An aerial vehicle control method includes detecting a flight control instruction during returning of an aerial vehicle to a return point along a return trajectory according to an auto return instruction. The flight control instruction determines a predetermined trajectory different from the return trajectory. The method further includes generating a superimposed instruction by superimposing return point position information indicating the return point and the flight control instruction. The superimposed instruction determines a flight trajectory that is an integration of the return trajectory and the predetermined trajectory and that is different from the return trajectory and the predetermined trajectory. The method also includes controlling the aerial vehicle to fly along the flight trajectory according to the superimposed instruction.

Apparatus, systems, processes, and computer-readable mediums for facilitating the use of drones are described. For one embodiment, such a system includes a user element having a user application computer program configured to instruct a user interface device to facilitate use of user data and use of mission parameter(s) for a proposed drone mission. An owner element includes an owner application computer program configured to facilitate use of owner data and use of at least one drone parameter. A fleet system element is communicatively coupled to the user element and to the owner element and includes a computer system processor configured to facilitate use of a fleet record and use of at least one fleet parameter.

A method includes receiving, at a mobile hub device, communications including location-specific risk data and a task assignment. The method also includes generating an output indicating dispatch coordinates. The dispatch coordinates identifying a dispatch location from which to dispatch, from the mobile hub device, one or more unmanned vehicles to perform a task of the task assignment.

An apparatus for visual navigation of a UAV includes a geo-fiducial mat and a plurality of geo-fiducials. The geo-fiducial mat includes a landing pad region that provides a location for aligning with a landing pad of a UAV and a survey point. The geo-fiducials are each specified for a unique directional and offset position in or about the landing pad region relative to the survey point. The geo-fiducials each includes a two-dimensional (2D) pattern that visually conveys an alphanumerical code. The 2D pattern has a shape from which a visual navigation system of the UAV can visually triangulate a position of the UAV.

Sports and fitness applications for an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are described. In an example embodiment, a UAV can be configured to track a human subject using perception inputs from one or more onboard sensors. The perception inputs can be utilized to generate values for various performance metrics associated with the activity of the human subject. In some embodiments, the perception inputs can be utilized to autonomously maneuver the UAV to lead the human subject to satisfy a performance goal. The UAV can also be configured to autonomously capture images of a sporting event and/or make rule determinations while officiating a sporting event.

A recoilless firearm apparatus for firing at least one bullet of a respective standard cartridge, including a front barrel, a disposable firing activator and a rear discharge opening formed behind the front barrel and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the front barrel. The standard cartridge further includes a casing having an external diameter that is smaller than the rear cartridge-chamber diameter, wherein the casing encloses a sealed inner-casing space that contains gunpowder, and wherein the casing includes a primer. Upon activating the primer, the primer explodes to thereby detonate the gunpowder, forming propellant gasses inside the cartridge that are directed both forward and backward as follows: a) forward: firing of the bullet via the front barrel; and b) backward: pushing, by a recoil force F.sub.p, the casing, being a counterweight to the bullet, to thereby eject the casing from the firearm apparatus via the rear discharge opening.

[Summary]

[Problems to be Solved] To provide a flight vehicle and a communication system which can relay communications between transmission and reception antennae that are located farther from each other by using antennae capable of receiving information transmitted from a transmission antenna located in a wider range than a range of a linear directed antenna can receive.

[Solution] A flight vehicle 1 according to the present invention comprises one or more linear array antennae (antennae 4); and a controller 2 configured to be capable to execute: a process of receiving information by one or more of the antennae 4, a process of outwardly transmitting said information by one or more of the antennae 4. In the communication system C of the present invention, which includes said flight vehicle 1, the transmission antenna T1 and the reception antenna R1 differ from each other. In the flight vehicle 1 of the present invention, it is preferable that the antennae 4 that receives the information and the antennae 4 that transmits the information differ from each other.

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an unmanned flying robotic object that contains a wheeled mechanism that encircles its spherical exoskeleton. This feature allows the flying spherical vehicle to readily transform into a ground maneuverable vehicle. A robotic motor with differential speed capability is used to operate each wheel to provide effective ground maneuverability. There are examples provided herein of wheel configurations suitable for use with an embodiment. One is the straight- (or parallel) wheel design, and another is tilted-wheel design as are illustrated and discussed hereinafter. One embodiment of an unmanned flying robotic object taught herein is foldable.

A system for docking an aerostat on a receiving structure, including an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be controlled so as to move between the aerostat and the receiving structure, carrying a first end of a cable that has a second end fixed to the aerostat or the receiving structure, and to attach said first end to the receiving structure or to the aerostat such that the cable connects the aerostat to the receiving structure.

A portable computerized device for an aircraft control system includes an input system for inputting commands, a device display for displaying information on the computerized device, a processor, a wireless communication module, and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform a method. The method can include detecting whether the portable computerized device is in a cockpit state such that the portable computerized device is in and/or docked to an aircraft cockpit or if the portable computerized device is in a remote state such that the portable computerized device is not in an aircraft cockpit or is not docked to an aircraft cockpit. If the portable computerized device is determined to be in a remote state, the method includes operating the remote device in a remote mode. If the portable computerized device is determined to be in a cockpit state, the method includes operating the device in a local mode.