An apparatus for permitting a flying vehicle to land on or take off therefrom whilst the apparatus is airborne, the apparatus including: a surface for supporting the flying vehicle during landing or when taking off; at least one propulsion device for sustaining flight of the apparatus and for positioning the surface in a desired landing or taking off orientation; and a link which is connectable at one end to a land- or sea-going vehicle, for tethering the apparatus relative thereto.

An apparatus for permitting a flying vehicle to land on or take off therefrom whilst the apparatus is airborne, the apparatus including: a surface for supporting the flying vehicle during landing or when taking off; at least one propulsion device for sustaining flight of the apparatus and for positioning the surface in a desired landing or taking off orientation; and a link which is connectable at one end to a land- or sea-going vehicle, for tethering the apparatus relative thereto.

Systems and methods for receiving a descending rocket, which may be at sea. The rocket may descend vertically with the nose higher than the nozzle. The rocket body may be angled as it descends. A boom arm with hooks may extend at an angle to the rocket body to engage a cable suspended by a semisubmersible platform at sea. The platform may include a dampened cable and lateral straps for securing and rotating the rocket into a horizontal orientation. The platform may receive a ship and purge water to elevate the platform for placing the horizontal rocket onto the ship.

Systems and methods for receiving a descending rocket, which may be at sea. The rocket may descend vertically with the nose higher than the nozzle. The rocket body may be angled as it descends. A boom arm with hooks may extend at an angle to the rocket body to engage a cable suspended by a semisubmersible platform at sea. The platform may include a dampened cable and lateral straps for securing and rotating the rocket into a horizontal orientation. The platform may receive a ship and purge water to elevate the platform for placing the horizontal rocket onto the ship.

A landing zone arrangement is disclosed for aircraft capable of vertical take-off. The arrangement includes a plurality of segments that form a landing zone in an operating state, a storage space for at least partially storing the segments in a stored state, and a base with a rotatable rotor element in order to rotate the segments for transfer between the operating state and the stored state. The landing zone arrangement allows a lighter technical design as the individual segments are removably secured to the rotor element, and a securing unit of the arrangement is designed to fasten the removable segments to the rotor element for transfer into the operating state and to release this fastening for transfer into the stored state. A lifting unit is provided in order to move the removable segments in the direction of the rotor element when transferring into the operating state.

A landing zone arrangement is disclosed for aircraft capable of vertical take-off. The arrangement includes a plurality of segments that form a landing zone in an operating state, a storage space for at least partially storing the segments in a stored state, and a base with a rotatable rotor element in order to rotate the segments for transfer between the operating state and the stored state. The landing zone arrangement allows a lighter technical design as the individual segments are removably secured to the rotor element, and a securing unit of the arrangement is designed to fasten the removable segments to the rotor element for transfer into the operating state and to release this fastening for transfer into the stored state. A lifting unit is provided in order to move the removable segments in the direction of the rotor element when transferring into the operating state.

Described is a visual indicator device for landing aircraft on the deck of a ship, comprising a unit for measuring the instantaneous rolling motion angle of the ship, a light projection apparatus designed to project, on a non-horizontal wall of the ship, at least a first rectilinear segment representing the horizon line.

Described is a visual indicator device for landing aircraft on the deck of a ship, comprising a unit for measuring the instantaneous rolling motion angle of the ship, a light projection apparatus designed to project, on a non-horizontal wall of the ship, at least a first rectilinear segment representing the horizon line.

System for determining relative positions and/or relative motions between objects (103, 602, 604). Disclosed systems include a target tracking device (110, 620, 622) on a first object (602) and an optical target on a second object (604). The target tracking device comprises a camera to take images of the optical targets which is configured to track the optical target. The system comprises an onshore crane (601), a ship system (700), an aviation system (800) or an offshore crane (100). A controller (115, 615, 715, 815) controls the crane, a ship (701) or a helicopter (801) using the data from the tracking device.

Disclosed is a device and method to load stores on an aircraft. The device may include a controller configured to: assign one or more stores to the aircraft; and control at least one actuator to: control a position of the aircraft; load the one or more stores onto one or more corresponding lift portions; position the one or more stores relative to a position of the aircraft determined in accordance with sensor information from at least one sensor; and secure the one or more stores to the aircraft.