An environmental monitoring network has transportable, self-contained, environment sensing capsules, each capsule is water-proof, with first and second sections, the second section being hollow. Apertures in the capsule's housing enable fluid and gas entry wherein first sensor(s) disposed internal to the housing measure within the hollow, and second sensor(s) disposed external to the housing measure external to the housing. A controller and power system are connected to the first and second sensors and transmits measured data. An access entry way is on a side of the housing, enabling access to first sensors, controller system, power system, and the communication system. A central data server is configured to receive and analyze the measurement data sent from the capsules. There is a priority list of appropriate personnel for contact by the central data server in an event there is an emergency condition at a capsule location.

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes: a vehicle main body having a first length in a first direction longer than a second length in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; propellers that rotate in a virtual plane parallel to the first and second directions; first propeller actuation motors that are provided on the vehicle main body and respectively rotate the propellers; at least one connector that is hangable from at least one rail spaced apart from the ground surface; at least one side propeller that provides propulsion force for propelling the vehicle main body in the first direction; at least one third propeller actuation motor that is provided on the vehicle main body and rotates the at least one side propeller; and a control processor that controls the first propeller actuation motors and the at least one third propeller actuation motor.

Systems and methods are disclosed for vehicle integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Example methods may include coupling a landing dish of a vehicle integrated UAS to a ground station assembly; positioning the landing dish and the ground station assembly into a portion of a vehicle and a capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS; and coupling the landing dish to the capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS. In various embodiments, the vehicle integrated UAS may be configured to send and receive information (e.g., route information, power information, status information, etc.) between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) associated with the UAS to device(s) of a vehicle.

An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a user input device, and ground station. The user input device is configured to generate a signal and control the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the generated signal. The ground station is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a tether assembly. The ground station includes a motorized spool and a controller. The motorized spool is coupled to the tether assembly and configured to electromechanically control spooling and unspooling of a tether of the tether assembly. The controller is configured to control operation of the motorized spool based on an anticipated movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a user input device, and ground station. The user input device is configured to generate a signal and control the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the generated signal. The ground station is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a tether assembly. The ground station includes a motorized spool and a controller. The motorized spool is coupled to the tether assembly and configured to electromechanically control spooling and unspooling of a tether of the tether assembly. The controller is configured to control operation of the motorized spool based on an anticipated movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

In an aspect, in general, a spooling apparatus includes a filament feeding mechanism for deploying and retracting filament from the spooling apparatus to an aerial vehicle, an exit geometry sensor for sensing an exit geometry of the filament from the spooling apparatus, and a controller for controlling the feeding mechanism to feed and retract the filament based on the exit geometry.

In an aspect, in general, a spooling apparatus includes a filament feeding mechanism for deploying and retracting filament from the spooling apparatus to an aerial vehicle, an exit geometry sensor for sensing an exit geometry of the filament from the spooling apparatus, and a controller for controlling the feeding mechanism to feed and retract the filament based on the exit geometry.

A system for inspecting an aircraft includes a drone, a base station, and a controller. The drone includes one or more cameras. The base station has a storage compartment configured to store the autonomous drone therein. The controller has a processor and a memory. The memory has instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the base station to drive to a first predetermined location relative to the aircraft, and cause the drone to fly from the storage compartment of the base station to a first predetermined position relative to the aircraft so that the drone can record image data of at least portions of the aircraft with the one or more cameras.

A system for inspecting an aircraft includes a drone, a base station, and a controller. The drone includes one or more cameras. The base station has a storage compartment configured to store the autonomous drone therein. The controller has a processor and a memory. The memory has instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the base station to drive to a first predetermined location relative to the aircraft, and cause the drone to fly from the storage compartment of the base station to a first predetermined position relative to the aircraft so that the drone can record image data of at least portions of the aircraft with the one or more cameras.

An anchoring platform is disclosed for captive aircraft that addresses problems when handling captive aerostats, including excessive workload required to switch between flying and anchored states. The anchoring platform includes an anchoring device. Cords, together with a confluence point, are wound into the anchoring device, by the winch. The structure for anchoring the captive aircraft is the cradle which bears the aerostat, while the winch exerts tension to hold same static in the structure.