Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

A circuit board includes a board body including a wiring; a micro-control unit, arranged on the board body; and an inertial measurement unit arranged on the board body and in communication with the micro-control unit via the wiring to transmit inertial measurement data detected by the inertial measurement unit to the micro-control unit, and where the board body includes a main body part and an isolated part located at a peripheral of the main body part, the micro-control unit is supported on the main body part, and the inertial measurement unit is supported on the isolated part.

An electrical connection structure includes a first connection device and a second connection device. The first connection device includes a first outer tube and a first base; multiple rolling parts are disposed in a tube wall of the first outer tube; the second connection device includes a second outer tube, a casing tube and a second base; the second outer tube has a recess on an outer wall thereof; a gap space is provided between the casing tube and the second outer tube; when the first connection device is docked with the second connection device, the first outer tube is inserted into the gap space, the rolling parts are inserted into the recess; the casing tube forces the rolling parts to remain in the recess for locking up the first and second connection devices. A UAV includes a tail rod quick release structure which includes the electrical connection structure.

Boresight and lever arm calibration of cameras and scanners on UAVs or mobile platforms is performed by optimizing the flight/travel path of the UAV/platform relative to control points or tie points. The flight/travel paths account for the potential bias of boresight angles, lever arm and times delays to produce an accurate estimation of the orientation of these cameras/scanners relative to the GNSS/INS coordinate system o the UAV/platform.

The present disclosure generally discloses a vehicle marking capability configured to support marking of vehicles in a vehicle management system. The vehicle marking capability is configured to support marking of vehicles in a graphical user interface (GUI) that is supported by a vehicle management application that is supported by the vehicle management system. The vehicle marking capability may be configured to support marking of various vehicle measures of vehicles for various vehicle types which may be managed by the vehicle management system. The vehicle marking capability may be configured to support marking of vehicle measures for vehicles using measure objects having lengths that are based on the vehicle measures (e.g., using linear scaling, logarithmic scaling, or the like). The vehicle marking capability may be configured to support marking of vehicle altitudes for aerial vehicles using altitude columns having column heights that are based on the vehicle altitudes.

A collapsible flying device is provided having a housing including first and second housing sections forming an enclosure, and a motorized assembly that includes a drive motor and a drive shaft driven by the drive motor. The drive shaft matingly receives the first housing section and is coupled to the second housing section, wherein operation of the drive motor drives the drive shaft to move the first housing section from a closed position adjacent the second housing section to an open position spaced from the second housing section. A rotor hub is rotatingly driven by the drive motor. At least two rotor blades are coupled thereto and positioned within the enclosure in a collapsed position when the first housing section is in the closed position, and extend beyond the enclosure in an expanded position when the first housing section is in the open position.

An information processing device includes a processor and a memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain a plurality of images photographed by a plurality of aircrafts, combine the plurality of images to generate a composite image, obtain information of a change operation for changing an image scope of the composite image, and control flight of the plurality of aircrafts based on the change operation.

Various systems and methods for operating a drone are described herein. A system for operating a drone includes a trusted execution environment (TEE) circuit to: store a firmware of the drone; and determine whether the firmware is valid; and a processor subsystem to: access a flight plan authorization when the firmware is determined to be valid; and navigate the drone according to the flight path authorization.

A control box includes a housing defining an interior, a circuit board disposed within the interior, and an input/output connector extending from the housing. The control box further includes a heat sink removably connected to the housing such that the circuit board is positioned between the housing and the heat sink. The circuit board is in contact with the heat sink.

An avionics system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a housing having a mounting hole, a flight control circuit board arranged inside the housing, a wireless communication circuit board integrated with the flight control circuit board on a printed circuit board (PCB), a positioning circuit arranged inside the housing and above or below the PCB, and a connection wire passing through the mounting hole and connecting the flight control circuit board with an electronic governor of the UAV arranged outside the housing.