An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system provides for UAV deployment and remote, unattended operation with reduced logistics requirements. The system includes a launcher that can include one or more containers, or hangars, configured to house vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs. The system can further include a VTOL UAV orientation and charging module configured to mechanically position a UAV within a container and facilitate electrical mating and charging of a battery in the UAV. These operations, and others, can be performed by remote command that can initiate a series of pre-programmed steps. The UAV system can further include a power generation and storage subsystem, a security subsystem, a command and control subsystem and a communications subsystem. Command, control and communications can be provided between a remote station and the UAV.

An aeronautical light aid for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flying object is provided. The aeronautical light aid includes a plurality of first lighting portions buried in a takeoff and landing port and configured to radiate light in a vertically upward direction, a plurality of second lighting portions provided on an outer side of the takeoff and lighting port and configured to radiate light in an externally upward direction, and a landing guide provided at the center of the takeoff and landing port.

Visual landing aids including a series of contrasting circles and polygons for unmanned aerial vehicles that are capable of being accurately detected over a wide range of angles and distances by an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a camera and shape detection capabilities. The visual landing said may be implemented using contrasting colors for the pattern which reflect visible and/or UV or infrared light, or by light emitting elements. In some examples, the landing aids includes a secondary smaller version of the landing aid shape pattern that is embedded within the larger pattern, to enable greater detection range while facilitating close-in precision guidance. In still further examples, light emitting elements may be pulsed at a rate that is synchronized with the camera shutter on the unmanned aerial vehicle to further enhance accurate detection.

A landing platform for an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a plurality of substantially funnel-shaped centering housings configured to cooperate with a corresponding plurality of projections of the aerial vehicle for reaching a predetermined landing position. The platform can include a mechanism for recharging the battery of the aerial vehicle and/or with an arrangement for serial data transfer.

Disclosed herein is a drone landing system. The drone landing system can provide precise landing guidance for drones through detection of X/Y distances and a Z distance of a drone from a center point of a station using an X/Y-axis camera and a Z-axis camera disposed on the station and through automatic or manual control over the drone using a controller.

A transportable launch and landing pad for drones includes a round surface member for supporting a drone on a ground surface. The surface member includes an endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter disposable on the flat or undulating topography of the ground surface. The endless flexible weighted ground surface contacting, engaging and conforming perimeter is formed of a stranded carbon steel wire rope. The surface member has a diameter establishing an area of the pad that is greater than any linear distance across an area of downwardly moving air of the drone when operated. The pad maintains a position on the ground surface without any separate securing member inserted into the ground, and the pad is not lifted from the ground surface by air from the thrust of the drone during approach and departure of the drone relative to the pad.

A vehicle capable of multiple varieties of locomotion having a main body; a plurality of motors and blades providing flying capability; each motor being associated with and powering a blade assembly; two legs extending from opposing sides of the main body creating a ground propulsion system. The ground propulsion system having two legs; each leg connected to a track body at the opposing leg end; each track body comprised of a plurality of drive gears; each track body connected to and retaining a track providing ground propulsion. The vehicle can either drive or fly based on its base structure, in additional to carrying a payload. The payload is carried below the main body of the vehicle and between the tracks or running gear. When the vehicle is in flight, the tracks are able to rotate up into a fly/flight mode to protect the blades during flight.

An inspection system for a storage facility comprising an automatic guided vehicle with a bidimensional positioning system and an unmanned aerial vehicle with a measurement sensor to acquire measurement data. The inspection system further comprises a position control system to maintain the unmanned aerial vehicle above the automatic guided vehicle in the vertical direction, an altitude sensor to acquire a relative vertical distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the automatic guided vehicle, and a communication system to transmit the measurement data to a remote server. The inspection system transmits to the remote server a set of tridimensional coordinates associated with the measurement data comprising horizontal coordinates function of the bidimensional location of the automatic guided vehicle on the floor of the storage facility and a vertical coordinate function of the relative vertical distance of the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the automatic guided vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus comprising a body including a cavity for storing one or more packages, and a conveyor belt disposed above a top surface of the body. The belt is shaped to receive one or more packages, and the belt is controllable to rotate a package placed on the belt either from the top surface to the cavity for storage or from the cavity to the top surface for dispatch. A package comprises at least one of a drone and a payload transported by the drone. The apparatus further comprises a landing mechanism for stabilizing a drone landing on the apparatus.

The application provides an autonomous refueling vehicle for a hydrogen-electric aircraft, which includes two or more wings. The wings are provided with one or more removable electric propulsion pods. The autonomous refueling vehicle includes a hydrogen refueling module adapted to connect to the propulsion pods and to a hydrogen source. The autonomous refueling vehi-cle includes also includes a propulsion pod handling device, which is adapted to remove the propulsion pod from the wings and to position the propulsion pods on the hydrogen refueling module such that the propulsion pods are connected to the hy-drogen refueling module. The autonomous refueling vehicle is also adapted to autonomously move itself to the hydrogen source to allow the hydrogen refueling module to removably connect to the hydrogen source for refueling of the propulsion pods.