A water-propelled or water-powered unmanned aerial vehicle including a base configured to carry a payload, and at least one nozzle attached thereto. The at least one nozzle is configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid from a source located remotely from the vehicle. The vehicle includes a control system configured to alter or otherwise selectively dictate the flow of fluid through the at least one nozzle and/or the orientation of the at least one nozzle with respect to the base in response to a received control signal for providing controlled unmanned vehicle flight.

A tethered unmanned aerial system (UAS) is described, wherein the flight of one or more UASs may be used in connection with a water and light display.

Embodiments disclosed herein enable routine autonomous execution of at least some major phases of aerostat operation in response to commands from human or automated external operators, a built-in decision-making capacity, or both. Various embodiments combine one or more actively controlled tethers, aerodynamic aerostat control surfaces, mechanical assistive devices (e.g., jointed arms attached to a ground station), and/or active propulsors attached to the aerostat to govern aerostat behavior during launch, flight, and landing phases of operation. Some embodiments enable automatic autonomous performance of all phases of routine post-commissioning aerostat operation, including launch, flight, and landing, without any routine need for availability of a human crew.

A warehouse inventory system includes an autonomous robotic device configured to move autonomously in aisles of a storage area of the warehouse and along the shelves arranged in the storage area; a support device integral in movement with the autonomous robotic device; a mast which is supported by the support device and which is equipped with image capturing devices configured to capture images of the objects stored on the shelves during the displacements of the autonomous robotic device along the shelves arranged in the storage area; and a stabilization device configured to vertically stabilize the mast during the displacements of the autonomous robotic device, the stabilization device including a drone connected to the mast.

Methods and systems described herein relate to power generation control for an aerial vehicle. An example method may involve determining an asynchronous flight pattern for two or more aerial vehicles, where the asynchronous flight pattern includes a respective flight path for each of the two or more aerial vehicles; and operating each of the aerial vehicles in a crosswind flight substantially along its respective flight path, where each aerial vehicle generates electrical power over time in a periodic profile, and where the power profile of each aerial vehicle is out of phase with respect to the power profile generated by each of the other aerial vehicles.

A reactive tether spool comprises a drum, a signal cable, a drum actuator, a tension sensor, and a controller. The signal cable transports power and a control signal to a UAV. A controller receives a tension measurement from the tension sensor and controls the drum actuator to maintain a determined tension on the signal cable while performing at least one of the following: dispensing the signal cable; holding the signal cable steady; and collecting the signal cable.

A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.

Drone (5) which comprises a plurality of propellers (16) driven by motors (17) supported by at least one structure (18), in which a plurality of converters (15) are arranged around the structure (18) to convert electricity to high voltage in low voltage electricity. The present description also relates to a method of controlling the attitude of the drone (5).

A system for neutralization of a target aerial vehicle comprises one or more counter-attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and an aerial vehicle capture countermeasure tethering the counter-attack UAV(s) to a structure or ground. The counter-attack UAV(s) are operable to capture and neutralize the target aerial vehicle with the aerial vehicle capture countermeasure (e.g., a net). The system can comprise an on-board aerial vehicle detection system, and/or an external aerial vehicle detection system each having at least one sensor configured to detect the target aerial vehicle while in flight. The counter-attack UAV(s) and the associated detection systems may be autonomously operated for detecting and neutralizing a target aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle capture countermeasure can be moved from a stowed position to a deployed position in response to coordinated flight of the counter-attack UAV(s). Associated methods and systems are provided.

Methods and systems are described for an aerial drone system including a drone system controller, at least one working drone (101), and a plurality of support drones (103). The working drone (101) is operated by the drone system controller (125) to adjust a position of the working drone (101). A tether line (105) coupled to the working drone (101) provides electrical power to the working drone (101). The support drones (103) are each coupled to the tether line (105) at a different location along the tether line (105) forming a tethered aerial drone system. Each support (drone 103) supports a portion of the weight of the tether line (105) and is operated by the drone system controller (125) to adjust the position of the tether line (105) by adjusting the position of one or more of the support drones (103).