This application describes systems, methods, and devices to enhance the safety and functionality of unmanned rotorcraft by improving reliability, transparency, operational capabilities, and effectiveness. Embodiments include integration of rotorcraft with objects attached to the ground (including kites, balloons, or elevated structures) in order to create safe and visible sky moorings from which devices such as cameras on the craft can operate for extended periods of time while remote control can be used to move and stabilize the camera and/or the kite or balloon to which it is attached. In addition, the rotorcraft in such sky moorings can be enclosed for protection, can employ connections for systems maintenance, and can utilize changeable payload modules having supplies that the rotorcraft can dispatch or use in various contexts such as emergency situations or to provide security at venues with large gatherings of people, such as concerts.

An embodiment device includes a clamp body having a clamp opening, an extension opening and a traverse block having an internally threaded portion, a reaction plate having a recess in a first face at a first side of the reaction plate and one or more pins disposed in the recess extending away from the first face, and further having an extension extending along a long axis of the reaction plate through the extension opening, and bearing blocks disposed on a second side of the reaction plate opposite the first side, where the traverse block is disposed between the bearing blocks. An actuator is aligned parallel to the long axis of the reaction plate and extending through each of the bearing blocks and through the traverse block, and the actuator has an eternally threaded portion engaged with the internally threaded portion of the clamp body.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground station, comprising: a landing surface having a perimeter and a center; a plurality of pushers held above the landing surface by a plurality of linear actuators; at least one electro-mechanical connector attached to one of the plurality of pushers, mechanically adapted to be electrically connected to a compatible electro-mechanical connector of a UAV; and a landing detection controller adapted to instruct the plurality of linear actuators to move the plurality of pushers simultaneously from the perimeter toward the center when a landing event related to the UAV is detected.

An unmanned aerial vehicle docking system can include a docking arm and a docking station. The docking arm can be mounted on the UAV and include a rod with an interface element positioned on top of the rod. The interface element can have charging contacts that are attached to wires that extend down to a charging circuit on the UAV. The docking station can be located separate from the docking arm and have a guidance cone to direct the docking arm to a capture mechanism. Once the interface element is in the capture mechanism, a charging dome is then lowered down onto the top of the interface element to form a circuit between a power source at the docking station and the UAV's battery. Upon completion of the charging process, the charging dome is raised and the capture mechanism releases the interface element of the UAV.

A system for handling an aircraft on a nautical vessel includes a plurality of winches each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of electromotors and a plurality of cables associated with the plurality of winches. Each of the plurality of cables is configured to attach to an aircraft positioned on a deck of the nautical vessel. A control system is configured to receive a target aircraft hauling speed and direction and operate the winches to achieve the target speed in the selected direction while maintaining load on the aircraft to below a maximum limit and also maintaining the cables in tension.

An approach is provided for enhancing the safety and functionality of unmanned rotorcraft by improving reliability, transparency, operational capabilities, and effectiveness. Embodiments include integration of rotorcraft with objects attached to the ground (including kites, balloons, or elevated structures) in order to create safe and visible sky moorings from which devices such as cameras on the craft can operate for extended periods of time while remote control can be used to move and stabilize the camera and/or the kite or balloon to which it is attached. In addition, the rotorcraft in such sky moorings can be enclosed for protection, can employ connections for systems maintenance, and can utilize changeable payload modules having supplies that the rotorcraft can dispatch or use in various contexts such as emergency situations or to provide security at venues with large gatherings of people, such as concerts.

Vehicle docking systems, payload transfer systems, and related methods. A vehicle docking system includes a vehicle with a plurality of docking insert units and a docking platform with a plurality of docking receptor units. Each docking receptor unit is configured to transition between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. A method of utilizing a vehicle docking system includes bringing a vehicle to a docked position on a docking platform and securing the vehicle in the docked position. The docking platform includes a plurality of docking receptor units and the vehicle includes a plurality of docking insert units, each docking receptor unit configured to receive a corresponding docking insert unit. The securing the vehicle in the docked position includes transitioning each docking receptor unit from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration. A payload transfer system includes a payload engagement system and a vehicle docking system.

Disclosed is a naval platform equipped with a deck-landing/takeoff zone for at least one aircraft and dolly-type mechanism for handling the aircraft to move it over the deck-landing/takeoff zone. The dolly-type mechanism includes a vacuum disc for immobilizing the dolly and thereby securing the aircraft in position on the deck-landing/takeoff zone, the operation of which is triggered by an analyzer of the behavior of the platform in order to avoid any risk of uncontrolled movement of the aircraft.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground station, comprising: a landing surface having a perimeter and a center; a plurality of pushers held above the landing surface by a plurality of linear actuators; at least one electro-mechanical connector attached to one of the plurality of pushers, mechanically adapted to be electrically connected to a compatible electro-mechanical connector of a UAV; and a landing detection controller adapted to instruct the plurality of linear actuators to move the plurality of pushers simultaneously from the perimeter toward the center when a landing event related to the UAV is detected.

A landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The landing pad includes a support structure, a charging pad, and a plurality of movable UAV supports. The charging pad is coupled to the support structure and able to move relative to the support structure. The UAV supports are also coupled to the support structure and configured to translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position. When the UAV supports are in the first position, the charging pad supports the UAV. When the UAV supports are in the second position, the charging pad is lowered and the UAV supports then provide support to the UAV.