A refueling system has a first vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose with a nozzle on the deployable end, a second vehicle carrying a supply of fuel, having a refueling panel with a refueling port adapted to connect to the nozzle on the deployed end of the fuel hose, an end effector joined to the fuel hose proximate the nozzle, the end effector having a plurality of thrusters providing thrust in a plurality of directions; and control circuitry in the first vehicle and in the end effector enabling an operative to vary direction and thrust of the thrusters. The operative controls the thrusters through the control circuitry to direct the nozzle toward and to connect the nozzle to the refueling port on the refueling panel of the second vehicle.

A system for fighting fires has a source of fire-retardant material, a delivery hose connected to the source has a delivery nozzle at an end, and an end effector carrying the delivery hose proximate the nozzle. The end effector has controllable thrusters, an imaging device, and control circuitry including a display monitor, the control circuitry providing commands controlling actuators varying thrust and direction of the thrusters, and a valve in the delivery nozzle. With the delivery hose deployed, images from the end effector are transmitted to the control circuitry and displayed on the display monitor, and an operator viewing the images on the display monitor uses the command inputs to maneuver the end effector, carrying the nozzle at the end of the delivery hose to a position proximate an active fire, and opens the valve on the nozzle, delivering fire retardant material from the nozzle onto the fire.

A system for delivering objects from a fixed-wing aircraft has a first tether having a connector on a deployed end, an anchor apparatus fixed to a point on the ground, a slide ring assembled over the first tether, a drag line connected to the slide ring by one end, and a drag-producing device connected to at a second end, and an object carrying apparatus connected by a support line. The aircraft is flown at an altitude in an orbit at a diameter and a speed such that the deployed first tether assumes a spiral pattern. An object is placed in the object-carrying apparatus and released from the aircraft, with the slide ring guiding along the first tether, and the drag-producing element slows descent of the object in the carrying apparatus in the spiral pattern until the object reaches the ground, where the object is removed from the object-carrying apparatus.

A refueling system, comprising a drum rotatable to wind and unwind a hose, a carriage guiding the hose and lineally displaceable along a shaft parallel to the longitudinal direction of the drum so as to follow the movement of the hose along the drum. The shaft allows the displacement of the carriage along its length. A motor is coupled to the carriage and displaces the carriage along the shaft. A first position sensor communicates with the carriage to obtain its position. A second position sensor communicates with the drum to obtain the position of the hose. A control system is coupled to the first and the second sensor, to compare their obtained positions and to operate the motor.

A refueling system, comprising a drum rotatable to wind and unwind a hose, a carriage guiding the hose and lineally displaceable along a shaft parallel to the longitudinal direction of the drum so as to follow the movement of the hose along the drum. The shaft allows the displacement of the carriage along its length. A motor is coupled to the carriage and displaces the carriage along the shaft. A first position sensor communicates with the carriage to obtain its position. A second position sensor communicates with the drum to obtain the position of the hose. A control system is coupled to the first and the second sensor, to compare their obtained positions and to operate the motor.

A frictionless service carriage system including: a shaft 1 having a first 2 and a second 3 helix-shaped guide in its surface, each helix shaped-guide 2, 3 defining a linear movement along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 1 of a carriage 4 in opposite directions and both helix shaped-guides 2, 3 crossing each other 2, 3 along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 1, wherein the carriage 4 includes a movable element 5 located successively in each of the helix-shaped guides 2, 3 and movable along the guides 2, 3, the movable element 5 comprising a set of rolling elements 6 along the first or second helix-shaped guide 2, 3 of the shaft 1 and configured such that in a crossing with the other helix-shaped guide 2, 3, the set of rolling elements 6 has at least two contact points with the helix-shaped guide 2, 3 for which it rolls.

A frictionless service carriage system including: a shaft 1 having a first 2 and a second 3 helix-shaped guide in its surface, each helix shaped-guide 2, 3 defining a linear movement along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 1 of a carriage 4 in opposite directions and both helix shaped-guides 2, 3 crossing each other 2, 3 along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 1, wherein the carriage 4 includes a movable element 5 located successively in each of the helix-shaped guides 2, 3 and movable along the guides 2, 3, the movable element 5 comprising a set of rolling elements 6 along the first or second helix-shaped guide 2, 3 of the shaft 1 and configured such that in a crossing with the other helix-shaped guide 2, 3, the set of rolling elements 6 has at least two contact points with the helix-shaped guide 2, 3 for which it rolls.

A personnel rescue system has a winch subsystem comprising a first tether deployable and retrievable with a powered winch, a powered and controllable end effector attached at a deployable end of the first tether, a second tether attached by a first end to the end effector, a personnel harness attached at a second end of the second tether; and control apparatus in communication with the end effector, the control apparatus operable to maneuver the end effector vertically and laterally, carrying the personnel harness to a subject to be rescued.

An aerial resupply system (ARS) including a supply aircraft. The supply aircraft includes at least one of supply fuel, an ordinance, and data. The supply aircraft also includes a retractable boom system (RBS) configured for selective stowage within a fuselage of the supply aircraft and configured to supply at least one of supply fuel, the ordinance, and data to a location external to the fuselage.

An aerial resupply system (ARS) including a supply aircraft. The supply aircraft includes at least one of supply fuel, an ordinance, and data. The supply aircraft also includes a retractable boom system (RBS) configured for selective stowage within a fuselage of the supply aircraft and configured to supply at least one of supply fuel, the ordinance, and data to a location external to the fuselage.