, a tower, a tether, a gimbal assembly coupled to the tower, and a ring or landing surface coupled to the tower. The tether is connected between the gimbal assembly and the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is not in flight, the aerial vehicle may hang from the tether or park on the landing surface. In some embodiments, the ring or landing surface may support the tether away from the tower to prevent the aerial vehicle from contacting the tower. In some examples, the tower may include a lattice structure and guy wires, in other examples the tower may be tubular, while in other examples the tower may be a buoy.

A marine monitoring system includes a control device 1 and at least one flight vehicle 2. The control device 1 includes: a sensor unit 13 that measures at least one of an underwater environment and a sea-surface environment to acquire marine data; a control unit 16 that controls the flight vehicle 2; and a communication unit 15 that receives above-water data measured by the flight vehicle 2. The flight vehicle 2 includes a sensor unit 24 that measures an above-water environment according to control of the control device 1 to acquire the above-water data, and a communication unit 21 that transmits the above-water data to the control device 1.

A tethered drone system has a drone that carries telecommunication equipment, such as one or more cellular transceivers and an antenna, that enables the system to provide access to a telecommunication network for a plurality of remote communication devices in a vicinity of the drone. The drone may be disassembled to facilitate transport to a location at which additional cellular service is desired, such as a remote location or an area impacted by a catastrophic weather or geological event. At or near such location, the drone may be quickly assembled and launched. While airborne, the drone may hover for an extended period of time, such as several, hours, days, weeks, or even longer, while the telecommunication equipment carried by the drone provides access to the telecommunication network.