Various embodiments include methods, devices, and systems of transporting a payload using a robotic vehicle. Various embodiments may include determining whether a payload is securely held by the robotic vehicle, and taking a corrective action in response to determining that the payload is not securely held by the robotic vehicle.

An intelligent restraint system architecture for aircraft cargo is provided. The intelligent restraint system architecture includes restraints arrayed along a cargo deck and local restraint control panels (RCPs). Each restraint is configured to normally assume a retracted condition at which cargo movement proximate to the restraint is permitted and to selectively assume an erected condition at which cargo movement proximate to the restraint is inhibited by the restraint. The local RCPs are respectively coupled to proximal restraints. Each local RCP is receptive of a signal indicative of a cargo movement status and is configured to automatically control each of the proximal restraints to selectively assume the erected condition or to re-assume the retracted condition in accordance with the signal being received and content thereof.

A cargo handling system includes a conveyance surface; a first power drive unit having a first drive roller; a first restraint device; one or more sensors configured to provide positional data corresponding to a current location of a unit load device on the conveyance surface; and a first power drive unit agent configured for communication with the one or more sensors, the first power drive unit agent configured to selectively activate and deactivate the first drive roller and the first restraint device based on the positional data.

Systems, apparatus, and methods detect and respond to environmental anomalies in a shipping container on a transit vehicle having an external transceiver. Systems generally have wireless ID nodes at different locations within the container and a command node mounted to the container. The command node is programmatically adapted to selectively assign a subset of the ID nodes as dedicated monitor beacons deployed within the container, identify an unresponsive group from the assigned subset of the ID nodes monitored to be in an unanticipated state of ceased broadcasting based upon the monitoring step. The command node detects the environmental anomaly when a size of the unresponsive group in the assigned subset of ID nodes exceeds a threshold setting maintained by the command node, automatically generates an alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly, and initiates a mediation response for the anomaly by transmitting the alert notification to the vehicle's transceiver.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes propellers, motors configured to drive the propellers, respectively, a main body including a control device configured to control the motors, and a wireless device configured to perform at least one of transmission or reception of a signal, a package container for containing a package, and at least one float. In a case where the UAV is placed on water, buoyancy of the float and the package container prevents a surface of the water from reaching at least a height of the wireless device. The buoyancy of the package container increases with the volume of the package container.

A node-enabled battery system having integrated environmental detection and reporting. The system may have a battery and sensor-based node attached to the battery. The system's sensor-based node has a processor, memory (maintaining a battery monitoring program code and a battery threshold metric value), a wireless communication interface and a sensor operative to sense a battery status condition for the battery. When executing the battery monitoring program code, the processor is programmatically configured and adapted to be operative to receive status data from the sensor reflecting the battery status condition as sensed by the sensor, automatically trigger generation of a layered alert notification related to the battery when the received status data is inconsistent with the battery threshold metric value, and cause the wireless communication interface to broadcast the layered alert notification to initiate a mediation response related to the battery status condition for the battery.

An improved system on a transit vehicle is described for coordinated mediation action in response to an identified environmental anomaly on a shipping container transported by the vehicle. The system has wirelessly broadcasting ID nodes at different locations within the container, and a fire suppression system on the vehicle having a wireless transceiver-based controller operating as a master node that can cause the suppression system to deliver fire suppressant material to the container using a delivery nozzle and pump. The controller, as master node, is configured to operate as a primary monitor for the anomaly by being operative to monitor ID node signals; identify the anomaly based on the signals; generate a layered alert notification related to the anomaly (identifying a targeted mediation action and establishes a mediation response priority); and initiate a mediation response by the suppression system related to the targeted mediation action and the mediation response priority.

A cargo pallet is disclosed. The cargo pallet may have a pallet base. The cargo pallet may also have a pallet liner. The pallet liner may have a pallet liner base. The pallet liner base may be positioned on the pallet base. The pallet liner may also have a pallet extension, which may be fixedly attached to the pallet liner base. The pallet extension may project outwardly from the pallet liner base. The pallet extension may also have a support surface that may at least in part extend outwardly beyond a footprint of the pallet base.

A locking pin assembly for a cargo loading system includes a shaft, a first retention pin, a second retention pin, and a synchronizer. The shaft defines a first shaft groove and a second shaft groove. The first retention pin and the second retention pin are disposed within the shaft. The synchronizer is disposed about the shaft and defines a first synchronizer groove that crosses over the first shaft groove and a second synchronizer groove that crosses over the second shaft groove.

A dynamically transitioning system for monitoring a shipping container transported by a transit vehicle for an environmental anomaly has ID nodes within the container (at least some being associated with objects being transported), a command node on the container, and an external master node at a known location on the vehicle. The command node operates as a primary monitor for the anomaly by monitoring signal activity from the ID nodes; identifying the anomaly based upon the signal activity; generating a layered alert notification that identifies a targeted mediation recipient and mediation action, and establishes a mediation response priority; and transmits the notification to an external transceiver on the transit vehicle to initiate a mediation response for the mediation action. The command node dynamically instructs the external master node to temporarily operate as the primary monitor when the command node is within a threshold distance from the external master node's location.