A mechanically secure docking platform for unmanned VTOL aircraft (drone) or other automated vehicle, acting as an automated battery recharging system for drones or a battery quick change system for drones. The system also is capable of enabling an automated data logistics system for drones, an autonomous guidance system for landing and docking for drones, and/or an autonomous guidance system for undocking and takeoff for drones.

A method includes: establishing wireless connection between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a user interface; generating, via the user interface, a flight path for the unmanned aerial vehicle; generating, via the user interface, a flight schedule for the unmanned aerial vehicle, the flight schedule being associated with the flight path and include one or more designated times; and initiating, via the user interface, autonomous operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle for the unmanned aerial vehicle to autonomously fly the flight path at the one or more designated times

A technique for operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a terminal area from which the UAVs are staged includes charging a plurality of the UAVs on charging pads disposed in a staging array at the terminal area. Merchant facilities for preparing packages for delivery by the UAVs are disposed about a periphery of the staging array. The UAVs are relocated under their own propulsion from interior charging pads to peripheral loading pads of the staging array as the peripheral loading pads become available and the UAVs are deemed sufficiently charged and ready for delivery missions.

A modular housing structure for housing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a plurality of housing segments and a plurality of landing pads. The plurality of housing segments are shaped to mechanically join together to define an interior of the modular housing structure. The individual housing segments have a common structural shape that repeats when assembled to form the modular housing structure. The plurality of landing pads are positioned within the individual housing segments, each of the landing pads sized to physically support and charge a corresponding one of the UAVs.

A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter/receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. A laser guidance system may provide coordinates for landing near a swimmer in distress. The search and rescue drone may also be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes pivoting motor mounts, so that it can take off and land vertically with propellers rotating in a horizontal plane, and then the propellers may pivot to rotate in a vertical plane for propulsion across water similar to a fan boat with rescued people aboard.

A UAV landing platform having movable covers to securely store/maintain/charge a UAV. The UAV may be launched from the landing platform, and the landing platform can have visual indicators to guide the landing of the UAV back onto the landing platform. There can be an optional mechanism to self-adjust/self-level the landing surface such that a UAV can safely land onto the landing platform even when the landing platform is on a traveling vehicle.

The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, and apparatus for landing guidance for remotely operated aerial vehicles using crossed radar beams. Radar units can be angled over a landing pad/dish for a Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicle. The Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicle lines up over radar beams by basically following radar beams to equalize the returned energy of each beam. The radar units facilitate lateral position tracking. When a Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicle is off to one side, returns for one or more beams may be stronger than returns for one or more other beans. When a Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicle is maneuvered to an appropriate position for terminal guidance, rotors can be turned off and/or thrust settled (e.g., to 90%).

An electrical system for a vehicle may include a main power supply and a power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply and configured to selectively electrically connect the main power supply to, and disconnect the main power supply from, a vehicle subsystem. The electrical system may also include a supervisor power supply controller configured to receive signals indicative of an operational status of the vehicle, and determine, based at least in part on the signals, expected signals associated with operation of a plurality of vehicle subsystems. The supervisor power supply controller may also receive signals associated with operation of a vehicle subsystem, and determine that the signals associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault. The supervisor power supply controller may cause the power supply controller associated with the vehicle subsystem to disconnect the vehicle subsystem from the main power supply.

A drone pod may receive, stow, and launch a drone. The drone pod may include a housing, a canopy movably coupled to the housing, a platform movably coupled to the housing, and a drone bay. The drone pod may be configured to move the canopy to expose the drone bay and raise the platform relative to a floor of the drone bay to receive the drone, lower the platform toward the floor of the drone bay and move the canopy to enclose the drone bay to stow the drone, move the canopy to expose the drone bay and raise the platform relative to the floor of the drone bay to launch the drone. The drone pod may be mounted on a vehicle. A system may include a drone pod and a drone, wherein the drone pod is configured to receive, stow, and launch the drone.

Resonant sensors for environmental health risk detection are disclosed. An adhesive may include at least one meso-scale or micro-scale resonator embedded within a material that comprises at least a portion of the adhesive. The at least one meso-scale or micro-scale resonator may be formed from a composite material. Additionally, the at least one meso-scale or micro-scale resonator may include a plurality of first carbon particles configured to uniquely resonate in response to an electromagnetic ping based at least in part on a concentration level of the first carbon particles within the at least one meso-scale or micro-scale resonator.