System and method for controlling an aerial system to perform a selected operation using an easy-to-use release and auto-positioning process.

System and method for controlling an aerial system to perform a selected operation using an easy-to-use release and auto-positioning process.

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a drone, a drone, and a system. The method for controlling a drone comprises: determining operating parameters of a moving platform according to field-of-view images containing the moving platform collected at any two different moments and flight parameters of the drone; calculating a time-varying tracking position of the moving platform based on the operating parameters; controlling the drone to track the moving platform according to the time-varying tracking position of the moving platform; and controlling the drone to perform a landing operation according to a relative position of the moving platform and the drone during tracking. The technical solutions according to the present disclosure have high landing accuracy, rely less on device performance and have high versatility.

Disclosed are embodiments for determining efficient utilization of drones. In some aspects, a drone may be performing a task, and a new task may be identified. Whether the drone should be diverted from the existing task to the new task, in some embodiments, is based on a number of factors. These factors include, for example, a value associated with the existing task and a value associated with the new task. The values are based on, for example, a potential delay introduced in completing the existing task if the drone is diverted to the new task.

Systems and methods for secure transportation and safe deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles are disclosed herein. An example method includes performing a UAV preflight procedure that includes determining UAV startup sounds from sound signals received from a microphone positioned within a housing that houses the UAV, determining synchronized rotation of propellers of the UAV, determining that no obstructions are present above the housing based on range finder signals; and releasing the UAV after completion of the UAV preflight procedure.

This invention provides a flying body that can more reliably be made to fly at a desired position. The flying body includes an image capturer that captures a periphery of the flying body. The flying body also includes a recorder that records an image captured before the flying body starts a flight. The flying body further includes a flight controller that makes the flying body fly to a designated position using the image recorded in the recorder and an image captured using the image capturer during the flight.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and launch system includes a UAV pod having an open position and a closed position, the closed position establishing an interior that is weather resistant to an environment external to the UAV pod and a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAV enclosed in the UAV pod so that the UAV pod in the closed position provides a weather resistant interior for the VTOL UAV.

Example UAV landing systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a landing platform includes a conveyor belt capable of supporting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The conveyor belt can move in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The landing platform also includes a first positioning bumper and a second positioning bumper, where the first positioning bumper and the second positioning bumper are capable of repositioning the UAV on the conveyor belt. The landing platform further includes a cradle that can receive and secure the UAV.

A drone is described. The drone includes a propulsion system, a base station transceiver, a tether connector, and a power system. The power system has a battery and a chopper circuit. The chopper circuit bleeds excess charge from the battery. The power system is configured to power the propulsion system, and to power the base station transceiver through the chopper circuit. The power system is also configured to receive electrical power, through the tether connector, to charge the battery while the drone is in the air.

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.