Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for safely transporting passengers from pickup locations to destination locations on-demand using automated/pilotless vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. In one implementation, an on-demand passenger transport system includes one or more VTOL aircraft which operate without human pilots, and each of the VTOL aircraft operates under the control of an associated onboard computer. The disclosed system further includes a ground control system which is configured to: receive a service request from a passenger for a transport service of the VTOL aircraft; assign one of the VTOL aircraft to the requesting passenger; process the service request to generate a flight task; transmit the flight task to the assigned VTOL aircraft. The onboard computer of the VTOL aircraft is configured to control a flight of the VTOL aircraft to transport the passenger from a pickup location to a destination location by air based on the flight task.

In one embodiment, a controller instructs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine. The controller receives sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation. The controller determines whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range. The controller causes the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.

The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for removing and replacing a battery from within an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In particular, systems and methods described herein enable a battery arm within a UAV ground station (UAVGS) to engage the UAV and a battery assembly within the UAV to unlock the battery assembly and remove the battery assembly from within the UAV. For example, the battery arm can include a latch engagement assembly that engages one or more latches on the UAV to unlock the battery assembly. Additionally, the battery arm can include a battery gripping assembly that grips an outer end of the battery assembly while retracting and removing the battery assembly from within the UAV.

The present invention discloses a multi-rotor structure applied to an unmanned aerial vehicle, and belongs to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, first rotors, second rotors and rotor shafts; and the multi-rotor structure includes first rotary connecting pieces and second rotary connecting pieces. The first rotary connecting piece includes a first motor and a first dismounting thread group, the first rotor is detachably connected with the first motor through the first dismounting thread group to achieve the mounting or dismounting between the first rotor and the first motor by rotating the first rotor; the second rotary connecting piece includes a second motor and a second dismounting thread group, and the second rotor is detachably connected with the second motor through the second dismounting thread group to achieve the mounting or dismounting between the second rotor and the second motor by rotating the second rotor. The present invention has the advantages of being fast, portable and high in working efficiency.

A liquid circulator includes a circulation passage, a pump, a cooler, and one or more processors. The circulation passage includes a supply path and a recovery path. The supply path supplies a discharge process liquid to a battery of a mobile body. The recovery path recovers the supplied discharge process liquid. The pump circulates the discharge process liquid in the circulation passage. The cooler cools the discharge process liquid flowing in the circulation passage. The one or more processors control the pump and the cooler to supply the discharge process liquid at a predetermined temperature to the battery.

A control circuit dispatches towards a delivery zone a terrestrial vehicle that carries at least one airborne drone and at least one item to be delivered to a customer. When the terrestrial vehicle is in the delivery zone, the drone is dispatched to carry the item to the customer. By one approach the drone exits the terrestrial vehicle without bearing the item. The item can be automatically moved from within the terrestrial vehicle to a position such that the item is at least partially exposed external to the terrestrial vehicle. The airborne drone, subsequent to exiting the terrestrial vehicle, can engage the item in order to then deliver that item to the customer. By one approach the terrestrial vehicle includes one or more platforms that support one or more airborne drones and that can be moved from within the terrestrial vehicle to a deployed position external to the terrestrial vehicle.

In one embodiment, a controller instructs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine. The controller receives sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation. The controller determines whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range. The controller causes the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.

A moving device that allows an unmanned aerial vehicle to easily take off and land on is described. The moving device includes a main body device that travels by a traveling device, a takeoff and landing unit that is provided in the main body device and used by an unmanned aerial vehicle to take off and land and, and a leveling table that is provided in the takeoff and landing unit. The inclination of the leveling table is adjustable with respect to the vertical axis.

A moving device that allows an unmanned aerial vehicle to easily take off and land on is described. The moving device includes a main body device that travels by a traveling device, a takeoff and landing unit that is provided in the main body device and used by an unmanned aerial vehicle to take off and land and, and a leveling table that is provided in the takeoff and landing unit. The inclination of the leveling table is adjustable with respect to the vertical axis.

In one embodiment, a controller instructs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docked to a landing perch to perform a pre-flight test operation of a pre-flight test routine. The controller receives sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation from one or more force sensors of the landing perch, in response to the UAV performing the pre-flight test operation. The controller determines whether the sensor data associated with the pre-flight test operation is within an acceptable range. The controller causes the UAV to launch from the landing perch based in part on a determination that UAV has passed the pre-flight test routine.