A housing for a ground vehicle-mountable aerial vehicle is provided. The housing includes a base portion defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity. The cavity is structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein. The cavity is configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on the vehicle. The housing also includes a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.

A vibration control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The system includes a base platform fixedly coupled to a UAV structure, a working platform coupled to the base platform by two or more cables at two or more connection points on the working platform, and two or more actuators positioned either on the base platform or the working platform, each actuator configured to receive a signal to adjust tension in a corresponding cable, wherein by adjusting tension in the two or more cables, natural frequency of the working platform can be adjusted in response to frequency of vibration experienced by the working platform in order to maintain a frequency ratio (FR) of the vibration frequency to the natural frequency at or above a predetermined value.

A tether guide system operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear to the tether. The tether guide system may include a series of rollers arranged in a curved path. Also disclosed are tether guides with a sliding belt, a guide surface, or a guide wheel, all for use in the disclosed tether guide system.

A tether guide system operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear to the tether. The tether guide system may include a series of rollers arranged in a curved path. Also disclosed are tether guides with a sliding belt, a guide surface, or a guide wheel, all for use in the disclosed tether guide system.

In one aspect, an example system includes: (i) a base including a bottom surface and a first coupling-point; (ii) a vertically-oriented elongate structure comprising a lower end, an upper end, and an inner channel, wherein the inner channel comprises an upper access-point disposed proximate the upper end, wherein the base is coupled to the elongate structure proximate the lower end; (iii) a deployable cushioning-device coupled to the elongate structure; and (iv) a tether comprising a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion, wherein the first portion is coupled to the first coupling-point, the second portion is coupled to a second coupling-point of the UAV, the third portion extends through the inner channel, the fourth portion extends from the upper access-point to the second coupling-point, and the fourth portion has a length that is less than a distance between the upper access-point and the bottom surface.

In one aspect, an example system includes: (i) a base including a bottom surface and a first coupling-point; (ii) a vertically-oriented elongate structure comprising a lower end, an upper end, and an inner channel, wherein the inner channel comprises an upper access-point disposed proximate the upper end, wherein the base is coupled to the elongate structure proximate the lower end; (iii) a deployable cushioning-device coupled to the elongate structure; and (iv) a tether comprising a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion, wherein the first portion is coupled to the first coupling-point, the second portion is coupled to a second coupling-point of the UAV, the third portion extends through the inner channel, the fourth portion extends from the upper access-point to the second coupling-point, and the fourth portion has a length that is less than a distance between the upper access-point and the bottom surface.

A delivery device that travels along rails and delivers a package is provided. The rails include at least first and second rails. The delivery device includes: a main body; a connector that is configured to be connected to the rails, with the main body hanging from the connector, and with the rails being spaced apart from a ground surface; at least one actuator that drives the connector; a lift motor that is capable of taking up a wire for unloading the package; and a control circuit. When the delivery device is slidably hung from the first rail, the control circuit: switches from the first rail to the second rail by controlling the actuator; and lets out the wire and lowers the package by controlling the lift motor.

A remote control system for an aircraft includes an aircraft of the Magnus-effect type. The aircraft includes a cylinder extending along a longitudinal axis. The cylinder is able to rotate about the longitudinal axis. A pair of rotatable are arranged at a distance from the aircraft. A drive means is designed to drive a rotational movement of the pair of rotatable elements. A connection cable is arranged to connect the pair of rotatable elements to the cylinder of the aircraft in such a way that the rotational movement of the pair of rotatable elements, driven by the drive means, is mechanically transmitted to the cylinder of the aircraft so as to cause the cylinder to rotate about the longitudinal axis.

A ground power unit provides electrical energy for aircraft and a method maintains and operates the ground power unit. The ground power unit includes a base frame, a cable system formed in the base frame, at least one rectifier module for converting an input alternating voltage applied to a rectifier module input side into an intermediate direct voltage output at a rectifier module output side, wherein the rectifier module output side is coupled to an intermediate circuit conductor and at least one inverter module for converting the intermediate direct voltage applied to an inverter module input side into an output alternating current output at an inverter module output side, wherein the inverter module input side is coupled to an intermediate circuit conductor. The rectifier module and the inverter module are each realized as structurally-independent units, which can be replaced individually and independently of the base frame.

Active tethers for controlling UAV flight volumes, and associated methods and systems, are disclosed. A method in accordance with a representative embodiment includes directing a UAV upwardly from a launch site, receiving an indication of a UAV failure or upcoming failure while the UAV is aloft, and in response to the indication, applying an acceleration to the UAV via a tether attached to the UAV.