There is provided a cover for protecting a rawinsonde balloon. It includes: a cover main body; an inlet for allowing the rawinsonde balloon to be inserted into the cover main body; an inlet control member for controlling a size of the inlet; and a first basic cover fixing member to an n-th basic cover fixing member formed respectively at a first basic preliminary fixed end to an n-th basic preliminary fixed end on an outer surface of the cover main body; wherein, in response to applying a first partial force vector to a k-th partial force vector respectively to a first specific basic cover fixing member to a k-th specific basic cover fixing member, a direction of a first total force vector becomes opposite to a direction of from a virtual origin of the first total force vector to a center of the inlet.

Disclosed herein is an indicating marker and method of use for removably attaching the indicating marker to a structure comprising an opening. The indicating marker comprises a cover device configured to removably seal the opening of the structure. At least one light is attached to the cover device. A power source is electrically connectable to the at least one light to emit a visible light from the at least light and illuminate the cover device. Alternatively, a wireless signal emitter is attached to the cover device and is configured to receive a signal from a wireless signal receiver separate from the structure and transmit a wireless response signal to the wireless signal receiver. In one example, both a light and a wireless signal emitter are attached to the cover device.

A method for sheltering a balloon, a blimp, or airship. The method includes obtaining a first guideway by detachably attaching a first plurality of detachable rings to a first side of an outer surface of the balloon, placing a first rope into the first guideway by passing the first rope through the first plurality of detachable rings, attaching a first end of the first rope to a first point of a blanket, and pulling the blanket over the balloon by pulling a second end of the first rope in a first direction pulling the blanket over the balloon by pulling a second end of the first rope in a first direction.

A self-disengaging pitot tube cover which is a longitudinally segmented substantially cylindrical structure constituted by at least two separable segments where separation of at least two segments is controlled by temperature sensing and effected by a fusible link holding two adjacent segments together; so that the separated segments lose hold on the pitot tube, when a particular temperature of the pitot tube is reached.

A portable device for holding and carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) includes a body. The body includes a first holding member configured to hold the UAV and having a shape matching a shape of the UAV. The portable device also includes a charging board disposed in the body. The portable device also includes a first charging station disposed in the first holding member and configured to electrically connect with the charging board for charging the UAV. The portable device further includes at least one second charging station disposed on the body and configured to electrically connect with the charging board for charging at least one battery.

A mobile calibration room may be used for calibrating one or more sensors used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A system can include folding or collapsible walls to enable the system to be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the system can comprise a calibration room including one or more 2D or 3D targets used to calibrate one or more sensors (e.g., cameras) on a UAV. The system can include a turntable to rotate the UAV about a first axis during calibration. The system can also include a cradle to rotate the UAV around, or translate the UAV along, a second axis. The turntable can include a frame to rotate the UAV around a third axis during calibration. The mobile calibration room can be coupled to a vehicle to enable the mobile calibration room to be moved between locations.

A device and a method for introducing a drone (3) to an area of interest (10) are presented. The drone delivery system (1) may include a housing (2), a drone (3), either a timer (4) or a receiver (49), a lock mechanism (8), and a biasing mechanism (48). The housing (2) further includes a pair of parts (6) with or without subparts (13). At least one sensor (7) is attached to the drone (3). The timer (4) or the receiver (49) is secured to the housing (2) and communicable with the lock mechanism (8) to control function thereof. The lock mechanism (8) is adapted to releasably secure the parts (6) or the subparts (13). The drone (3) is enclosed within the housing (2) in a CLOSED configuration (9) when the lock mechanism (8) is locked. The biasing mechanism (48) separates the parts (6) or the subparts (13) to an OPEN configuration (11) when the lock mechanism (8) is unlocked so that the drone (3) is not surrounded by the housing (2). The drone (3) is introducible to the area of interest (10) in the CLOSED configuration (9) and separable from the housing (2) in the OPEN configuration (11).

A pitot tube cover for a pitot tube operable to determine a speed of an aircraft based on an airstream impinging on the pitot tube. The pitot tube cover has a body and a sail extending from the body. The body has a top surface opposite a bottom surface, an elongate cavity and a slot extending from the top surface to the elongate cavity, the elongate cavity sized to receive the pitot tube and the slot having a width narrower than a diameter of the pitot tube to provide a retaining force which retains the body on the pitot tube after the pitot tube is received by the elongate cavity. The sail includes a first substantially planar sail surface and a second substantially planar sail surface extending from the first sail surface distally to the body.

A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation, including: receiving from a customer a first data request, the first data request having: a first geographic coverage area; and a refresh rate for the first geographic coverage area; planning a first plurality of flight missions to accomplish the first data request; uploading flight missions data representing the first plurality of flight missions into a UAV pod; and deploying the UAV pod.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for autonomously estimating the position and orientation (“pose”) of an aircraft relative to a target site are disclosed herein, including a system including a plurality of beacons arranged about the target site, wherein the plurality of beacons collectively comprise at least one electromagnetic radiation source and at least one beacon ranging radio, a sensor system coupled to the aircraft including an electromagnetic radiation sensor and a ranging radio configured to determine a range of the aircraft relative to the target site, and a processor configured to determine an estimated pose of the aircraft based on at least: (i) detected electromagnetic radiation, and (ii) time-stamped range data for the aircraft relative to the target site.