An unmanned flight apparatus that flies on the basis of instruction information acquired from an operation apparatus, the unmanned flight apparatus includes a storage that stores apparatus identification information for identifying the unmanned flight apparatus, an instruction information acquisition part that acquires the instruction information, an authentication processing part that authenticates that the instruction information is proper by comparing registered authentication information stored in a storage medium with biometric information of an operator transmitted periodically from an operation apparatus for operating the unmanned flight apparatus, and a flight controller that flies the unmanned flight apparatus on the basis of the instruction information within an operable range defined by a relationship between the registered authentication information and the apparatus identification information, on a condition that the authentication processing part determines that the instruction information is proper.

Described herein are methods and systems for picking up, transporting, and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may operate the motor to lower the tether toward the ground so a payload may be attached to the tether. The control system may monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether the payload has been attached to the tether. In another example, when lowering a payload, the control system may monitor the motor current to determine that the payload has reached the ground and responsively operate the motor to detach the payload from the tether. The control system may then monitor the motor current to determine whether the payload has detached from the tether.

Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector, and attitude control thrusters to make adjustments to the attitude of the eject vehicle.

Methods, systems and apparatus for the deployment and retrieval of child UAVs from a V-TOL UAV Mothership. The Mothership may be piloted from a base station to one or more destination locations. At the destination location, one or more child UAVs may be deployed from a cargo bay module. The child UAVs perform tasks or complete a mission before coordinating their retrieval with the V-TOL UAV Mothership. The Mothership may plan an intercept course to retrieve the child UAVs in mid-flight or coordinate a hovering type retrieval with the child UAVs. The child UAVs are retrieved through an actuated frontal opening which provides access to the cargo bay without having to navigate through turbulence created beneath the hovering Mothership by the vertical thrust rotors.

Methods, systems and apparatus for the deployment and retrieval of child UAVs from a V-TOL UAV Mothership. The Mothership may be piloted from a base station to one or more destination locations. At the destination location, one or more child UAVs may be deployed from a cargo bay module. The child UAVs perform tasks or complete a mission before coordinating their retrieval with the V-TOL UAV Mothership. The Mothership may plan an intercept course to retrieve the child UAVs in mid-flight or coordinate a hovering type retrieval with the child UAVs. The child UAVs are retrieved through an actuated frontal opening which provides access to the cargo bay without having to navigate through turbulence created beneath the hovering Mothership by the vertical thrust rotors.

A computing system for landing and storing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can be configured to receive aircraft data, passenger data, or environment data associated with a VTOL aircraft and determine a landing pad location within a landing facility based on the aircraft data, passenger data, and/or environment data. The landing facility can include a lower level and an upper level. The lower level can include a lower landing area and a lower storage area. The upper level can include an upper landing area. At least a portion of the upper level can be arranged over the lower storage area. The landing pad location can include a location within the lower landing area or the upper landing area of the landing facility. The computing system can communicate the landing pad location to an operator or a navigation system of the VTOL aircraft.

A computing system for landing and storing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can be configured to receive aircraft data, passenger data, or environment data associated with a VTOL aircraft and determine a landing pad location within a landing facility based on the aircraft data, passenger data, and/or environment data. The landing facility can include a lower level and an upper level. The lower level can include a lower landing area and a lower storage area. The upper level can include an upper landing area. At least a portion of the upper level can be arranged over the lower storage area. The landing pad location can include a location within the lower landing area or the upper landing area of the landing facility. The computing system can communicate the landing pad location to an operator or a navigation system of the VTOL aircraft.

A flight augmentation system with optical sensors to capture information from aircraft instruments. The system may determine a status of the aircraft based on the captured information and provide guidance to an operator. The system may collect long term data and determine an operational history of a pilot or an aircraft. The system may provide instruction based on the data or provide to interested third parties.

A flight augmentation system with optical sensors to capture information from aircraft instruments. The system may determine a status of the aircraft based on the captured information and provide guidance to an operator. The system may collect long term data and determine an operational history of a pilot or an aircraft. The system may provide instruction based on the data or provide to interested third parties.

A flight system S acquires contact sensing data obtained by a contact sensing of a soil sensor unit 1 embedded in advance in the ground, and determines a flight route for an UAV 2 to execute a predetermined task on the basis of the contact sensing data.