The invention relates to a launching cylinder of a catapult and to a catapult. The launching cylinder comprises a frame inside which are a pneumatic pressure space for launching purpose and a hydraulic pressure space for returning purpose. The pressure spaces are separated from each other by means of a piston assembly.

Embodiments of the present invention provide improvements to UAV launching systems. The disclosed launching system eliminates the use of hydraulic fluid and compressed nitrogen or air by providing an electric motor-driven tape that causes movement of a shuttle along a launcher rail.

A material handling robot including a mobile base, a plurality of drones, and a plurality of docking stations on the mobile base for receiving the drones. The mobile base has motorized wheels for driving the mobile base, and a platform for supporting a load. Each drone has a power source and a drone sensor for monitoring environment around the drone. Each docking station has a power charger for recharging the power source, and a launch mechanism for deploying the drone. The robot also includes a controller for communicating with the mobile base and the drones. The controller has: a material handling mode for transporting loads on the platform of the mobile base; and a security mode where at least one of the drones is deployed to conduct surveillance using the drone sensor.

Described herein is an elevated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) station. The elevated UAV station includes an elevated platform and a conveyance device configured to raise a payload to the elevated platform. The elevated unmanned UAV station may further include a launch device configured to cause a takeoff of a UAV from the elevated platform. The elevated UAV station may further include a recovery device configured to cause a controlled landing of the UAV at the elevated platform. The elevated UAV station may be associated with a payload housing structure to establish a system for payload storage and launch.

The invention relates to an assembly (10) comprising a launch motor vehicle (12) and a drone (14), the launch motor vehicle (12) being capable of travelling on a launch track to exceed a given speed threshold relative to a surrounding air mass, the launch motor vehicle (12) being provided with a launch ramp (20) cooperating with the drone (14) to, in a launching position, guide the drone (14) from a starting position in a launch direction to the front of the launch motor vehicle (12). The drone (14) comprises one or more reactors (30) and does not comprise a landing gear.

The invention relates to an assembly (10) comprising a launch motor vehicle (12) and a drone (14), the launch motor vehicle (12) being capable of travelling on a launch track to exceed a given speed threshold relative to a surrounding air mass, the launch motor vehicle (12) being provided with a launch ramp (20) cooperating with the drone (14) to, in a launching position, guide the drone (14) from a starting position in a launch direction to the front of the launch motor vehicle (12). The drone (14) comprises one or more reactors (30) and does not comprise a landing gear.

A system for controlling aircraft movement includes a frame extending across a width of a runway. The system includes an attachment mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to be releasably connected to a portion of an aircraft. The system includes a conveying system configured to, with the aircraft coupled to the frame during take-off of the aircraft, accelerate the aircraft. The conveying system is further configured to, during landing of the aircraft, decelerate the aircraft.

A system for controlling aircraft movement includes a frame extending across a width of a runway. The system includes an attachment mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to be releasably connected to a portion of an aircraft. The system includes a conveying system configured to, with the aircraft coupled to the frame during take-off of the aircraft, accelerate the aircraft. The conveying system is further configured to, during landing of the aircraft, decelerate the aircraft.

An autonomous catapult-assisted take-off, recycling, and reuse device and method of a flapping-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided. The device includes a base, an attitude adjusting mechanism, a catapult mechanism, a recycling mechanism, a control processing unit, a power supply module, and a sensor unit, where the attitude adjusting mechanism includes a connector, a counterweight, an adjusting motor, an attitude adjusting input gear, an attitude adjusting output gear, an attitude adjusting output gear shaft, and an installation platform; the catapult mechanism includes a catapult motor, a catapult motor frame, a pulley, a pull rope, a winch, a pull rope fixing part, a flapping-wing aircraft fixing part, two slide bars, two compression springs, and a catapult gear set; and the recycling mechanism includes a recycling motor, a recycling mechanical arm, a recycling platform, two sprockets, and a recycling gear set.

An autonomous catapult-assisted take-off, recycling, and reuse device and method of a flapping-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided. The device includes a base, an attitude adjusting mechanism, a catapult mechanism, a recycling mechanism, a control processing unit, a power supply module, and a sensor unit, where the attitude adjusting mechanism includes a connector, a counterweight, an adjusting motor, an attitude adjusting input gear, an attitude adjusting output gear, an attitude adjusting output gear shaft, and an installation platform; the catapult mechanism includes a catapult motor, a catapult motor frame, a pulley, a pull rope, a winch, a pull rope fixing part, a flapping-wing aircraft fixing part, two slide bars, two compression springs, and a catapult gear set; and the recycling mechanism includes a recycling motor, a recycling mechanical arm, a recycling platform, two sprockets, and a recycling gear set.