A method of aligning an aircraft with a landing platform in motion comprises measuring a GPS heading with at least one GPS sensor positioned at a known location relative to the landing platform while the landing platform is in motion, measuring an orientation of the aircraft with an orientation sensor fixed relative to the aircraft, calculating an orientation of the landing platform from the GPS heading, calculating an orientation offset between the measured orientation of the aircraft and the calculated orientation of the landing platform, and changing an orientation of the aircraft or the landing platform to reduce the orientation offset. A system for landing and securing an aircraft in an enclosure, a system for disconnecting a tether from an aircraft, and a system for landing an aircraft in an enclosure are also described.

A UAV location management method for use with a flight management system is provided, where the method comprises providing a location for at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for at least one of: landing, taking-off and loading, providing at least a first weight-sensitive UAV pad at the UAV location, assigning a gross weight limit to each UAV scheduled to take-off from the first weight-sensitive UAV pad, the gross weight limit being based on a safety factor and at least one of: (i) a characteristic of the UAV; (ii) a characteristic of a power source of the UAV; (iii) a scheduled flight path for the UAV; and (iv) a weather condition, monitoring a weight exerted on the first weight-sensitive UAV pad when the UAV is positioned on the UAV pad, and transmitting a halt-flight signal to the flight management system for the UAV where the weight exceeds the gross weight limit.

Vehicles such as unmanned air vehicles that are capable of movement from an open, flight configuration to an enclosed configuration in which all major flight components can be protected by an outer shell are disclosed. In the enclosed configuration, the vehicles can take on standard geometric shapes such as a rectangular prism, sphere, cylinder, or another shape, so as to not be recognizable as an unmanned air vehicle. Embodiments of vehicles can also include interchangeable and/or wireless motor arms, motor arms which are electrically connected to the remainder of the vehicle only when in an open configuration, remote controllers removably attached to the remainder of the vehicle, and clip or other attachment mechanisms for attachment to objects such as backpacks.

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.

[Object] To make it capable of switching a state in which a device is carried and a state in which the device is not carried in a more suitable form in accordance with a state or situation in which the device is used. [Solution] Provided is An information processing device including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on a user; and a controller configured to execute a control process for moving a device that can be carried by the user so that the device changes between a carry state in which the device is carried by the user and a non-carry state in which the device is not carried by the user on the basis of the information on the user.

A base module may be used to receive and house one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via one or more cavities. The base module receives commands from a manager device and identifies a flight plan that allows a UAV to execute the received commands. The base module transfers the flight plan to the UAV and frees the UAV. Once the UAV returns, the base module once again receives it. The base module then receives sensor data from the UAV from one or more sensors onboard the UAV, and optionally receives additional information describing its flight and identifying success or failure of the flight plan. The base module transmits the sensor data and optionally the additional information to a storage medium locally or remotely accessible by the manager device.

An aspect of the present invention provides a pickup system which makes, even in a case of transporting a load by using a single unmanned flying object, the unmanned flying object and the load less likely to tilt. A pickup system (1) includes: a holder (11) for holding a load (L); a measuring instrument (14) for measuring the position of the center of gravity of the holder (11) holding the load (L); and a controller (15) for moving, to a position immediately above the position of the center of gravity of the holder (11) holding the load (L), a connector (12) which is attached to the holder (11) in a movable manner and which is for connecting the holder (11) to a drone (D).

An aspect of the present invention provides a pickup system which makes, even in a case of transporting a load by using a single unmanned flying object, the unmanned flying object and the load less likely to tilt. A pickup system (1) includes: a holder (11) for holding a load (L); a measuring instrument (14) for measuring the position of the center of gravity of the holder (11) holding the load (L); and a controller (15) for moving, to a position immediately above the position of the center of gravity of the holder (11) holding the load (L), a connector (12) which is attached to the holder (11) in a movable manner and which is for connecting the holder (11) to a drone (D).

A landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is disclosed. The landing pad includes a support structure, a charging pad, and a plurality of movable UAV supports. The charging pad is coupled to the support structure and able to move relative to the support structure. The UAV supports are also coupled to the support structure and configured to translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position. When the UAV supports are in the first position, the charging pad supports the UAV. When the UAV supports are in the second position, the charging pad is lowered and the UAV supports then provide support to the UAV.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) which fly to destinations (e.g., for delivering items) may land on transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks, etc.) for temporary transport. An agreement with the owner of the transportation vehicles (e.g., a shipping carrier) may be made for obtaining consent and determining compensation for landings, and the associated transportation vehicles that are available for landings may be identified by markers on the roof or other identification techniques. The routes of the transportation vehicles may be known and utilized to determine locations where UAVs will land on and take off from the transportation vehicles, and in cases of emergencies (e.g., due to low batteries, mechanical issues, etc.) the UAVs may land on the transportation vehicles for later retrieval.