A traffic signal system and a traffic signal deployment method that enable a traffic signal to be disposed quickly are provided. A traffic signal system includes multiple drones each of which can hold a traffic signal, and a server that can communicate with the multiple drones, in which the server includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of a target point, the target point being a place where it is necessary to dispose the traffic signal, and the drone includes: a flight control unit that controls flight of the drone holding the traffic signal so that it moves to the target point and hovers at the target point based on the position information; and a light control unit that controls lighting of the traffic signal so that timings of the lighting of the multiple traffic signals are synchronized with each other.

Drones with propulsions systems supported in a housing are provided where the orientation of the housing is independent from the orientation of the propulsion system. Drones are provided where a propulsion system is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the propulsion system to assume substantially any position with a sphere. Drones are provided where a bladeless inner tube is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the inner tube to assume substantially any position within a sphere. Drone systems are provided with connectable unit drones. An unmanned land vehicle is provided having a wheel assembly that is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the wheel assembly to assume substantially any position with a sphere.

A protective shield to encompass an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV includes an outer wall comprising a plurality of connected cells. Each of the cells comprising an extending passage having a length of at least 10 mm. An internal volume of the protective shield is sufficiently to encompass the UAV.

Provided is a flight vehicle operating method including: mooring a flight vehicle to a mooring unit by a cable; reducing a weight of the flight vehicle, increasing the flotage of the flight vehicle, or increasing the flotage of the flight vehicle while reducing the weight of the flight vehicle, by using a first flotation adjuster; floating the flight vehicle at a suitable altitude in the air; increasing the weight of the flight vehicle, reducing the flotage of the flight vehicle, or reducing the flotage of the flight vehicle while increasing the weight of the flight vehicle, by using a second flotation adjuster or a propelling unit of the flight vehicle; and releasing the connection between the flight vehicle and the mooring unit and withdrawing the cable.

Aspects of the technology relate to a braking assembly for a lateral propulsion system of a high altitude platform (HAP) configured to operate in the stratosphere. Power is supplied to a propeller assembly as needed during lateral propulsion so that the HAP can move to a desired location or remain on station. When lateral propulsion is not needed, power is no longer supplied to the propeller assembly and it may slowly cease rotating. However, in certain situations, it may be necessary to cause the propeller assembly to stop rotating as soon as possible. This can include an unplanned descent. Rapid braking can avoid the propeller blades from entangling in the envelope, parachute or other parts of the HAP. A reusable brake is employed to prevent uncontrolled rotation of the propeller on descent, or otherwise to prevent the propeller from spinning freely when not being used to propel the HAP laterally.

A system that employs aerial drones for inventory management is disclosed. The system includes at least one aerial drone with an optical sensor, an indoor positioning system, and a controller on the aerial drone. The controller is communicatively coupled to the optical sensor and the indoor positioning system. The controller is configured to localize and navigate the aerial drone within a facility based on one or more signals from the indoor positioning system. The controller is further configured to detect identifiers attached to respective inventory items via the optical sensor and to store information associated with the detected identifiers in an onboard memory. The controller may be further configured to transmit the information associated with the detected identifiers to a warehouse management system.

An aircraft includes: a plurality of rotor units each including a propeller and a motor that drives the propeller; a balloon that laterally covers the plurality of rotor units, across a height of the plurality of rotor units in an up-and-down direction; and a drive unit configured to change the external shape of the balloon at a predetermined timing.

An apparatus for use in harvesting airborne moisture includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a woven mesh, supported by the UAV, for collecting liquid droplets upon contact with a fog bank, a camera, a processor, a non-transitory, tangible computer readable memory storing software instructions executable by the processor, a fog identification engine, and a flight controller on board the UAV. The fog identification engine is executable on the processor according to the software instructions and is configurable to capture a digital image via the camera, detect an absence of features in the digital image, and identify a fog bank as a function of the absence of features in the digital image. The flight controller directs the UAV to enter a fog bank identified by the fog identification engine.

An airship comprising an envelope having a shape, a volume, and a frontal area. A lifting gas within the envelope. A propulsion system. A volume change mechanism arranged to change the shape of the envelope, wherein the change in shape of the envelope changes the volume of the envelope, the change in volume of the envelope causes a change in the buoyancy of the airship, and the change in shape of the envelope causes the frontal area of the envelope to change proportionally to the change in volume of the envelope.

It is prevented that a communication relay apparatus in an upper airspace, which is suitable for constructing a three-dimensional network, falls by a strong wind. A communication relay apparatus is provided with a relay communication station that performs a radio communication with a terminal apparatus, and is capable of flying in an upper airspace by an autonomous control or an external control. This communication relay apparatus includes a flight control section that controls a flight of the communication relay apparatus based on flight control information determined so as to reduce an influence of a strong wind generated around the communication relay apparatus. The flight control information may include information for controlling at least one of a flight direction, velocity, altitude, attitude, flight route and flight pattern of the communication relay apparatus.