A cargo airship is disclosed. The cargo airship may include a hull configured to contain a gas and at least one propulsion assembly coupled to the airship and including a propulsion device. The cargo airship may further include a payload bay comprising an external cargo area located outside of the hull. The cargo airship may also include a cargo handling system including at least one hoisting mechanism configured to lift cargo into the external cargo area while the airship is hovering.

A method and an apparatus for controlling an aircraft are disclosed. The method includes: determining a horizontal velocity V.sub.h and a vertical velocity V.sub.v of the aircraft; acquiring, along a moving direction of the aircraft, an object having a distance that is no greater than a preset distance L away from the aircraft; predicting, according to the horizontal velocity V.sub.h, the vertical velocity V.sub.v, and the preset distance L, a position relationship between the aircraft and the object after the aircraft flies the preset distance L; and controlling the aircraft, by using a preset control measure, if the position relationship meets a preset relationship.

Methods and systems are provided for responding to an attacker including a shooter who opens fire at a site where people are gathered, including identifying, neutralizing, and restraining the attacker. A system may include a central control unit configured to perform a series of steps including: receiving an image including the origin of the gunfire and responsively acquiring identifying features of a shooter associated with the gunfire; subsequently tracking a current location of the shooter according to the identifying features; releasing an autonomous, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to engage the shooter; guiding the flight of the UAV towards the current location of the shooter; and neutralizing the shooter by operating a shooter incapacitating mechanism of the UAV.

Methods and systems are provided for responding to an attacker including a shooter who opens fire at a site where people are gathered, including identifying, neutralizing, and restraining the attacker. A system may include a central control unit configured to perform a series of steps including: receiving an image including the origin of the gunfire and responsively acquiring identifying features of a shooter associated with the gunfire; subsequently tracking a current location of the shooter according to the identifying features; releasing an autonomous, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to engage the shooter; guiding the flight of the UAV towards the current location of the shooter; and neutralizing the shooter by operating a shooter incapacitating mechanism of the UAV.

A method of migrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations between geographic survey areas, including: uploading a first plurality of flight missions into a first UAV pod; deploying the UAV pod; autonomously launching the UAV from the UAV pod a plurality of times to perform the first plurality of flight missions; providing first survey data from the UAV to the UAV pod; autonomously migrating the UAV from the first UAV pod to a second UAV pod; receiving a second plurality of flight missions in a second UAV pod; providing the UAV with one of the second plurality of flight missions from the second UAV pod; autonomously launching the UAV from the second UAV pod a plurality of times to perform the second plurality of flight missions; and providing a second survey data from the UAV to the second UAV pod; where the autonomous migrating of the UAV to accomplish the first and second survey data happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

A method of migrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations between geographic survey areas, including: uploading a first plurality of flight missions into a first UAV pod; deploying the UAV pod; autonomously launching the UAV from the UAV pod a plurality of times to perform the first plurality of flight missions; providing first survey data from the UAV to the UAV pod; autonomously migrating the UAV from the first UAV pod to a second UAV pod; receiving a second plurality of flight missions in a second UAV pod; providing the UAV with one of the second plurality of flight missions from the second UAV pod; autonomously launching the UAV from the second UAV pod a plurality of times to perform the second plurality of flight missions; and providing a second survey data from the UAV to the second UAV pod; where the autonomous migrating of the UAV to accomplish the first and second survey data happens autonomously and without active human intervention.

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

Systems and methods for maintaining and stabilizing the position and orientation of a payload attached to a high-altitude balloon are provided. A payload may be attached to a powered gimbal. The powered gimbal may be configured to orient and position the payload in a plurality of directions corresponding to a first, second, and third rotational axis of the balloon-mounted payload system. After the payload is positioned by the powered gimbal, the position and orientation of the payload may be maintained and stabilized by one or more rotational stabilization devices. The stabilization by the one or more rotational stabilization devices can occur along any one, or combination of, the first, second, and third rotational axes.

Systems and methods for maintaining and stabilizing the position and orientation of a payload attached to a high-altitude balloon are provided. A payload may be attached to a powered gimbal. The powered gimbal may be configured to orient and position the payload in a plurality of directions corresponding to a first, second, and third rotational axis of the balloon-mounted payload system. After the payload is positioned by the powered gimbal, the position and orientation of the payload may be maintained and stabilized by one or more rotational stabilization devices. The stabilization by the one or more rotational stabilization devices can occur along any one, or combination of, the first, second, and third rotational axes.

A releasable sling device includes first, second, and third attachment devices. The first attachment device is configured to an elevating device. The second attachment device is configured to be attached to an object. The third attachment device configured to be attached to a structure. A connection element is connected between the first attachment device and the second attachment device. A securing device has a first end that is connected to the second attachment device and a second end that is connected via a releasable connection device to the third attachment device. A releaser element is connected between the first attachment device and the releasable connection device. The releasable connection device is configured to release the third attachment device from the securing device when the releaser element is pulled away from the releasable connection device with a predetermined force threshold.