A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation system may be provided. A method may include estimating an amount of traffic for one or more routes based on a demand of the one or more routes. The method may also include determining a required number of docking stations for each route of the one or more routes based on the estimated amount of traffic for the route, a distance of the route, and a maximum travel distance for a UAV. Further, the method may include installing the required number of docking stations for each route of the one or more routes, wherein each docking station of the required number of docking stations including at least one of a power supply, a wireless charger, a communication module, a control module, and a camera.

A method for controlling a movable object is provided. A user input that includes a first parameter corresponding to a first coordinate system is received and an operation mode is determined. In response to determining the operation mode being a first operation mode, a second parameter corresponding to a second coordinate system is generated and the movable object is controlled to move based on the second parameter. In response to determining the operation mode being a second operation mode, the first parameter is translated to a third parameter corresponding to the second coordinate system and the movable object is controlled to move based on the third parameter.

Many different types of systems are utilized and tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of castable devices that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more castable devices can be integrated with a transducer assembly, such as a phased array, that emits sonar beams and receives sonar returns from the underwater environment. Processing circuitry may receive the sonar returns, process the sonar returns, generate an image, and transmit the image to a display.

In some examples, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) employs one or more image sensors to capture images of a scan target and may use distance information from the images for determining respective locations in three-dimensional (3D) space of a plurality of points of a 3D model representative of a surface of the scan target. The UAV may compare a first image with a second image to determine a difference between a current frame of reference position for the UAV and an estimate of an actual frame of reference position for the UAV. Further, based at least on the difference, the UAV may determine, while the UAV is in flight, an update to the 3D model including at least one of an updated location of at least one point in the 3D model, or a location of a new point in the 3D model.

Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing area with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a docking area i) with a first end adjacent to the landing area and a second opposite end and ii) a docking surface configured to contact the second surface of the landing gear of the drone; a fixed member i) with a third surface adjacent to the second end of the docking area and ii) configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member configured to i) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area onto the docking surface and ii) secure the landing gear of the drone in place between the docking surface of the docking area and the third surface of the fixed member.

A terrestrial acoustic sensor array for detecting and preventing airspace collision with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a plurality of ground-based acoustic sensor installations, each of the acoustic sensor installations including a sub-array of microphones. The terrestrial acoustic sensor array may further include a processor for detecting an aircraft based on sensor data collected from the microphones of at least one of the plurality of acoustic sensor installations and a network link for transmitting a signal based on the detection of the aircraft to a control system of the UAV.

A terrestrial acoustic sensor array for detecting and preventing airspace collision with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a plurality of ground-based acoustic sensor installations, each of the acoustic sensor installations including a sub-array of microphones. The terrestrial acoustic sensor array may further include a processor for detecting an aircraft based on sensor data collected from the microphones of at least one of the plurality of acoustic sensor installations and a network link for transmitting a signal based on the detection of the aircraft to a control system of the UAV.

Systems and methods to control gain of an electric aircraft are provided in this disclosure. The system may include gain scheduling to provide stability of the electric aircraft at various dynamic states of operation. The system may include a sensor to obtain measurement datum of an operating state. The system may further include a controller that adjusts a control gain of the electric aircraft as a function of the measurement datum. The gain control may be determined by a gain schedule generated by the controller.

A method is provided. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is operated. A position of the UAV is determined while in flight, and a nonce is generated. A Merkel root is generated based at least in part on a timestamp and the position of the UAV. A current block is calculated based at least in part on a previous block, the Merkel root, and the nonce, and the current block, the timestamp, the nonce, the prior block, and the position of the UAV are transmitted.

A modular quadcopter is provided for vertical flight. The quadcopter includes a housing, a quadrilateral set of extensions, and a quadrilateral set of arms. The housing contains flight control and sensor equipment, and has a relative vertical orientation. The housing is configurable for either stowage or deployment. The extensions are disposed on each corner of the housing. Each extension has a hinge that pitches outward and upward. Each arm is disposed on the hinge and contains an electric motor and a speed controller. The configurable below the housing for the stowage and extends radially from respective the extension in relation to the orientation for the deployment.