A modular vertical take-off and landing aircraft for transporting persons and/or loads, comprising a flight module with multiple drive units arranged on a supporting framework structure, each drive unit having an electric motor and a propeller operatively connected to the electric motor, a transport module having a conveying pod and a connection device for connecting the conveying pod to the flight module. The connection device has an elongated shaft, one end of which is attached to the conveying pod, and a coupling device for connecting the flight module to another end of the elongate shaft of the transport module.

Disclosed is a transport module (1) for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft for transporting persons and/or loads, having a conveying pod (2) and a connection device (3) for connecting the conveying pod (2) to a flight: module (5). The connection device (3) has an elongate shaft (6), one end of which has a coupling device (4) and the other end of which is attached to the conveying pod (2).

Disclosed is a take-off and landing station (1) for a flying vehicle (2) for transporting people and/or loads, which flying vehicle takes off and lands vertically and comprises a flight module (3), having a plurality of drive units (17) arranged on a supporting framework structure (16) of the flight module (3), and a transportation module (4), which can be coupled to the flight module (3). The take-off and landing station (1) comprises a holding apparatus (21) having a plurality of gripper elements and support elements (11) for supporting, fixing and/or orienting the supporting framework structure (16) during take-off and landing of the flying vehicle (2) or the flight module (3).

A device may receive one or more images that depict one or more shapes associated with a first object that includes a portal. The device may identify, based on the one or more images, one or more characteristics of the one or more shapes. The device may determine, based on the one or more characteristics of the one or more shapes, one or more attributes of the portal. The device may determine, based on the one or more attributes of the portal, positioning information to be used to position a second object relative to the portal of the first object. The device may output, based on the positioning information, one or more control signals associated with positioning the second object relative to the portal.

A flight module for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft comprises multiple drive units arranged on a supporting framework structure that comprises struts interconnected at node points. Each drive unit comprises an electric motor and a propeller that is operatively connected to the electric motor. Some of the drive units are arranged outside the node points.

Disclosed is a charging station (2) for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (1) comprising one or more energy stores, the station having a charging device for transferring electrical energy to the energy store or stores. Also disclosed is a combined charging station (12) for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, each aircraft comprising one or more energy stores, the combined charging station (12) having multiple charging stations.

A method for boarding passengers on a vehicle that includes providing an organization area and a passenger vehicle, the passenger vehicle having a plurality of rows between a front row and a back row, positioning a passenger display in the organization area, displaying, on the passenger display, a boarding pattern identifying a first group and a second group for boarding passengers onto the passenger vehicle, and instructing passengers to exit the organization area and enter the passenger vehicle in the boarding pattern identified by the passenger display. The first group is directed to occupy a first set of rows before the second group is directed to occupy a second set of rows and two adjacent rows of the first set of rows are separated from one another by at least one row of the second set of rows.

An information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire information about a first airplane and a second airplane in a case where a user who makes an airplane transfer in an airport makes a request to use an autonomously traveling vehicle when the user moves from the first airplane to the second airplane, match the user with the vehicle based on the information about the first airplane and the second airplane, and generate an operation instruction to dispose the vehicle at a position where the user alights from the first airplane in accordance with a time at which the user alights from the first airplane such that the user boards the vehicle and to dispose the vehicle at a position where the user boards the second airplane in accordance with a time at which the user boards the second airplane such that the user alights from the vehicle.

An information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire information about a first airplane and a second airplane in a case where a user who makes an airplane transfer in an airport makes a request to use an autonomously traveling vehicle when the user moves from the first airplane to the second airplane, match the user with the vehicle based on the information about the first airplane and the second airplane, and generate an operation instruction to dispose the vehicle at a position where the user alights from the first airplane in accordance with a time at which the user alights from the first airplane such that the user boards the vehicle and to dispose the vehicle at a position where the user boards the second airplane in accordance with a time at which the user boards the second airplane such that the user alights from the vehicle.

An embodiment rotorcraft structure includes a step disposed at an exterior of the rotorcraft, and an emergency kit installed into the recess of the step. The step is faired into a skin on the exterior of the rotorcraft. The emergency kit includes a container and a life raft. The container includes a container body that has a storage cavity, a container panel, and a first attachment element. The container body is disposed in the recess of the step, attached to the step, and has a storage cavity. The container panel is disposed at a bottom of the storage cavity, and the life raft is disposed in the storage cavity. The first attachment element releasably couples a first edge of the container panel to the container body, and encloses the life raft in the container under the step.