A system for neutralization of a target aerial vehicle comprises a plurality of counter-attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and an aerial vehicle detection system comprising at least one detection sensor operable to detect the target aerial vehicle in flight. The system also comprises an aerial vehicle capture countermeasure in the form of a net tethering the plurality of counter-attack UAVs to one another. The counter-attack UAV(s) are operable to capture and neutralize the target aerial vehicle with the net. The system can comprise at least one net storage device associated with a structure and configured to store at least a portion of the net when in a stowed position, and to facilitate deployment of the net when moved to a deployed position via coordinated flight of the plurality of counter-attack UAVs based on the detected target aerial vehicle.

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 stability control method and device based on particle active disturbance rejection are provided. The method includes: establishing an active disturbance rejection controller model based on a dynamic model and a speed loop control model of a tethered balloon system, where the speed loop control model is established through theoretical modeling of executive components of a control system of the tethered balloon system; and optimizing to-be-optimized parameters of the active disturbance rejection controller model using a particle swarm optimization algorithm, determining an optimal active disturbance rejection controller model, and using the optimal active disturbance rejection controller model to implement stability control of a photoelectric pod. An active disturbance rejection controller is optimized by using a particle swarm optimization algorithm, which can effectively isolate the internal and external disturbances of the photoelectric pod and improve the imaging stability of the photoelectric pod.

A system and a method are provided for achieving long range, over the horizon (OTH), persistent surveillance, alerting, tracking and situational awareness against small, low radar cross section moving targets. The system and method use one or more tethered unmanned arial systems, or unmanned arial vehicles, to lift components including a radar antenna to a height above nearby obstacles or much higher. The system and method can also be used for subsurface radar detection and tracking applications, as well as communications with submarines.

A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle within a flight operating space. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes one or more sensor arrays on each spar. The method includes determining, using a plurality of sensor arrays, a flight path for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method also includes receiving, by at least one sensor array of the plurality of sensor arrays, sensor data identifying at least one object in the operating space. The sensor data is transmitted over a communications bus connecting components of the UAV. The method further includes determining, by one or more processors onboard the unmanned aerial vehicle, a flight path around the at least one object. The method also includes generating, by the one or more onboard processors, a first signal to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to navigate within the operating space around the at least one object.

Drone (5) which comprises a plurality of propellers (16) driven by motors (17) supported by at least one structure (18) with a winch (8) provided with a drum which can rotate by means of a motor (22) to unwind or wind a suspended cable (6), characterized in that the structure (18) comprises a central seat (19) in which the winch (8) is arranged, so that the center of mass of the drone (5) falls into the drum of the winch (8). The present description also relates to a method of controlling the attitude of the drone (5).

An autonomous mobile robot checking system comprises a transmission line, an unmanned aerial vehicle and an autonomous mobile device. The unmanned aerial vehicle is used for sensing stacked goods to generate sensing information. The autonomous mobile device is used for receiving the sensing information through the transmission line, and supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the transmission line to enable the unmanned aerial vehicle to sense the stacked goods. The autonomous mobile device provides a checking result for the stacked goods based on the sensing information.

A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.

The present invention provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) operations system for cleaning one or more designated surfaces such as a solar panel installed on a roof, or the surface of a window, wall, billboard, scoreboard, etc., which may be too high or too far away from a position on the ground which is easily and safely accessible by a person. For solar panels, such cleaning is not only for aesthetic purposes, but must be performed regularly in order to keep the solar panel functioning at peak performance. The system may also include a ground companion vehicle such as an ATV, golf cart, or the like, which can follow an approximation of the UAV's flight path and provide cleaning media and power to the UAV via a tether, allowing the UAV to clean a large number of surfaces before returning to refill or recharge.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and related techniques are provided to improve the operation of unmanned mobile sensor or survey platforms. A tether management system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a communication module and an orientation sensor coupled to a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the communication module is configured to establish a communication link with a base station associated with the tethered UAV, the orientation sensor is configured to provide headings of the tethered UAV as it maneuvers within a survey area. The logic device is configured to determine an accumulated twist of a tether coupled between the base station and the tethered UAV and generate a tether damage warning notification based, at least in part, on the determined accumulated twist and a maximum allowable accumulated twist associated with the tether coupled between the base station and the tethered UAV.