A base module may be used to receive and house one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via one or more cavities. The base module receives commands from a manager device and identifies a flight plan that allows a UAV to execute the received commands. The base module transfers the flight plan to the UAV and frees the UAV. Once the UAV returns, the base module once again receives it. The base module then receives sensor data from the UAV from one or more sensors onboard the UAV, and optionally receives additional information describing its flight and identifying success or failure of the flight plan. The base module transmits the sensor data and optionally the additional information to a storage medium locally or remotely accessible by the manager device.

There is disclosed an aircraft for intercepting an airborne target, the aircraft comprising: a frame; a plurality of lines of a first type, each attached to the frame at a first end, and free at the other end; and a plurality of lines of a second, different, type, each attached to the frame at a first end, and free at the other end.

There is disclosed a line apparatus for inhibiting an airborne target. The line apparatus comprises at least one line comprising: a flexible tubular member, having a wall and defining a bore; and a fluid adhesive housed within the flexible tubular member, wherein the flexible tubular member is configured to express the fluid adhesive through the wall.

A weather modification system that includes both systems and vehicles capable of modifying the weather. The systems may include devices capable of utilizing compositions to create dispersants that can modify weather. The system is capable of autonomous weather modification where the vehicles may operate for long periods of time in the air and may be directed by a control station. The vehicles may include an airplane, a UAV, a balloon, a satellite, an airship, such as a lenticular airship, a helicopter or a lighter than air vehicle. The vehicles are capable of multiple functions including weather modification, weather monitoring, and coordination between different vehicles.

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a rotorcraft-assisted launch and retrieval system including a rotorcraft having a fixed-wing aircraft capture assembly configured to capture a fixed-wing aircraft.

An apparatus for launch and recovery of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a method for launching a UAV, a method for recovering a UAV and a kit of parts for launch and recovery of a UAV. The apparatus comprises a boom having a center member for receiving the UAV, and first and second arm members extending outwardly and upwardly from the center member, wherein the boom is configured to be lifted to a predetermined height into the air from a reference point; and wherein the boom is movable in the air to an operating position forward of the reference point.

An exemplary rotational assembly includes a base having a circular collar and first and second arms that rotate about the circular collar in opposite angular directions. In a stored state the arms have substantially the same angle relative to the circular collar; in a deployed state the arms have rotated into opposing positions. Each end of a Nitinol wire is coupled to the first and second arms and contracts when heated by the flow of electrical current. This contraction causes the simultaneously application of a rotational force to the first and second arms causing the first and second arms to rotate about the circular collar in opposite angular directions. The simultaneous counter rotating angular forces during rotation of the arms causes no substantial change in angular inertia at the base.

One example includes a dual-aircraft system. The system includes a glider aircraft configured to perform at least one mission objective in a gliding-flight mode during a mission objective stage. The system also includes an unmanned singlecopter configured to couple to the glider aircraft via a mechanical linkage to provide propulsion for the glider aircraft during a takeoff and delivery stage. The unmanned singlecopter can be further configured to decouple from the glider aircraft during a detach stage in response to achieving at least one of a predetermined altitude and a predetermined geographic location to provide the gliding-flight mode associated with the glider aircraft, such that the glider aircraft subsequently enters the mission objective stage.

An aircraft is provided and includes a mission vehicle configured to follow vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations and to execute forward flight, hover/loiter and landing operations and a launch vehicle configured to drive the mission vehicle through at least vertical take-off (VTO) operations. The launch vehicle is umbilically coupled to the mission vehicle during the VTO operations and releasable from the mission vehicle thereafter.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.