A vehicle for capturing a falling object comprises a plurality of air cushion units, wherein each of the air cushion units is configured to generate a propulsive force to drive the vehicle and a lift force to elevate the vehicle; a linking structure arranged to link the air cushion units together; and a receiver arranged to receive the falling object, wherein the receiver is coupled to the linking structure.

This invention relates to a vehicle arresting system comprising an arrestor-bed of a compactible foam material having a bulk compressive strength and a longitudinal centre axis extending from a front end to a back end opposite the front end, wherein the arrestor-bed comprises an assembly of prefabricated blocks arranged into an even numbered set of linear lanes of prefabricated blocks, where half of the set is located on a left side and half of the set is located on a right side of the longitudinal centre axis of the arrestor-bed, and where each linear line of prefabricated blocks are angled with an angle , where 0<30, towards the longitudinal centre axis of the arrestor-bed.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a core of individual components having properties such that a system assembled from the components absorbs the kinetic energy of a moving vehicle. The components may be interlocking components. The components may be manufactured of ceramic or polymeric composite or other materials that are strong enough to absorb the vehicle's energy and help stop the vehicle safely by the system's ability to crush or deform upon impact, and not so strong that it causes the vehicle to crumple against the barrier. In one particular embodiment, the components may be modified packing elements that are traditionally used in gas to liquid columns.

A helicopter dolly includes a platform defining a helicopter landing area, a plurality of rollers connected to the platform such that a vertical clearance is defined between the platform and the ground and a plurality of safety panels movably connected to edges of the platform so as to be movable relative thereto between raised and lowered positions. The safety panels cover the vertical clearance in the lowered position. A method of using a helicopter dolly includes arranging a helicopter dolly for a helicopter landing, moving a plurality of safety panels and a plurality of corner members to cover a vertical clearance defined between a platform and the ground and moving the plurality of safety panels and the plurality of corner members to uncover the vertical clearance after the helicopter landing.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with one or more of a main accelerator tube system (MAT), a flight test tube, or a soft catch. The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with one or more of a main accelerator tube system (MAT), a flight test tube, or a soft catch. The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

An emergency aircraft landing system includes a mobile platform having a flat top surface configured to receive an aircraft landing without deployed landing gear, a plurality of wheels connected to the mobile platform by a plurality of axles mounted to a frame of the mobile platform, a propulsion system secured to the frame of the mobile platform configured to accelerate the mobile platform to a speed, and a securing mechanism configured to activate upon contact with an aircraft and secure the aircraft to the mobile platform during deceleration. Further, a method for emergency landing of an aircraft includes positioning the mobile platform at a position on a runway, accelerating the mobile platform to a speed, receiving the aircraft on the top surface, activating a securing mechanism to affix the aircraft to the mobile platform, and decelerating the combined mobile platform and aircraft.