An example charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the charging station generally including a nest and a charging device. The nest includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines an upper opening sized and shaped to receive a landing apparatus of the UAV, and a diameter of the nest reduces from a first diameter at the upper opening to a second diameter at the lower portion. The charging device is mounted in the nest, and includes a first contact pad and a second contact pad. The charging device is configured to apply a voltage differential across the first contact pad and the second contact pad such that the charging station is operable to charge a power supply of the UAV via the landing apparatus.

Provided is a method for delivering goods in collaboration of a plurality of autonomous vehicles including a master vehicle and one or more slave vehicles. The method comprises calculating, by the master vehicle among the plurality of autonomous vehicles, a floor area required for unloading the goods based on a size of the goods, searching and determining, by the master vehicle, a region providing a flat area greater than or equal to the floor area as a goods handing over point, providing, by the master vehicle, position information of the goods handing over point to the one or more slave vehicles so that the one or more slave vehicles are gathered to the goods handing over point, providing, by the master vehicle, the position information of the goods handing over point to an unmanned aerial vehicle so that the unmanned aerial vehicle moves to the goods handing over point, determining, by the master vehicle, a portion of the goods to be supported by each autonomous vehicle based on a size of delivery target goods, moving, by each autonomous vehicle located at the goods handing over point, to a position corresponding to the determined portion, taking over the goods from the unmanned aerial vehicle and loading them together by collaborating with each autonomous vehicle at the moved position, and delivering the loaded goods to a destination by the plurality of autonomous vehicles.

A method according to certain embodiments generally involves operating a system including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a base station. The base station includes a nest including an upper opening having an upper opening diameter and a lower opening having a lower opening diameter less than the upper opening diameter. The lower opening is accessible from within the base station. The method generally includes landing the UAV within the nest such that a portion of the UAV is accessible via the lower opening, releasably attaching a load to the UAV, and operating the UAV to deliver the load to a destination.

A device designed for the removal, storage, and installation of removable hardtops from convertible sport utility vehicles, either from the rear or side, comprising a wheeled base unit, a vertical support structure and a top clamping assembly, wherein the base unit is aligned below the top frame and the vertical support structure connects them together, wherein the device can be disassembled for simple shipping, is adjustable for height and depth to accommodate different SUV models, and includes markers for easy assembly.

A device designed for the removal, storage, and installation of removable hardtops from convertible sport utility vehicles, either from the rear or side, comprising a wheeled base unit, a vertical support structure and a top clamping assembly, wherein the base unit is aligned below the top frame and the vertical support structure connects them together, wherein the device can be disassembled for simple shipping, is adjustable for height and depth to accommodate different SUV models, and includes markers for easy assembly.

An information related to the position of an actuator coupled to a cable which is coupled to a motor is received. A filter is used to provide an input to a motor controller coupled to the motor, to adjust torque on the motor such that a strength curve is implemented relative to the position of the actuator.

A payload lift and positioning system mounted to an airship for precisely positioning a payload being lowered from the airship to the ground. The payload lift and positioning system includes a support beam structure mounted to an underside of the airship, the support beam structure including load hoists and guide cable hoists mounted thereto. A payload supporting structure to carry the payload, the payload supporting structure being connected to support beam structure by the load hoists and guide cable hoists. A guide cable system includes a plurality of guide cables, each extending from the guide cable hoists disposed on the support beam structure. A positioning system includes a guide member that is mounted on the payload supporting structure to control the position of the payload being lowered from the airship to ground.

A payload lift and positioning system mounted to an airship for precisely positioning a payload being lowered from the airship to the ground. The payload lift and positioning system includes a support beam structure mounted to an underside of the airship, the support beam structure including load hoists and guide cable hoists mounted thereto. A payload supporting structure to carry the payload, the payload supporting structure being connected to support beam structure by the load hoists and guide cable hoists. A guide cable system includes a plurality of guide cables, each extending from the guide cable hoists disposed on the support beam structure. A positioning system includes a guide member that is mounted on the payload supporting structure to control the position of the payload being lowered from the airship to ground.

A fixing device that fixes a lower end portion of a suspension belt to a holding portion is provided with a shaft-like portion with an axial direction aligned with a horizontal direction; a fixing portion where the lower end portion of the suspension belt is fixed is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft-like portion; a region of the outer circumferential surface on one side of a virtual vertical surface that runs through an axial center of the shaft-like portion is defined as a first region and a region of the outer circumferential surface on the other side of the virtual vertical surface is defined as a second region; the fixing portion is provided in the first region; and the suspension belt extending from the fixing portion is disposed running through a lowest portion of the outer circumferential surface and running along the second region and upward.

A fixing device that fixes a lower end portion of a suspension belt to a holding portion is provided with a shaft-like portion with an axial direction aligned with a horizontal direction; a fixing portion where the lower end portion of the suspension belt is fixed is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft-like portion; a region of the outer circumferential surface on one side of a virtual vertical surface that runs through an axial center of the shaft-like portion is defined as a first region and a region of the outer circumferential surface on the other side of the virtual vertical surface is defined as a second region; the fixing portion is provided in the first region; and the suspension belt extending from the fixing portion is disposed running through a lowest portion of the outer circumferential surface and running along the second region and upward.