Various embodiments of a docking station configured for semi-autonomous or fully autonomous management of drones. In various embodiments, the station can identify the exact location and angle of a drone on a landing pad, and modify the location and angle in order for a robot to retrieve a used battery from the drone and also insert a fully charged replacement battery. The station may also determine the charge status of a drone's battery, the exact type of battery used by a particular drone, and select for replacement into the drone the specific battery needed. There are various embodiments of a system with such a docking station, command & control software, a database, and a network control center. Various embodiments are of methods to identify the need to replace a battery, identify the type of battery required, and effect replacement in an automated manner.

A reconfigurable system capable of autonomously exchanging material from unmanned vehicles of various types and sizes. The system comprises an environmental enclosure, a landing area, a universal mechanical system to load and unload material from the unmanned vehicle, and a central processor that manages the aforementioned tasks. The landing area may comprise a one or more visible or non-visible markers/emitters capable of generating composite images to assist in landing the unmanned vehicle upon the reconfigurable, autonomous system.

A freight vehicle on which a drone is docked, may include: a transfer device provided in the vehicle and configured to move up and down between an internal space of the vehicle and a roof to receive freight from the drone through the roof of the vehicle or transfer freight to the drone; and a loadspace separated, as a portion of the internal space of the vehicle, from a space where the transfer device is provided and including an open portion formed on a side or a rear of the vehicle, and onto which the freight is loaded.

A mechanically secure docking platform for unmanned VTOL aircraft (“drone”) or other automated vehicle, acting as an automated battery recharging system for drones or a battery quick change system for drones. The system also is capable of enabling an automated data logistics system for drones, an autonomous guidance system for landing and docking for drones, and/or an autonomous guidance system for undocking and takeoff for drones.

Many different types of systems are utilized or tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of unmanned vehicles, or drones, that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more unmanned vehicles can be integrated with a dedicated marine electronic device of a marine vessel for autonomous control and operation. Additionally or alternatively, the unmanned vehicle can be manually remote operated during use in the marine environment. Such unmanned vehicles can be utilized in many different marine environment systems or tasks, including, for example, navigation, sonar, radar, search and rescue, video streaming, alert functionality, among many others. However, as contemplated by the present invention, the marine environment provides many unique challenges that may be accounted for with operation and control of an unmanned vehicle.

A device for the automated charging and discharging of an object on a free-flying autonomously controlled drone includes a landing platform for the drone, a storage device for storing objects, a robot where the robot is configured to remove an object from the storage apparatus in an automated manner and to provide the object on the landing platform to be picked up by the drone and is configured to pick up in an automated manner an object that is provided on the landing platform by the drone and to deposit the object in the storage apparatus, and a controller where the robot is controllable by the controller.

Disclosed are unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) positioning mechanisms for moving a UAV across a surface. The positioning mechanisms comprise a first guide assembly arranged opposite to a second guide assembly. A drive system is arranged to move the first guide assembly towards the second guide assembly and guide the UAV from a first position to a second position.

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 system for deploying and retrieving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a UAV carrier including a UAV bay, where the system includes a UAV pad including a UAV pad base and a UAV pad coupler to couple the UAV to the UAV pad base; a mechanical arm including a first end configured to couple to the UAV carrier, and a second end configured to couple to the UAV pad; and a controller configured to determine a deployment position for the UAV pad, determine a retrieval position for the UAV pad, control the UAV pad, and control the mechanical arm.

A UAV location management method for use with a flight management system is provided, where the method comprises providing a location for at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for at least one of: landing, taking-off and loading, providing at least a first weight-sensitive UAV pad at the UAV location, assigning a gross weight limit to each UAV scheduled to take-off from the first weight-sensitive UAV pad, the gross weight limit being based on a safety factor and at least one of: (i) a characteristic of the UAV; (ii) a characteristic of a power source of the UAV; (iii) a scheduled flight path for the UAV; and (iv) a weather condition, monitoring a weight exerted on the first weight-sensitive UAV pad when the UAV is positioned on the UAV pad, and transmitting a halt-flight signal to the flight management system for the UAV where the weight exceeds the gross weight limit.