A method of establishing a system for gathering surveillance data in a hostile environment. The method comprises the steps of providing a movable tractor for ground hauling a trailer, and providing a drone which can be operated independently from the tractor. The trailer has a floor pan for supporting a relay sensor dispensing mechanism and a platform above the floor pan, with a hole for dispensing relay sensors therethrough. The relay sensor dispensing mechanism has an elevator for holding a stockpile of relay sensors, and elevating the relay sensors through the hole. The method comprises disposing at least one relay sensor in the elevator, elevating the relay sensor to a pickup position at or above the platform and retrieving the relay sensor with a drone for subsequent deposition in the hostile environment. The relay sensor then gathers and transceives surveillance data for use and interpretation by an operator. Optional a conveyor chute may replenish the elevator when it is depleted of relay sensors.

An airframe 1 or part thereof comprises a set of modular cells 10, including a first cell 10A comprising a set of profiles 100 including: a first structural profile 100A, having a first length L1 and enclosing a first volume V1 providing a first passageway P1; and a second profile 100B, having a second length L2 and enclosing a second volume V2, wherein the first passageway P1 is arranged to receive the second profile 100B therein.

A computer-implemented method of optimising one or more airspace blocks within an airspace. The method comprises receiving the initial spatial coordinates and the initial temporal coordinates of one or more initial airspace blocks within the airspace; receiving one or more pairs of waypoints within the airspace; and receiving or calculating an initial flight path between each pair of waypoints. The method further comprises iteratively optimising the spatial coordinates and the temporal coordinates of the one or more airspace blocks by iteratively modifying the spatial coordinates and the temporal coordinates of the one or more airspace blocks, calculating corresponding modified flight paths between each of the pairs of waypoints where the modified flight paths are in compliance with the availability of the modified airspace blocks, and for each iteration calculating the modified total objective variable.

A system (30) for herding herd animals, the system comprising: a database (33) comprising executable instructions for each of a plurality of herding gestures that are executable by a drone to control movement of a herd of animals; and at least one drone (80) having a controller comprising a processor operable to execute the instructions to control the at least one drone to perform the gestures and autonomously control the herd.

A system (30) for herding herd animals, the system comprising: a database (33) comprising executable instructions for each of a plurality of herding gestures that are executable by a drone to control movement of a herd of animals; and at least one drone (80) having a controller comprising a processor operable to execute the instructions to control the at least one drone to perform the gestures and autonomously control the herd.

A method for defending a predetermined area from an autonomously moving Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is provided. The method includes generating one or more adversarial example adapted to disrupt a machine-learning based vision system of the UAV. Additionally, the method includes determining, based on geographical information about at least one of the predetermined area and a surrounding area of the predetermined area, a respective position for the one or more adversarial example in at least one of the predetermined area and the surrounding area of the predetermined area.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may facilitate insurance-related tasks. UAVs may actively be dispatched to an area surrounding a property, and collect data related to property. A location for an inspection of a property to be conducted by a UAV may be received, and one or more images depicting a view of the location may be displayed via a user interface. Additionally, a geofence boundary may be determined based on an area corresponding to a property boundary, where the geofence boundary represents a geospatial boundary in which to limit flight of the UAV. Furthermore, a navigation route may be determined which corresponds to the geofence boundary for inspection of the property by the UAV, the navigation route having waypoints, each waypoint indicating a location for the UAV to obtain drone data. The UAV may be directed around the property using the determined navigation route.

A UAV heatsink assembly including two heat pipes, a first and second heat pipes including transfer and end portions, the end portions thermally connected to first and second metallic heat transfer elements, and a third metallic heat transfer element thermally connected to opposite ends of the heat pipes. A CPU thermally connected to the third metallic heat transfer element with first and second electrically insulating thermoplastic elements into which the respective first and second metallic components fit where the first and second electrically insulating thermoplastic elements are not between an outside ambient environment and the first and second metallic components. The heat pipes each include a wick structure and an embedded liquid providing thermal transport therein while at least some of the embedded liquids are above a threshold temperature between −40° C. and 70° C. such that the UAV is at least operable above −40° C. degrees and below 70° C.

This invention relates to an automatic method for releasing and guiding rescue and life-saving appliances that implement the method, implemented by a computer located in the command tower (202) of the vessel (200), that receives and processes in real time the geographical position data of a person overboard (101) in response to an emergency signal received by the aerial (3), sends a signal activating and releasing the Unmanned Surface Vehicle - USV - (1), launching it onto the water, and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - UAV - (4),launching it into the air.

This invention relates to an automatic method for releasing and guiding rescue and life-saving appliances that implement the method, implemented by a computer located in the command tower (202) of the vessel (200), that receives and processes in real time the geographical position data of a person overboard (101) in response to an emergency signal received by the aerial (3), sends a signal activating and releasing the Unmanned Surface Vehicle - USV - (1), launching it onto the water, and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - UAV - (4),launching it into the air.