Vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (VTOLs) of the type used for the point-to-point delivery and transport of payloads (e.g., packages, equipment, etc.) and personnel, are significantly stabilized at least during takeoff and landing with present aspects significantly ameliorating or significantly eliminating destabilizing effects, including ground effect, during VTOL takeoff and/or landing. VTOL performance is further improved through the use of increased lift pressure and battery charging during takeoff

There is provided a landing platform for mounting on a luminaire, where the landing platform provides an interface to a drone. For example, there is provided a landing platform for a drone, the landing platform being adaptable to mount on a luminaire. The landing platform includes two electrically active portions and an elevated portion. The elevated portion is configured to secure the drone on the landing platform and provide electrical contact between the two electrically active portions and electrical connectors of the drone.

A preconditioned air unit for supplying preconditioned air to an aircraft parked on the ground, the preconditioned air unit comprising a housing accommodating a flow duct with an air inlet for ambient air and an air outlet for connection to the parked aircraft, a blower connected with the flow duct for generation of an air flow from the air inlet toward the air outlet, at least one refrigeration system, each of which includes at least one compressor, at least one condenser, at least one expansion valve, and at least one evaporator connected in a flow circuit containing a refrigerant, and wherein the at least one evaporator interacts with the air flow in the flow duct, and at least one variable frequency driver for power supply of at least one of the at least one compressor of the at least one refrigeration system.

An aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing comprises a fuselage, at least one processor carried by the fuselage and a pair of aerodynamic, lift-generating wings extending from the fuselage. A plurality of vectoring rotors are rotatably carried by the fuselage so as to be rotatable between a substantially vertical configuration relative to the fuselage for vertical take-off and landing and a substantially horizontal configuration relative to the fuselage for horizontal flight. The vectoring rotors are unsupported by the first pair of wings. The wings may be modular and removably connected to the fuselage and configured to be interchangeable with an alternate pair of wings. A cargo container may be secured to the underside of the fuselage, and the cargo container may be modular and interchangeable with an alternate cargo container.

Aspects of the present disclosure are related unmanned aerial vehicles tethered to ground stations with an expendable airborne fiber-optic link. The tethers may be fiber-optic cables that can be used as a communications conduit between a ground station and a UAV for providing vehicle positioning/control information to the UAV as well as transmitting a large amount of information/data to the UAV. As the information being transmitted between to the UAV the ground station is critical, fiber-optic cables provide the bandwidth and transmission capabilities required with the added benefit of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency interference (RFI) immunity, making this an ideal solution for these applications.

An unmanned article storage box for automatically receiving an article from a drone and storing the article includes: a box main body configured to form an accommodating space for storing the article therein; an article receiver configured to slidingly be carried in and out from the box main body; a sliding unit configured to slidingly move the article receiver by having a first end that is fastened to the article receiver and a second end that is fastened to an inside of the box main body; a power unit configured to transfer a power to enable the article receiver to move along the sliding unit; and a controller configured to control the power unit.

Various embodiments of a command and control system of distributed assets, including drones, other mobile assets, and fixed assets. Optionally information is gleaned from sensory units and transformed into a pictorial representation for easy understanding, decision-making, and control. In some embodiments, the pictorial representation is in a 3D image. Optionally a user interface that is designed for particular usages, and that in some embodiments may be customized by different operators. Optionally sensory units or assets are in communicative contact in a mesh network. Various embodiments of methods to operate command and control systems.

Disclosed herein is a drone docking station for deposit of items/goods delivered by a drone to a secured receptacle. Items can be delivered to a receptacle at a curb, mailbox, post, porch, in-ground vault, and window to a multi-parcel receptacle with an expanding floor/accordion station that has a specific residential/commercial address with various optional features. Features include communication systems between the station and drone; security; hot and cold temperature control and preservation of the goods before and after delivery; battery charging and exchange station; a collector to identify explosive materials, anthrax, etc.; ultraviolet system to eradicate disease, virus and harmful materials; an ozone applicator to eradicate disease, virus and harmful materials; weather monitoring; tag and track of vehicles and packages; facial recognition camera and software for pets and humans; and local two-way speakers; LED lights that strobe flash, and a flood light.

A public transportation system combines a unique combination of components that includes interoperable electric-powered vehicles, facilities, hardware and software having specifications, standards, processes, capabilities, nomenclature, and concepts of operations that together include a concerted, comprehensive, multi-modal, future system for moving people and goods that is herein named Quiet Urban Air Delivery (QUAD) and in which uniquely-capable, ultra-quiet, one to six-seat, electrically-powered, autonomous aircraft (SkyQarts) fly sub-193 kilometer trips on precise trajectories with negligible control latency and perform extremely short take-offs and landings (ESTOL) with curved traffic patterns at a highly-distributed network of very small, airports (“SkyNests”) that themselves have standardized compatible facilities that interoperate with SkyQarts as well as with versatile, autonomous electric-powered payload carts (EPCs) and robotic delivery carts (RDCs) to provide safe, fast, on-demand, community-acceptable, environmentally friendly, high-capacity, affordable door-to-door delivery of both passengers and cargo across urban, suburban and rural settings across the globe.

Exemplary drone operations support base embodiments disclosed herein may be used to shelter, repower, and/or service drones associated therewith. A drone operations support base may include an enclosure with an entryway that permits drone ingress and egress with respect to the enclosure. Drone launching/landing, drone storage and drone power source repowering areas may be associated with a given drone base. A transfer device may be provided to move drones between the various drone base areas. The transfer device may also be adapted to transfer drone power sources between the drone repowering area and drones located elsewhere within the drone base for repowering of the power sources and of the drones.