A device for docking an unmanned vehicle with a moveable docking station is provided, the device comprising: an interface surface configured to cooperatively engage a counterpart interface surface of a counterpart device; at least one identifying means arranged to be detected by a counterpart device; and at least one sensor configured to detect an at least one identifying means of a counterpart device. Also provided is a method of docking an unmanned vehicle with a moveable docking station, the method comprising: performing a cooperative docking procedure; wherein the cooperative docking procedure comprises each of the unmanned vehicle and docking station capturing the attitude and/or position of the other and, responsive to the captured attitude and/or position, adjusting the respective attitude and/or position of the unmanned vehicle and docking station to a mutually cooperative docking configuration so as to provide docking of the unmanned vehicle with the docking station.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for transporting a payload is provided. The UAV comprises a body and one or more propellers rotatably connected to the body. The UAV further comprises a battery mounted to the body. The battery is releasable from the bottom of the UAV. The UAV further comprises a payload container mounted to the body. The payload container is releasable from the bottom of the UAV to a landing platform associated with a UAV station.

A monitoring system and a control method thereof are provided. The monitoring system includes a drone and a base station. The drone includes an IR detector. The base station includes a platform, a moving vehicle, an IR positioner, and a positioning apparatus. The drone is placed on the platform disposed on the moving vehicle. The IR positioner emits an infrared ray. The positioning apparatus includes a movement member and a positioning controller. The movement member is movably disposed on the platform. The positioning controller is coupled to the movement member. The drone moves to the platform according to the infrared ray. When the drone is located on the platform, the positioning controller controls the movement member to push the drone and move the drone to a specific position.

Accordingly, the drone can take off or be landed immediately when the base station is moving or remains still.

A system and a method for autonomous hydrogen refueling of vertical lift aircraft using a landing pad with sensors, a hydrogen storage tank, a refueling arm configured to couple the hydrogen storage tank to the aircraft and a controller configured to control a flow of fuel from the hydrogen storage tank to the aircraft.

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.

Systems and methods for capturing unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment of the technology, for example, includes a base assembly and an aircraft capture member attached to and extending from the base assembly. The aircraft capture member has a distal region positioned to intercept an unmanned aircraft in flight. The aircraft capture member comprises an elongated telescoping rod including a plurality of discrete segments having a telescoping arrangement relative to each other. The aircraft capture member is configured to elongate or pay out from a first initial length to a second extended length greater than the first length after an unmanned aircraft intercepts and engages the distal region of the aircraft capture member.

A method for deploying a drone including transporting a drone from a first location to a second location with a vehicle and supplying electricity from the vehicle to the drone while the drone is being transported. A launch command can be initiated from within the vehicle to direct the drone to ascend and hover above the vehicle. The drone can be transported in a drone port mounted to the vehicle.

The subject disclosure relates an aerial system to track a detected obstacle. The aerial system may comprise a plurality of aircraft, an aircraft storage system to house the plurality of aircraft, an aircraft controller in communication with each of a tracking system and the plurality of aircraft. In operation, one or more of the plurality of aircraft may engage the detected threat. At least one of the plurality of aircraft may include a target neutralization device to strike the detected threat.

A computer is programmed to deploy an aerial drone to fly within a specified distance of a first vehicle. The computer is programmed to detect a second vehicle and then activate an aerial drone light.

Systems for mobile launch and retrieval of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) include a rail-based, ground-based, or water-based mobile platform carrying a mobile station for launching and retrieving vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) or non-VTOL UAS while the platform is in motion, based on current position and weather conditions. The mobile platform may include facilities for communicating with the airborne UAS, stowing a retrieved UAS, and reloading/refitting a stowed UAS. The mobile platform may include positionable wake control devices and a partially positionable launch and retrieval mechanism for alleviating turbulence or crosswinds. The mobile platform may include long-range sensors for detecting or identifying obstacles near a rail-based platform that may interfere with the operating envelope of the launch and retrieval mechanisms. The launch and retrieval system may be intermodal and scalable either up or down as mission parameters demand.