A drone delivery system hub and method for sending for take-off and receiving for landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The drone delivery system hub includes a center shaft frame, a parcel-conveying system supported by the center shaft frame, structural arms coupled to and extending outward from the center shaft frame in a spoke-like configuration, drone-conveying systems each supported by one of the structural arms, and a linking conveyor span. The drone-conveying system conveys the UAVs along a length of a correspond one of the structural arms toward and away from the center shaft frame. The linking conveyor span selectably rotates to different orientations between different pairs of the structural arms, selectively conveying a UAV thereon between any two of the structural arms. The linking conveyor span is located above the parcel-conveying system such for the UAV thereon to deposit and retrieve parcels from the parcel-conveying system.

A drone delivery system hub and method for sending for take-off and receiving for landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The drone delivery system hub includes a center shaft frame, a parcel-conveying system supported by the center shaft frame, structural arms coupled to and extending outward from the center shaft frame in a spoke-like configuration, drone-conveying systems each supported by one of the structural arms, and a linking conveyor span. The drone-conveying system conveys the UAVs along a length of a correspond one of the structural arms toward and away from the center shaft frame. The linking conveyor span selectably rotates to different orientations between different pairs of the structural arms, selectively conveying a UAV thereon between any two of the structural arms. The linking conveyor span is located above the parcel-conveying system such for the UAV thereon to deposit and retrieve parcels from the parcel-conveying system.

An aircraft loader 54 includes an upper loading platform 50 and an underlying frame 52 with the frame utilizing the bogey suspension system 60, as well as carrying auxiliary lift system 400 at the rearward end thereof for assisting in the initial lifting of the platform relative to the frame. Powered roller assemblies 100, 110, 120, and 130, composed of hollow drive shafts, may be conveniently assembled and disassembled from the underside of loading platform 50. A plurality of upwardly convex-shaped static slider elements 200 facilitate unidirectional movement of loads on the platform 50. At the forward end of the platform, a guard or side rail 316 is rotatable from a retracted position within the confines of a control platform 68 to a forwardly directed position toward the fuselage of the aircraft. The side rail 316 is shaped to resemble the exterior cross-sectional shape of the fuselage, thereby to close the gap between the forward end of the loading platform and the fuselage, for the protection of loader personnel.

Systems, methods, and vehicles for loading and unloading cargo from a long-distance transport vehicle, such as an aircraft, are described. The systems and methods include operating a plurality of vehicles to unload large cargo from the aircraft and transporting the large cargo to an installation site. In some instances, the vehicles hold the payload the entire time, including while loading aircraft, during flight, unloading the aircraft, and moving the payload to the installation site. Alternatively, the vehicles can drive on the plane to load the payload to a designated area, and equivalent vehicles can drive on the plane after the payload has been flown to unload the payload and moving the payload to the installation site. Various vehicles and systems, and components thereof, along with methods of operating the same, are also provided.

A load carrier for an aircraft cargo hold includes a bottom element with a support surface, the load carrier being movable over a floor surface in a floor plane while the support surface faces the floor surface, the bottom element having a base surface. The support surface has rolling elements rotatable about a rotation axis oriented where a parallel to the axis runs parallel to the floor plane, and the rolling elements being retained on the bottom element where the rotation axis of each of the rolling elements can be rotated about a vertical axis running perpendicularly to the floor plane. A load carrier can include a bottom element, the support surface of which has outlet openings, through which air can exit from the support surface to form an air cushion under the support surface. A load carrier can include a bottom element the support surface of which has slider elements.

An information processing device includes an association information acquiring unit, a first position information acquiring unit, and an output control unit. The association information acquiring unit acquires association information in which first identification information used for identifying baggage and second identification information used for identifying an owner of baggage identified by the first identification information are associated with each other. The first position information acquiring unit acquires position information of target baggage that is baggage identified by the first identification information included in the association information. The output control unit causes a mobile terminal held by a target owner who is an owner of the baggage identified by the second identification information associated with the first identification information relating to the target baggage in the association information to output information based on the position information of the target baggage.

A package unloading and conveying system including a landing platform and one or more container aligning linear rails. The container aligning linear rails for aligning, on or above the landing platform and a hold of an aerial vehicle placed in front of one of multiple conveyor belts. One or more package extracting tools adapted to push or pull the package out of the aligned hold into a container aligned with one of the multiple conveyor belts. The multiple rail arrangements each adapted to convey the container to one of the multiple building windows from one of the multiple conveyors.

A package unloading and conveying system including a landing platform and one or more container aligning linear rails. The container aligning linear rails for aligning, on or above the landing platform and a hold of an aerial vehicle placed in front of one of multiple conveyor belts. One or more package extracting tools adapted to push or pull the package out of the aligned hold into a container aligned with one of the multiple conveyor belts. The multiple rail arrangements each adapted to convey the container to one of the multiple building windows from one of the multiple conveyors.

A boom conveyor includes a boom that carries a conveyor, a support structure for the boom, a rear pivot joint that connects a rear end of the boom to the support structure, and a pivot drive that controls pivoting movement of the boom about the rear pivot joint. The boom conveyor apparatus includes an operator platform and an attachment mechanism at a front end of the boom whereby the operator platform may be attached to the boom or detached therefrom. The attachment mechanism includes a leveling mechanism that is configured to apply a leveling adjustment to the operator platform.

A boom conveyor includes a boom that carries a conveyor, a support structure for the boom, a rear pivot joint that connects a rear end of the boom to the support structure, and a pivot drive that controls pivoting movement of the boom about the rear pivot joint. The boom conveyor apparatus includes an operator platform and an attachment mechanism at a front end of the boom whereby the operator platform may be attached to the boom or detached therefrom. The attachment mechanism includes a leveling mechanism that is configured to apply a leveling adjustment to the operator platform.