Current foot-launched 2-stroke commercial PPG offerings can meet the specified threshold (and in some cases, objective) requirements for flight ceiling, payload capacity and range with little to no modification. We will discuss those in the next section. The APES system enhances the effectiveness and lethality of the PPG-equipped unit by reducing weight of the PPG, increasing reliability and redundancy, reducing pilot workload, and seamlessly integrating with UAV's and UGV's. System improvements in the following areas is assessed: Series hybrid-electric powertrain, Coaxial propellers. Localization, autopilot, and formations, Auto landing and other advanced features, Integration with unmanned systems, and Launch Considerations.

Current foot-launched 2-stroke commercial PPG offerings can meet the specified threshold (and in some cases, objective) requirements for flight ceiling, payload capacity and range with little to no modification. We will discuss those in the next section. The APES system enhances the effectiveness and lethality of the PPG-equipped unit by reducing weight of the PPG, increasing reliability and redundancy, reducing pilot workload, and seamlessly integrating with UAV's and UGV's. System improvements in the following areas is assessed: Series hybrid-electric powertrain, Coaxial propellers. Localization, autopilot, and formations, Auto landing and other advanced features, Integration with unmanned systems, and Launch Considerations.

Ground vehicles that may include flight capability are described. In some examples, a vehicle frame may include a main support and at least two auxiliary supports, with the main support disposed substantially along the centerline of the vehicle, and the at least two auxiliary supports extending upward and outward from the main support. In some examples, vehicles may include an inflatable airfoil, such as a ram air parachute, that includes stiffeners on or about a leading edge of the airfoil. In some examples, vehicles may include a front wheelbase attached to the main support and/or auxiliary supports, a rear wheelbase attached to the main support and/or auxiliary supports, a ground steering mechanism connected to the front wheelbase and/or the rear wheelbase, a motor connected to a propeller, and a propeller shroud at least partially encircling the propeller.

Ground vehicles that may include flight capability are described. In some examples, a vehicle frame may include a main support and at least two auxiliary supports, with the main support disposed substantially along the centerline of the vehicle, and the at least two auxiliary supports extending upward and outward from the main support. In some examples, vehicles may include an inflatable airfoil, such as a ram air parachute, that includes stiffeners on or about a leading edge of the airfoil. In some examples, vehicles may include a front wheelbase attached to the main support and/or auxiliary supports, a rear wheelbase attached to the main support and/or auxiliary supports, a ground steering mechanism connected to the front wheelbase and/or the rear wheelbase, a motor connected to a propeller, and a propeller shroud at least partially encircling the propeller.

Disclosed is a control device for power kites. It consists of a tall Y-shaped structure, the base of which is connected to the center of a horizontal control bar arranged perpendicular to the structure. An articulation forms the connection between the base of the structure and the center of the horizontal control bar. The control lines for the leading edge and the control lines for the trailing edge of a power kite are attached to the front and rear pre-lines of the device. Compared to a standard kite bar, the disclosed control device makes it easier for the user to balance using very short lines.

The present disclosure discloses a landing aid for a parachutist, in particular for a tandem jump or landing with heavy equipment, having an air bag, which protects the parachutist during landing, wherein the air bag has an inflow opening through which air can flow into the air bag in order to fill it by means of the airstream. It is provided that the landing aid comprises a spring element, by means of which the inflow opening is held in the correct position with respect to the air flow and/or an unpacking process of the air bag is supported.

There is provided an aerial platform comprising a spraying module, one or more actuators operatively coupled to the spraying module, at least a sensor for acquiring data indicative of altitude, wherein at least a controller is configured to control a position of the spraying module relatively to the aerial platform based on control signals generated during control cycles and applicable to the one or more actuators, the controlling comprising cyclically acquiring with said sensor data indicative of an altitude of a surface area in the flight path direction of the aerial platform, wherein said surface area is to be sprayed in a next control cycle, generating a control signal based on at least said acquired data, so as to maintain the altitude of the spraying module at a required distance of the altitude of the surface, and applying the generated control signal to the one or more actuators. There is also provided methods and systems for controlling a motion of the spraying module.

There is provided an aerial platform comprising a spraying module, one or more actuators operatively coupled to the spraying module, at least a sensor for acquiring data indicative of altitude, wherein at least a controller is configured to control a position of the spraying module relatively to the aerial platform based on control signals generated during control cycles and applicable to the one or more actuators, the controlling comprising cyclically acquiring with said sensor data indicative of an altitude of a surface area in the flight path direction of the aerial platform, wherein said surface area is to be sprayed in a next control cycle, generating a control signal based on at least said acquired data, so as to maintain the altitude of the spraying module at a required distance of the altitude of the surface, and applying the generated control signal to the one or more actuators. There is also provided methods and systems for controlling a motion of the spraying module.

A ground vehicle with flight capability is described including a deployable airfoil configured to deploy from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, preferably during ground locomotion of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a deployment mechanism for automatically deploying the airfoil from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. An automated retrieval mechanism may also be included for returning the airfoil to the stowed configuration. Also described are methods of transitioning a vehicle from ground locomotion to flight, including deploying a ram-air airfoil from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration during ground locomotion of the vehicle.

A ground vehicle with flight capability is described including a deployable airfoil configured to deploy from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, preferably during ground locomotion of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a deployment mechanism for automatically deploying the airfoil from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. An automated retrieval mechanism may also be included for returning the airfoil to the stowed configuration. Also described are methods of transitioning a vehicle from ground locomotion to flight, including deploying a ram-air airfoil from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration during ground locomotion of the vehicle.