Methods and configurations are disclosed for exploiting characteristic magnetic signature of electrical power transmission and distribution lines for navigation.

A diversity receiver synchronizes and mixes multiple input signals. In one embodiment, the receiver demodulates the multiple input signals prior to synchronizing, converts the demodulated multiple input signals from analog signals to digital signals, synchronizes the demodulated digital signals, converts the synchronized demodulated digital signals to analog signals and mixes the synchronized demodulated analog signals based on a characteristic of the input signals existing prior to the demodulating.

A cargo transport system includes a UAV and a vehicle for sending and receiving the UAV. The UAV has a navigation system for guiding the UAV to fly to transport cargos between the vehicle and a terminal according to first navigation position information of the vehicle and the terminal. The vehicle includes a UAV accommodating device and a UAV receiving controller for guiding the UAV to the vehicle based on wireless signal transmitted directly between them when the UAV flies into a preset range around the vehicle. The UAV receiving controller includes: an identity verification unit for providing information to the UAV in response to a request broadcasted by the UAV to determine whether the vehicle is a target vehicle where the UAV is to land; and a short distance guide unit which provides information for guiding the UAV to land when the vehicle is the target vehicle.

An approach is provided for constructing a delivery path that enables a UAV to safely access a delivery surface and avoids restricted access surfaces from the open sky. The approach involves determining at least one delivery path to at least one delivery surface, wherein the delivery path represents at least one three-dimensional variable width path along which an aerial delivery vehicle can access the at least one delivery surface. The approach also involves transecting the delivery path with one or more planar surfaces. The approach further involves determining one or more shapes on the one or more planar surfaces, wherein the one or more shapes represent one or more intersections of the delivery path and the one or more planar surfaces. The approach also involves constructing at least one delivery path data object comprising at least one ordered list of the one or more shapes to represent the delivery path.

A management system provided with an acquisition unit that acquires machine identification information for identifying an unmanned moving apparatus, operation data indicating positions of the unmanned moving apparatus corresponding to the machine identification information, and action states of the unmanned moving apparatus; a storage control unit that stores the machine identification information in association with the operation data and the action states acquired by the acquisition unit; and an output control unit that outputs, in display forms corresponding to the action states, a path over which the unmanned movement apparatus moved, based on the operation data.

A geo-containment system includes at least one unmanned vehicle and an enforcement system that is onboard the unmanned vehicle and configured to limit travel of the unmanned vehicle based, at least in part, on predefined geospatial operational boundaries. Such boundaries may include a primary boundary and at least one secondary boundary that is spaced apart from the primary boundary a minimum safe distance. The minimum safe distance is determined while the unmanned vehicle is traveling. The minimum safe distance is determined using state information of the unmanned vehicle and/or dynamics of the unmanned vehicle. The state information includes at least position and velocity of the unmanned vehicle. The enforcement system is configured to alter and/or terminate operation of the unmanned vehicle if the unmanned vehicle violates the primary geospatial operational boundary and/or the secondary geospatial boundary. The enforcement system may inter-relate with the unmanned vehicle through an onboard vehicle control system.

A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices related to target tracking by UAVs. The UAV may be configured to receive target information from a control terminal related to a target to be tracked by an imaging device coupled to the UAV. The target information may be used by the UAV to automatically track the target so as to maintain predetermined position and/or size of the target within one or more images captured by the imaging device. The control terminal may be configured to display images from the imaging device as well as allowing user input related to the target information.

A device receives a request for a mission that includes traversal of a flight path from a first location to a second location and performance of mission operations, and calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the request. The device determines required capabilities for the mission based on the request, and identifies UAVs based on the required capabilities for the mission. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path and mission instructions for the mission operations, and provides the flight path/mission instructions to the identified UAVs to permit the identified UAVs to travel from the first location to the second location, via the flight path, and to perform the mission operations at the second location.

An electronic device including a processing unit and a storage device receives digital images of a flight area of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) captured by an image capturing device. Then, the processing unit determines a flight position of the UAV in the flight area based on the digital images, and controls the UAV to move from the flight position to a predetermined position. The processing unit receives a vehicle direction of the UAV from an electronic compass unit of the UAV, and adjusts the vehicle direction of the UAV based on a predetermined direction. The processing unit controls the UAV to perform a predetermined operation when the UAV reaches the predetermined position and the vehicle direction is the same as the predetermined direction.