An aircraft for carrying a cargo assembly. The aircraft comprises a spine structure including a first end, a second end, and mounts. The mounts structurally engage the cargo assembly in juxtaposition with the spine structure between the first and second ends. The aircraft further comprises a pre-load system. The pre-load system comprises a first load transfer structure coupled to the first end, a second load transfer structure coupled to the second end, a linking structure coupled to the first and second load transfer structures, and a tensioning mechanism coupled to the linking structure. The tensioning mechanism is configured to apply varying levels of tension to the linking structure when coupled to the load transfer structures.

A fire suppression system has a unique combination of components that includes interoperable electric-powered vehicles, facilities, hardware and software along with their range of specifications, standards, processes, capabilities and concepts of operations that comprise a concerted, multi-modal, system for delivering fire-retardant onto fires by uniquely-capable, ultra-quiet, electrically-powered, autonomous robotic aircraft (“SkyQarts”) that fly precise trajectories and perform extremely short take-offs and landings (ESTOL) at a highly-distributed network of small facilities (“SkyNests”) that have standardized compatible facilities, as defined herein, that interoperate with SkyQarts as well as with versatile, autonomous robotic electric-powered payload carts and electric-powered autonomous robotic delivery carts to provide safe, fast, on-demand, community-acceptable, environmentally friendly, high-capacity, sustained, affordable, day or night delivery of fire-retardant, even in smokey, IFR conditions to wildfires or controlled burns in urban, suburban, wildlands and rural settings in both developed and undeveloped countries across the globe.

In an aircraft, bi-stable power drive units (PDUs) move and secure cargo within an aircraft cargo hold. Such a PDU includes a frame, by which the PDU is rigidly attached to the cargo hold floor; a body pivotably attached, via a hinge, at a first end of the frame at least one drive roller attached at a second end of the body; and an actuator attached to the body and which causes a pivoting angular movement of the body, relative to the frame, about the hinge. The actuator maintains an angular position of the body relative to the frame even upon a loss of power to the PDU. The body is movable between and including a retracted position and a deployed position. A cargo management system includes a plurality of such PDUs, at least one having a controlled area network (CAN) bus interface to control and communicate with a controller.

A cargo handling system may comprise a plurality of trays and a topskin. The plurality of trays may structurally support the topskin. The plurality of trays may be contiguously covered. The plurality of trays may be partially covered by the topskin. At least one of a ball transfer unit (BTU) or a roller assembly may be configured to be coupled to the topskin and/or disposed within a groove of a tray in the plurality of trays.

A cargo restraint system comprises a plurality of cargo restraint assemblies. Each cargo restraint assembly in the plurality of cargo restraint assemblies may be removably coupled to a cargo deck in various configurations. The plurality of cargo restraint assemblies may be reconfigurable based on a size of a plurality of unit load devices (ULDs) to be loaded and restrained. Each cargo restraint assembly may restrain four or fewer corners of respective ULDs simultaneously.

An improved system detects an environmental anomaly in a shipping container and initiates a mediation response through a generated layered alert notification. The system includes sensor-based ID nodes associated with packages within the container, and a command node mounted to the container communicating with the ID nodes and an external transceiver on a vehicle transporting the container. The command node is programmed to detect sensor data from the ID nodes; compare the sensor data to package environmental thresholds in context data related to each ID node; detect the environmental anomaly when the comparison indicates an environmental condition for at least one package exceeds its environmental threshold; responsively generate a layered alert notification identifying a mediation recipient and mediation action, and establishing a mediation response priority based upon the comparison; and transmit the layered alert notification to the transceiver unit to initiate a mediation response related to the mediation action.

Systems and methods are described for detecting and initiating a response to an environmental anomaly in a shipping container. Generally, a system includes two sets of ID nodes within and outside the container and a command node mounted to the container. The command node is specially adapted to monitor the different sets of ID nodes for unanticipated non-broadcasting according to communication profiles for respective ID nodes in each set and detect an unresponsive group of ID nodes and what set of ID nodes the unresponsive ones are in. The command node identifies the anomaly when the number of unresponsive ID nodes exceeds a threshold setting, automatically generates an alert notification on the anomaly with an alert level setting based upon whether the unresponsive ID nodes are in the first and/or second set of ID nodes, and initiates a mediation response by transmitting the notification to the transit vehicle transceiver.

Disclosed are apparatus, systems, and methods, including a cargo transport system comprising a spine assembly, a container assembly, and an outer fairing. The spine assembly comprises a rigid spine and a plurality of mounts arranged on the rigid spine in a plurality of mount rows. The container assembly comprises a plurality of containers secured to the spine assembly using at least a subset of the plurality of mounts. The outer fairing at least partially encloses the container assembly. Each container of the plurality of containers comprises a plurality of fittings for securing the container to the spine assembly and/or another container of the container assembly. The container assembly is enclosed within a pressurization space for pressurizing the container assembly.

A system for restraining a cargo container in a cabin of an aircraft is disclosed. The system may include a guide rail, a rail and a plurality of rollers. The guide rail spans a length of a seat track and is releasably coupled to the seat track at one or more locations on a bottom surface of the guide rail. The rail is attached to a surface of the cargo container. The rail engages with the guide rail. The plurality of roller are coupled to the guide rail. The rollers engage a surface of the rail. The rail has two side surfaces that partially enclose two side surfaces of the rollers. When the cargo container deviates from a path defined by the guide rail, one of the side surfaces of the rollers abuts one of the side surfaces of the rail.