The present invention relates to an atmospheric environment-improving drone having life-saving and advertising functions, and more specifically, to a drone configured to move while hovering in the air, the drone comprising: a drone body; and a hovering transport unit for hovering the drone body in the air and moving same. The drone body is provided with a water spray means for purifying the air by adsorbing dust and fine dust in the air. The water spray means includes: support shafts, each of which has one end fixed on the outer surface of the drone body; spray liquid supply pipes fixed to lower portions of the support shafts; and spray liquid spraying nozzles formed at regular intervals on the purified liquid supply pipes. Since the drone configured to move while hovering in the air is used to spray water from the air, the drone can spray a wider area than ground-based water spray devices, thus having the effect of improving the purification efficiency for contaminants or fine dust in the air. Moreover, the drone has an advertising function, and thus can also achieve an advertising effect.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The tank assembly further comprises an attachment mechanism attached to the upper frame structure and configured to engage a main rotor transmission of the helicopter to suspend therefrom. A helicopter comprising a fuselage, a main rotor transmission, and a tank assembly is also provided.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The tank assembly further comprises an attachment mechanism attached to the upper frame structure and configured to engage a main rotor transmission of the helicopter to suspend therefrom. A helicopter comprising a fuselage, a main rotor transmission, and a tank assembly is also provided.

A multiple hoist system is used with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivering parcels. An example of the multiple hoist system comprises two or more hoists that are independently operable, meaning that a first hoist can lower or raise a first line independently of using a second hoist to raise or lower a second line. The hoists can independently raise and lower their associated lines to allow the UAV to deliver multiple parcels to multiple delivery locations, or the hoists can synchronously raise and lower the associated lines together so that larger parcels can be delivered using the UAV. The hoists can be comprised within a body of the multiple hoist system. The body can further include a securing device for releasably securing the multiple hoist system to the UAV.

A multiple hoist system is used with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for delivering parcels. An example of the multiple hoist system comprises two or more hoists that are independently operable, meaning that a first hoist can lower or raise a first line independently of using a second hoist to raise or lower a second line. The hoists can independently raise and lower their associated lines to allow the UAV to deliver multiple parcels to multiple delivery locations, or the hoists can synchronously raise and lower the associated lines together so that larger parcels can be delivered using the UAV. The hoists can be comprised within a body of the multiple hoist system. The body can further include a securing device for releasably securing the multiple hoist system to the UAV.

A payload support frame is adapted to suspend a payload from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during flight. The frame comprises at least one elongated rigid segment, at least one upper flexible segment at an upper end of the rigid segment, and at least one lower flexible segment at a lower end of the rigid segment. One or more of (a) the at least one rigid segment, (b) the at least one upper flexible segment, or (c) the at least one lower flexible segment comprise a dielectric material. The upper flexible segment is adapted to be selectively attachable, directly or indirectly, to the UAV. The lower flexible segment is adapted to be selectively attachable, directly or indirectly, to the payload.

A payload support frame is adapted to suspend a payload from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during flight. The frame comprises at least one elongated rigid segment, at least one upper flexible segment at an upper end of the rigid segment, and at least one lower flexible segment at a lower end of the rigid segment. One or more of (a) the at least one rigid segment, (b) the at least one upper flexible segment, or (c) the at least one lower flexible segment comprise a dielectric material. The upper flexible segment is adapted to be selectively attachable, directly or indirectly, to the UAV. The lower flexible segment is adapted to be selectively attachable, directly or indirectly, to the payload.

Various embodiments of a vision-guided unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system to identify and collect foreign objects from the surface of a body of water are disclosed herein. A vision system and methodology has been developed to reduce reflections and glare from a water surface to better identify an object for removal. A linearized polarization filter and a specularity-removal algorithm is used to eliminate excessive reflection and glare. A contour-based detection algorithm is implemented for detecting the targeted objects on water surface. Further, the system includes a boundary layer sliding mode control (BLSMC) methodology to reduce and minimize position and velocity errors between the UAV and object in the presence of modeling and parameter uncertainties due to variation in a moving water surface.

Various embodiments of a vision-guided unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system to identify and collect foreign objects from the surface of a body of water are disclosed herein. A vision system and methodology has been developed to reduce reflections and glare from a water surface to better identify an object for removal. A linearized polarization filter and a specularity-removal algorithm is used to eliminate excessive reflection and glare. A contour-based detection algorithm is implemented for detecting the targeted objects on water surface. Further, the system includes a boundary layer sliding mode control (BLSMC) methodology to reduce and minimize position and velocity errors between the UAV and object in the presence of modeling and parameter uncertainties due to variation in a moving water surface.

A control system for a rescue hoist attached to an aircraft is disclosed. In various embodiments, the control system includes a first bus extending between a control module of the rescue hoist and a control input device; and a second bus extending between the control module of the rescue hoist and the control input device. The first bus is configured to transmit a first signal from the control input device to the control module and the second bus is configured to transmit a second signal from the control input device to the control module, both the first signal and the second signal being generated by the control input device in response to a manipulation of the control input device.