Disclosed are apparatus, systems, and methods, including a ground transport drive container comprising an outer container having a cuboid shape and comprising a plurality of fittings for securing the outer container to another apparatus; and a drive wheel assembly. The drive wheel assembly comprises one or more wheels and a deployment mechanism secured to the one or more wheels. An actuating member actuates the drive wheel assembly between a stowed configuration and one or more deployed configurations. In the stowed configuration, the drive wheel assembly is housed entirely within the outer container. In the one or more deployed configurations, the drive wheel assembly extends from the outer container.

A 1-to-N munitions adapter that includes a physical launcher interface, a physical munitions interface, and electronic control circuitry. The physical launcher interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to a single munition launcher that is i) configured and arranged to carry and launch a single munition of a first type, and ii) integrated to an airborne platform. The physical munitions interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to multiple munitions of a second type. The 1-N munitions adapter i) emulates a control interface of a single munition of the first type to the single munition launcher, in part by identifying the 1-to-N munitions adapter to the single munition launcher as a single munition of the first type, and ii) selectively controls the release of munitions of the second type while the airborne platform is in flight in response to signals received from the single munition launcher.

A 1-to-N munitions adapter that includes a physical launcher interface, a physical munitions interface, and electronic control circuitry. The physical launcher interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to a single munition launcher that is i) configured and arranged to carry and launch a single munition of a first type, and ii) integrated to an airborne platform. The physical munitions interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to multiple munitions of a second type. The 1-N munitions adapter i) emulates a control interface of a single munition of the first type to the single munition launcher, in part by identifying the 1-to-N munitions adapter to the single munition launcher as a single munition of the first type, and ii) selectively controls the release of munitions of the second type while the airborne platform is in flight in response to signals received from the single munition launcher.

A method for determining the heading of an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned aerial vehicle are provided. The method includes: acquiring a first heading angle of an unmanned aerial vehicle by means of a first sensing system, and acquiring a second heading angle of the unmanned aerial vehicle by means of a second sensing system (S102); judging whether the second heading angle is valid according to a comparing result (S104); and if the second heading angle is invalid, determining the first heading angle as a current heading angle of the unmanned aerial vehicle (S106).

Disclosed herein is an auxiliary-pod mounting system for mounting an auxiliary pod to a landing skid assembly of a helicopter. The landing skid assembly comprises a forward crossbar, a rearward crossbar, and skids coupled to the forward crossbar and the rearward crossbar. The auxiliary-pod mounting system comprises a first rail. The auxiliary-pod mounting system also comprises a second rail, spaced apart from the first rail. The auxiliary-pod mounting system further comprises a mounting plate, interposed between and coupled to the first rail and the second rail. The mounting plate comprises pod engagement features configured to engage the auxiliary pod and to secure the auxiliary pod to the mounting plate. The auxiliary-pod mounting system additionally comprises a plurality of brackets configured to couple the first rail and the second rail to the forward crossbar and the rearward crossbar of the landing skid assembly of the helicopter.

A munitions rack includes a munitions rack structure that houses multiple compact ejectors. The structure includes a pair of internal longitudinal ribs, inboard of a pair of external longitudinal ribs. A spine of the munitions rack structure links all the ribs, and the munitions rack structure may be formed out of a single piece of material. The ribs define a pair of side recesses on the port and starboard sides of the bomb, which each may be further subdivided into a forward pocket and an aft pocket. Removable ejectors are located in the pockets. The ejectors may receive pressurized gas from pressurized gas source(s) located outside of the ejectors. The ejectors may each have multiple forward pistons and multiple aft pistons. The ejectors may include pitch control valving to control the relative amounts of pressurized gas sent to the forward piston(s) and aft piston(s).

A munitions rack includes a munitions rack structure that houses multiple compact ejectors. The structure includes a pair of internal longitudinal ribs, inboard of a pair of external longitudinal ribs. A spine of the munitions rack structure links all the ribs, and the munitions rack structure may be formed out of a single piece of material. The ribs define a pair of side recesses on the port and starboard sides of the bomb, which each may be further subdivided into a forward pocket and an aft pocket. Removable ejectors are located in the pockets. The ejectors may receive pressurized gas from pressurized gas source(s) located outside of the ejectors. The ejectors may each have multiple forward pistons and multiple aft pistons. The ejectors may include pitch control valving to control the relative amounts of pressurized gas sent to the forward piston(s) and aft piston(s).

A payload mechanism for a vehicle is provided. The payload mechanism comprises: a door (2) operable to be in a closed configuration or an open configuration within a recess of the vehicle, the recess having an aperture (10); a first bearing unit comprising a first bearing (3a) and a second bearing (4a), the first bearing unit being coupled to one end of the door such that the door can rotate about the axis of rotation (y) of the first bearing and wherein the first bearing unit can rotate about the axis of rotation (x) of the second bearing, wherein the axis of rotation of the first bearing is offset from the axis of rotation of the second bearing; and a drive unit arranged to selectively drive either: the first bearing and the second bearing simultaneously at opposite and equal angular rates of motion to rotate the door in a first direction about the axis of rotation of the first bearing and to rotate the first bearing unit in a second direction about the axis of rotation of the second bearing to move the door closer to or away from the aperture, or the first bearing but not the second bearing to rotate the door about the axis of rotation of the first bearing. Methods of operating said payload mechanism are also provided, along with a vehicle having the payload mechanism.

A rail launch mechanism and method for launching a payload is configured to release payload lugs of a payload from a platform. A rack for launching a payload includes multiple rails that separately engage lugs in the respective payload of the rails, and a force actuator for launching the payload by accelerating the payload along the rails, causing the lugs to separate from the respective rails. A launching system for launching the payload from the platform may include a rail, at least one payload release shoe that carries a payload lug along the rail, and a force actuator for accelerating the payload release shoe such that inertia of the payload causes the payload lug to be released from the payload release shoe.

A tube launch system is used for launching payloads from a platform and includes at least one tube launch section that is removably mounted to the platform, a plurality of powered wheels that are electrically powered and arranged in the tube launch section for propelling the payloads through the tube launch section, and a power source configured to operate the powered wheels. The tube launch system may include a magazine having an endless conveyor and powered magazine wheels that are engageable with the payloads to move the payloads from the endless conveyor to the tube launch section.