Systems and methods are provided for powering and controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicles can be used in a networked system under common control and operation and can be used for a variety of applications. Selected embodiments can operate while tethered to a portable control system. A high speed tether management system can be used to facilitate both mobile and static tethered operation. Modular components provide for both tethered and fully autonomous flight operations.

Provided is a system comprising a projector; and a control device, wherein the control device includes a projector position information acquisition unit for acquiring projector position information indicative of a position of the projector, a flight vehicle position information acquisition unit for acquiring flight vehicle position information indicative of a position of a flight vehicle on which a solar cell panel is mounted, and an irradiation direction control unit for controlling an irradiation direction of light emitted from the projector, based on the projector position information and the flight vehicle position information.

Provided is a system comprising a projector; and a control device, wherein the control device includes a projector position information acquisition unit for acquiring projector position information indicative of a position of the projector, a flight vehicle position information acquisition unit for acquiring flight vehicle position information indicative of a position of a flight vehicle on which a solar cell panel is mounted, and an irradiation direction control unit for controlling an irradiation direction of light emitted from the projector, based on the projector position information and the flight vehicle position information.

A surveillance drone system is provided herein generally including an UAV, a base power station, and, a tether for connecting the UAV to the base power station to provide electrical power to the UAV when airborne. The base power station may include a cable take-up assembly for releasing and taking up the tether. A plug or power module is provided at the free end of the tether configured to be detachably coupled with the UAV, to transmit electrical power to, and, possibly, data to and from, the UAV. With the plug or power module being detached, the UAV is free to fly unrestricted. This arrangement allows for the UAV to be airborne for prolonged periods to allow for monitoring a region and for release to allow the UAV to investigate anomalies in the monitored region.

A surveillance drone system is provided herein generally including an UAV, a base power station, and, a tether for connecting the UAV to the base power station to provide electrical power to the UAV when airborne. The base power station may include a cable take-up assembly for releasing and taking up the tether. A plug or power module is provided at the free end of the tether configured to be detachably coupled with the UAV, to transmit electrical power to, and, possibly, data to and from, the UAV. With the plug or power module being detached, the UAV is free to fly unrestricted. This arrangement allows for the UAV to be airborne for prolonged periods to allow for monitoring a region and for release to allow the UAV to investigate anomalies in the monitored region.

An agricultural machine includes a traveling vehicle body, a coupler to couple a working implement with the traveling vehicle body, and a takeoff/landing station to restrict a skid of an unmanned aerial vehicle when the unmanned aerial vehicle takes off or lands. The agricultural machine includes a protector to protect an operator's seat. The takeoff/landing station is provided on the protector. The takeoff/landing station is attached to the protector and includes an arm extending in a horizontal direction when the unmanned aerial vehicle takes off or lands.

A system including a drone, a wire and a docking station allowing the autonomous landing of the drone in degraded conditions. The docking station including a landing platform. The landing procedure includes stopping the automatic position control of the drone, producing a motor thrust higher than the weight of the drone, the automatic control of the attitude of the drone, and pulling upon the wire in order to bring the drone back to the platform. This system makes emergency landings possible, or landings under violent winds, or when the docking station is in movement on a vehicle, reducing material breakage.

A high-place observation device for stably performing a fixed-point observation of a target object from a high place is provided. The high-place observation device provides [Solution] Provides a long pole which is formed to extend and contract freely and which stands on the installation surface, a rotorcraft for positioning the pole to a desirable height position by extending and contracting the pole by a floating force in a connected state, a winding mechanism which fixes and maintains the height position of the pole to the height position set by the rotorcraft, and a camera attached to the rotorcraft.

UAV tether systems are provided that reliably deploy and retract cables capable of high-power and high-bandwidth data transmission. The tether system spools cables in a single layer to promote heat dissipation thereby allowing the use of lower-diameter cables. The tether systems further utilize a lightweight converter that achieves a high-voltage power transmission across a cable that is stepped down to a plurality of lower-voltage outputs usable by a UAV and accompanying payloads. The converter is constructed in a manner that promotes heat dissipation through the use of multi-layer PCBs and separate power modules PCBs mounted above main PCBs to create a cavity where forced air can reach heat sinks affixed to the power modules that extend into the cavity.

UAV tether systems are provided that reliably deploy and retract cables capable of high-power and high-bandwidth data transmission. The tether system spools cables in a single layer to promote heat dissipation thereby allowing the use of lower-diameter cables. The tether systems further utilize a lightweight converter that achieves a high-voltage power transmission across a cable that is stepped down to a plurality of lower-voltage outputs usable by a UAV and accompanying payloads. The converter is constructed in a manner that promotes heat dissipation through the use of multi-layer PCBs and separate power modules PCBs mounted above main PCBs to create a cavity where forced air can reach heat sinks affixed to the power modules that extend into the cavity.