A system and a method are provided for achieving long range, over the horizon (OTH), persistent surveillance, alerting, tracking and situational awareness against small, low radar cross section moving targets. The system and method use one or more tethered unmanned arial systems, or unmanned arial vehicles, to lift components including a radar antenna to a height above nearby obstacles or much higher. The system and method can also be used for subsurface radar detection and tracking applications, as well as communications with submarines.

Drone (5) which comprises a plurality of propellers (16) driven by motors (17) supported by at least one structure (18) with a winch (8) provided with a drum which can rotate by means of a motor (22) to unwind or wind a suspended cable (6), characterized in that the structure (18) comprises a central seat (19) in which the winch (8) is arranged, so that the center of mass of the drone (5) falls into the drum of the winch (8). The present description also relates to a method of controlling the attitude of the drone (5).

A system comprising: an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) carrier comprising a power supply, the UAV carrier connected, via respective wires, to one or more UVs, wherein: (a) each of the UVs is capable of performing maneuvers irrespective of maneuvers of the UAV carrier during performance of a mission; and (b) each of the UVs receives at least one of an electrical current from the power supply or digital data from the UAV carrier through the respective wires, during performance of the mission.

An autonomous mobile robot checking system comprises a transmission line, an unmanned aerial vehicle and an autonomous mobile device. The unmanned aerial vehicle is used for sensing stacked goods to generate sensing information. The autonomous mobile device is used for receiving the sensing information through the transmission line, and supplying power to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the transmission line to enable the unmanned aerial vehicle to sense the stacked goods. The autonomous mobile device provides a checking result for the stacked goods based on the sensing information.

A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.

Launch and land system for a tethered aircraft (in connection with FIG. 1) The invention provides for a launch and land system (1) for a tethered aircraft (90) comprising a runway (12) for the aircraft and a winch (62) for the tether (92), wherein the runway comprises a funnel-shaped target area (14) with a wide end oriented towards one end of the runway and a narrow end opposite of the wide end, wherein said target area is laterally bordered by restriction devices (80) extending from one end of the target area to the other for preventing the aircraft to roll out of the target area.

A gaseous matter capture system and method comprising an aerial unit configured to capture gaseous matter directly from the atmosphere and further comprising storage means configured to transfer said gaseous matter for further processing in a non-aerial unit for the purposes of climate change mitigation and further use of captured gases.

The present invention provides an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) operations system for cleaning one or more designated surfaces such as a solar panel installed on a roof, or the surface of a window, wall, billboard, scoreboard, etc., which may be too high or too far away from a position on the ground which is easily and safely accessible by a person. For solar panels, such cleaning is not only for aesthetic purposes, but must be performed regularly in order to keep the solar panel functioning at peak performance. The system may also include a ground companion vehicle such as an ATV, golf cart, or the like, which can follow an approximation of the UAV's flight path and provide cleaning media and power to the UAV via a tether, allowing the UAV to clean a large number of surfaces before returning to refill or recharge.

An aerial vehicle electrical power system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, and related methods are provided. The aerial vehicle electric power system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by an aerial vehicle. At least one electrical circuit is carried by the aerial vehicle. The at least one electrical circuit has a DC buck converter electrically in series with at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs. A tether is connected between the aerial vehicle and a power source positioned remote from the aerial vehicle. Electrical power is transmitted to the aerial vehicle and at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs through the tether. The electrical circuit minimizes variances in power supplied to the aerial vehicle and the plurality of LEDs.

The present disclosure discloses a bridle for a vehicle. The bridle being connected to the vehicle and which creates a pivot point located at a location selected from: above the vehicle's center of gravity and below or at the center of lift of the vehicle, when the center of gravity is below the center of lift; below the center of gravity of the vehicle and below or at the center of lift of the vehicle, when the is located above the center of lift; and at the center of gravity of the vehicle when the center of lift is in the same approximate location of the center of gravity of the vehicle.