The disclosure relates to a Mobile ground power unit for supplying power to an aircraft parked on the ground, the ground power unit comprising an engine, an electric generator, whereby the electric generator is configured to be driven by the engine, a housing whereby the engine and the electric generator are disposed within the housing, and a fuel tank, wherein the fuel tank comprises a wall that forms at least one channel that allows air to pass from one side of the fuel tank to another side of the fuel tank. The disclosure further relates to a fuel tank for a ground power unit.

A storage locker for drone delivery provides for weathertight doors that open automatically on sensing the approach of a drone and close to cover the package once deposited by the drone. The storage locker may be operated in conjunction with an elevator to allow elevated placement, removing drones from the vicinity of interfering structures, people, and pets.

A storage locker for drone delivery provides for weathertight doors that open automatically on sensing the approach of a drone and close to cover the package once deposited by the drone. The storage locker may be operated in conjunction with an elevator to allow elevated placement, removing drones from the vicinity of interfering structures, people, and pets.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, and a motor operable to lower a free end of a line. The free end of the line is operable to engage a parcel to be delivered by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The control system is configured to operate the motor to cause the free end of the line to accelerate toward a delivery surface as the free end of the line passes through a first portion of a distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the delivery surface, and to decelerate as the free end of the line passes through a lower portion of the distance.

The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for swapping a battery assembly between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an unmanned aerial vehicle ground station (UAVGS). In particular, systems and methods described herein enable a battery swapping assembly to remove a battery assembly from within the UAV and store the battery assembly within a plurality of battery banks that are linearly arranged within the UAVGS. For example, the battery arm can move along an axis of movement relative to the battery banks to conveniently transfer one or more battery assemblies between the UAV and the battery banks within the UAVGS.

[Object] To suppress the influence of uncertainties on a time of arrival while reducing the number of speed adjustments or the like to suppress the deterioration of fuel efficiency and comfort.

[Solving Means] An information processing apparatus 1 includes: an uncertainty estimation unit 11 that quantifies, using an actual measured value, an uncertain predicted value that affects a time of arrival at a target point of a mobile object, and calculates a probability distribution of the uncertain predicted value; an estimated-time-of-arrival estimation unit 12 that calculates, using the probability distribution of the uncertain predicted value, a probability distribution of an estimated time of arrival at the target point when a current control input is used, the control input being a control input to the mobile object and affecting the time of arrival at the target point; and a time-of-arrival control unit 13 that determines, in the probability distribution of the estimated time of arrival at the target point, whether a first statistic of the estimated time of arrival with respect to a required time of arrival at the target point when the current control input is used falls outside a first threshold, and sets the control input to increase a possibility that a second statistic of the estimated time of arrival with respect to the required time of arrival is within an allowable range in the probability distribution of the estimated time of arrival at the target point if the first statistic falls outside the first threshold.

An electricity distribution system, arranged to provide low voltage to end users and located at end user locations, includes a first medium voltage line for providing medium voltage and several end user electricity providers associated with respective several end user locations. Each end user electricity provider is couplable to an end user located at the respective end user location, and is arranged to provide low voltage to the end user. The first medium voltage line is provided with a number of branches and the end user electricity providers are each couplable to a respective branch of the medium voltage line via a respective second medium voltage line to receive medium voltage, and are arranged to convert the medium voltage to the low voltage to be provided to an end user.

An electricity distribution system, arranged to provide low voltage to end users and located at end user locations, includes a first medium voltage line for providing medium voltage and several end user electricity providers associated with respective several end user locations. Each end user electricity provider is couplable to an end user located at the respective end user location, and is arranged to provide low voltage to the end user. The first medium voltage line is provided with a number of branches and the end user electricity providers are each couplable to a respective branch of the medium voltage line via a respective second medium voltage line to receive medium voltage, and are arranged to convert the medium voltage to the low voltage to be provided to an end user.

A material handling robot including a mobile base, a plurality of drones, and a plurality of docking stations on the mobile base for receiving the drones. The mobile base has motorized wheels for driving the mobile base, and a platform for supporting a load. Each drone has a power source and a drone sensor for monitoring environment around the drone. Each docking station has a power charger for recharging the power source, and a launch mechanism for deploying the drone. The robot also includes a controller for communicating with the mobile base and the drones. The controller has: a material handling mode for transporting loads on the platform of the mobile base; and a security mode where at least one of the drones is deployed to conduct surveillance using the drone sensor.

The present disclosure is directed toward a system for autonomously landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) within an unmanned aerial vehicle ground station (UAVGS) and removing a battery assembly from within the UAV while landed. In particular, systems described herein enable a battery arm to engage a battery assembly and remove the battery assembly from within the UAV. Additionally, the battery arm can include one or more sensors that detect a pattern of sensor contacts arranged on an end of the battery assembly. In particular, the sensors on the battery arm can detect and identify the battery assembly based on the particular pattern of sensor contacts on the end of the battery assembly.