A ground station device for a plurality of unmanned aircraft, comprising an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft, a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft. The ground station device is designed to be stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device.

One embodiment is an aircraft including a main body, a plurality of propulsion assemblies, and a plurality of hinges, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion assemblies is rotatably coupled to the main body using a hinge from the plurality of hinges. In an example, the aircraft includes four motor support arms and each motor support arm rotatably couples a specific propulsion assembly to a specific corresponding hinge on the main body of the aircraft and increases a span of the aircraft when the aircraft is in the flight configuration and reduces the footprint of the aircraft when the aircraft is in a storage configuration.

One embodiment is an aircraft including a main body, a plurality of propulsion assemblies, and a plurality of hinges, wherein each of the plurality of propulsion assemblies is rotatably coupled to the main body using a hinge from the plurality of hinges. In an example, the aircraft includes four motor support arms and each motor support arm rotatably couples a specific propulsion assembly to a specific corresponding hinge on the main body of the aircraft and increases a span of the aircraft when the aircraft is in the flight configuration and reduces the footprint of the aircraft when the aircraft is in a storage configuration.

Stations for deployment, recharging and/or maintenance of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed herein. Such deployment stations can be implemented in a container that includes a robotic arm and a conveyor system. The robotic arm can secure a UAV hovering outside the station, move the UAV inside the station, and transfer the UAV to the conveyor. The conveyor can couple to and move multiple UAVs. Further, charging systems may be integrated in such deployment stations to charge UAVs when coupled to and moving along the conveyer. Further, process pieces may be utilized to simplify mechanical and electrical interfacing between a UAV, the robotic arm, the conveyor, the charging system and/or other systems at the UAV station.

A system includes a camera configured such that a field of view of the camera is positioned to capture a base portion and a movable portion of an aircraft. A computer communicatively connected to the camera is configured to determine a relative orientation between a base identification feature of the base portion and a movable identification feature of the movable portion of the aircraft based on image data received from the camera. The computer is also configured to determine a position of the movable portion of the aircraft based on the relative orientation between the base identification feature and the movable identification feature and a position of the base portion and to compare the position of the movable portion to a reported position for the movable portion to determine a variance. An aircraft control system is configured to monitor a state of the aircraft based on the variance.

A sliding door assembly includes a landing platform located in a first plane, a sliding door mating with the landing platform and located in a second plane approximately parallel to the first plane, and a driving assembly configured to drive the sliding door to move translationally in the second plane to open or close the sliding door.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a stand for launching, landing, testing, refueling and recharging a UAV, and methods for testing, landing and launching the UAV are disclosed. Further, embodiments may include transferring a payload onto or off of the UAV, and loading flight planning and diagnostic maintenance information to the UAV.

Disclosed is a configuration to control automatic return of an aerial vehicle. The configuration stores a return location in a storage device of the aerial vehicle. The return location may correspond to a location where the aerial vehicle is to return. One or more sensors of the aerial vehicle are monitored during flight for detection of a predefined condition. When a predetermined condition is met a return path program may be loaded for execution to provide a return flight path for the aerial vehicle to automatically navigate to the return location.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground station, comprising: a landing surface having a perimeter and a center; a plurality of pushers held above the landing surface by a plurality of linear actuators; at least one electro-mechanical connector attached to one of the plurality of pushers, mechanically adapted to be electrically connected to a compatible electro-mechanical connector of a UAV; and a landing detection controller adapted to instruct the plurality of linear actuators to move the plurality of pushers simultaneously from the perimeter toward the center when a landing event related to the UAV is detected.

A method and apparatus for scalable and fast deployment of drones are presented. The method is based on packing multiple drones within a cell structure that provides means for changing, communication and fast deployment of drones as well as environmental protection. Multiple cells can be combined the further scale up the number and rate of drones being deployed. In a preferable arrangement, individual drones are equipped with special contacts that allow them to connect to the cell and optionally with other drones for power supply, diagnostic and communication.