A system delivering fire retardant materials in fighting a surface fire is provided, having an aircraft carrying the fire-retardant material, a hose deployable from the aircraft, the delivery hose connected to the reservoir and having a controllable nozzle at a deployed end with a remotely operable valve, an end effector connected by a multi-axis gimbal at the deployed end of the delivery hose the end effector having fixed wings with ailerons and elevators, and a rudder, the ailerons, elevators and rudder moved by electrical actuators, and control apparatus and circuitry in the aircraft and the end effector enabling an operator in manipulating the ailerons, elevators and the rudder. An operative in the aircraft controls the end effector via the control apparatus to fly at a lower altitude and in a different path than the aircraft, and opens the remotely operable valve to deliver the fire-retardant material from the delivery hose.

A refueling system has a first vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose with a nozzle on the deployable end, a second vehicle carrying a supply of fuel, having a refueling panel with a refueling port adapted to connect to the nozzle on the deployed end of the fuel hose, an end effector joined to the fuel hose proximate the nozzle, the end effector having a plurality of thrusters providing thrust in a plurality of directions; and control circuitry in the first vehicle and in the end effector enabling an operative to vary direction and thrust of the thrusters. The operative controls the thrusters through the control circuitry to direct the nozzle toward and to connect the nozzle to the refueling port on the refueling panel of the second vehicle.

Altitude based device management is provided herein. A method can comprise transmitting, by a mobile device comprising a processor, a signaling message to a network device of a wireless network. The signaling message can comprise first data indicating a device type of the mobile device and second data indicating a distance measurement of the mobile device with respect to a reference point. The method can also comprise implementing, by the mobile device, a first instruction related to a power setting and a second instruction related to an operating parameter. The first instruction and the second instruction can be received from the network device and can be based on the device type of the mobile device and the distance measurement of the mobile device.

Methods and systems for localization within an environment include determining a topology estimate of nodes located in a dynamic indoor environment, based on distances measured between the nodes. Rigid k-core sub-graphs of the topology estimate are generated to determine relative localizations of the nodes. Relative localizations are transformed into absolute localizations to generate a map of positions of the nodes within the environment. A feature of the map is deployed to a device in the environment.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a drone to test a sensor. In one aspect, the method includes actions of detecting a message (i) broadcast by the drone and (ii) indicating that the drone is going to administer a test of a sensor, determining, by the monitoring system and based on the message and (i) sensor data generated by the sensor in response to the administration of the test, by the drone, within a predetermined period of time of the message or (ii) a lack of sensor data generated by the sensor in response to the administration of the test, by the drone, within a predetermined period of time of the message, whether the sensor is functioning properly, and in response to a determination that the sensor is not functioning properly, storing data indicating that the sensor is not functioning properly.

A system, method and apparatus for unfolding and folding a multi-arm device that includes a support member and an actuator. A first arm is coupled to the actuator and extends from a folded position to an unfolded position upon actuation of the actuator. A second arm is coupled to the actuator and moves from a folded position to an unfolded position upon actuation of a linkage that causes the second arm to rotate. A third arm moves from a folded position to an unfolded position, via an elbow joint, upon release of a tether attached to the third arm.

Sewer line and lateral inspections are made in order to detect leaks and improper connections, using steam injected into a section of sewer line. Thermal imaging of the vicinity indicates leaks and illegal connections.

A response system may be provided. The response system may include a security system and an autonomous drone. The security system includes a security sensor and a controller. The drone includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, and a drone sensor. The processor may be programmed to receive the deployment request from the security system, navigate to the one or more zones of the coverage area included in the deployment request, collect drone sensor data of the one or more zones of the coverage area using the at least one drone sensor, determine that an incident has occurred, and/or transmit the collected drone sensor data and incident verification to the security system, wherein, in response to receiving the collected drone sensor data and incident verification, the security system is configured to generate a command for responding to the incident.

A control system configured to control a deceleration process of an air vehicle which comprises at least one tiltable propulsion unit, each of the at least one tiltable propulsion units is tiltable to provide a thrust whose direction is variable at least between a general vertical thrust vector direction and a general longitudinal thrust vector direction with respect to the air vehicle.

In some embodiments, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe, a propulsion system attached to the airframe and a flight control system operably associated with the propulsion system wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode. A pod assembly is selectively attachable to the flying frame such that the flying frame is rotatable about the pod assembly wherein, the pod assembly remains in a generally horizontal attitude during vertical takeoff and landing, forward flight and transitions therebetween.