An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system, including: a UAV pod having an interior; and a telescoping UAV landing surface disposed in the interior of the UAV pod; where the telescoping UAV landing surface may translate up toward a top opening of the UAV pod, translate down into an interior of the UAV pod, or rotate relative to the UAV pod.

Launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft and/or other payloads, including via parachute-assist, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An example unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes a lift device, a parachute, and a capture line. The lift device includes a canister. The parachute is stowed in and deployable from the canister. The capture line is attached to the parachute and to a line control device. The capture line is configured to be engaged by a capture device located at an end of a wing of a UAV.

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

A device for the automated vertical take-off, vertical landing, and/or handling of an aerial vehicle with the aid of a robot, the device including a first connection module and a second connection module, each including a capture and/or release section that is active in a capture and/or release phase and a guide section that is active in a guide phase, and the first connection module and the second connection module being lockable in a holding position. An aerial vehicle capable of automatedly vertically taking off, vertically landing, or being handled with the aid of a robot, the aerial vehicle including a first connection module or a second connection module of such a device. An end effector for a robot for the automated vertical take-off, vertical landing, and/or handling of an aerial vehicle, the end effector including a second connection module or a first connection module of such a device.

A device for the automated vertical take-off, vertical landing, and/or handling of an aerial vehicle with the aid of a robot, the device including a first connection module and a second connection module, each including a capture and/or release section that is active in a capture and/or release phase and a guide section that is active in a guide phase, and the first connection module and the second connection module being lockable in a holding position. An aerial vehicle capable of automatedly vertically taking off, vertically landing, or being handled with the aid of a robot, the aerial vehicle including a first connection module or a second connection module of such a device. An end effector for a robot for the automated vertical take-off, vertical landing, and/or handling of an aerial vehicle, the end effector including a second connection module or a first connection module of such a device.

A chair for use in take-off or landing of a user wearing personal flying equipment may include a seat for the user to straddle such that the user faces in a forward direction. The chair may include a torso support for supporting a torso of the user sitting on the seat. The torso support may be concave and define an opening facing the seat. The seat and torso support may be mounted to a structure. A base member may be rigidly connected to the structure and may extend outwardly from either side of the structure, leaving a space below the structure for receiving a leg of the user when the user sits on the seat.

A landing system suitable for receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). A landing surface is disposed on the AGV, and the landing system comprises a loading channel suitable for passing an object delivered by the UAV through a first loading channel opening in the landing surface. The object passes within the loading channel through to a second loading channel opening at a bottom aspect of the AGV. In this way, a UAV can land on the landing surface, and the AGV positions the object in line with a target delivery location, where the object is delivered. Aspects of the landing system comprise an electromagnet or vacuum chamber for securing the UAV to the landing surface, thereby enhancing stability of the UAV during movement of the landing system.

A landing system suitable for receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). A landing surface is disposed on the AGV, and the landing system comprises a loading channel suitable for passing an object delivered by the UAV through a first loading channel opening in the landing surface. The object passes within the loading channel through to a second loading channel opening at a bottom aspect of the AGV. In this way, a UAV can land on the landing surface, and the AGV positions the object in line with a target delivery location, where the object is delivered. Aspects of the landing system comprise an electromagnet or vacuum chamber for securing the UAV to the landing surface, thereby enhancing stability of the UAV during movement of the landing system.

A drone docking/landing system includes: a docking portion having a shape of any one of a polygonal pyramid, a truncated polygonal pyramid, a cone, and a truncated cone and being capable of docking a drone; and a landing portion mounted at a lower portion of the drone, having a lower portion that is open, into which the docking portion is inserted, and having an empty inner space, wherein the landing portion has a shape of any one of a polygonal pyramid, a truncated polygonal pyramid, a cone, and a truncated cone, wherein the shape corresponds to the shape of the docking portion so that the docking portion is inserted into the landing portion.

A support structure, including an excavation and a plurality of irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies at least partially filing the excavation. Each respective irregularly shaped foamed glass body has an aspect ratio of about 1:1.7 and a diameter of about 1 inch. The irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies intersect to define stacking angles of at least about 35 degrees. Under compression, the irregularly shaped foamed glass bodies crush and break up before slip failure occurs such that the roadbed has a crushing failure mode.