At least two unmanned air vehicle (UAV) drones are deployed to a target location, the target location being associated with a species. At least one robot is deployed to the target location, wherein the at least one robot mimics an appearance of the species. Sensor data is collected from the at least two UAV drones. The sensor data is analyzed to determine whether a threat condition exists. In response to a determination of the threat condition, the at least one robot is repositioned to counteract the threat condition.

A system for a wind park including: a control system in communication with a plurality of unmanned air vehicles, wherein the control system is configured to deploy one or more unmanned air vehicles during a triggering condition; and wherein the deployed unmanned air vehicles are guided towards an assigned wind turbine and to interact with a blade of that wind turbine in order to control oscillation of the blade. The invention also embraces a method for reducing blade oscillations of a wind turbine, comprising: monitoring for a triggering condition associated with the wind turbine; on detecting the triggering condition, deploying unmanned air vehicles towards a wind turbine and interacting with a blade of the wind turbine using the unmanned air to control oscillation of the blade. The invention therefore provides an efficient approach to controlling blade oscillations with minimal human operator involvement. Drones may be deployed automatically once suitable conditions are detected and may automatically engage with the blades, either by contacting those blades physically, or by interacting with the blades in close proximity, in order to disrupt airflow around the blades thereby reducing oscillations.

The subject disclosure relates an aerial system to track a detected obstacle. The aerial system may comprise a plurality of aircraft, an aircraft storage system to house the plurality of aircraft, an aircraft controller in communication with each of a tracking system and the plurality of aircraft. In operation, one or more of the plurality of aircraft may engage the detected threat. At least one of the plurality of aircraft may include a target neutralization device to strike the detected threat.

A modular housing structure for housing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a plurality of housing segments and a plurality of landing pads. The plurality of housing segments are shaped to mechanically join together to define an interior of the modular housing structure. The individual housing segments have a common structural shape that repeats when assembled to form the modular housing structure. The plurality of landing pads are positioned within the individual housing segments, each of the landing pads sized to physically support and charge a corresponding one of the UAVs.

A modular drone containment system including a plurality of modular stacked drone containers. Each modular drone container is configured to house a drone device and be removably disposed in a stacked orientation relative to one another. Each modular container includes a sidewall having a continuous upstanding wall defining a containment space configured to house a respective drone device. A topmost modular container in the stacked orientation further includes a top cover pivotally attached to a top portion of its sidewall. A bottommost modular container in the stacked orientation includes a bottom wall attached to a bottom portion of its sidewall. Further included is a charging system configured to simultaneously charge a battery provided in each drone housed in a stacked modular container.

A modular drone containment system including a plurality of modular stacked drone containers. Each modular drone container is configured to house a drone device and be removably disposed in a stacked orientation relative to one another. Each modular container includes a sidewall having a continuous upstanding wall defining a containment space configured to house a respective drone device. A topmost modular container in the stacked orientation further includes a top cover pivotally attached to a top portion of its sidewall. A bottommost modular container in the stacked orientation includes a bottom wall attached to a bottom portion of its sidewall. Further included is a charging system configured to simultaneously charge a battery provided in each drone housed in a stacked modular container.

In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device.

An unmanned vehicle module can include, in some aspects, a landing platform including a landing area for receiving an unmanned vehicle, wherein the landing area includes a predetermined charging region; a first charging plate; a second charging plate, wherein the first charging plate and the second charging plate are positioned in the predetermined charging region; an electrical energy storage device for connecting electrically with the first charging plate and with the second charging plate; and an unmanned vehicle alignment mechanism configured to move the unmanned vehicle into the predetermined charging region; wherein the unmanned vehicle alignment mechanism includes a first beam, a second beam, a third beam, a fourth beam, and an actuation device for actuating at least two of the first beam, the second beam, the third beam, and the fourth beam to push the unmanned vehicle into the charging region.

A technique for operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a terminal area from which the UAVs are staged includes charging a plurality of the UAVs on charging pads disposed in a staging array at the terminal area. Merchant facilities for preparing packages for delivery by the UAVs are disposed about a periphery of the staging array. The UAVs are relocated under their own propulsion from interior charging pads to peripheral loading pads of the staging array as the peripheral loading pads become available and the UAVs are deemed sufficiently charged and ready for delivery missions.

A modular housing structure for housing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a plurality of housing segments and a plurality of landing pads. The plurality of housing segments are shaped to mechanically join together to define an interior of the modular housing structure. The individual housing segments have a common structural shape that repeats when assembled to form the modular housing structure. The plurality of landing pads are positioned within the individual housing segments, each of the landing pads sized to physically support and charge a corresponding one of the UAVs.