An apparatus for launch and recovery of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a method for launching a UAV, a method for recovering a UAV and a kit of parts for launch and recovery of a UAV. The apparatus comprises a boom having a center member for receiving the UAV, and first and second arm members extending outwardly and upwardly from the center member, wherein the boom is configured to be lifted to a predetermined height into the air from a reference point; and wherein the boom is movable in the air to an operating position forward of the reference point.

Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while providing continuous power to at least one system on the UAV. The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV. The UAV and/or the energy provision station may have a backup energy source to provide continuous power to the UAV.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing marker that absorbs incoming radar signals emitted by a UAV and/or disperses reflected radar signals. The absorption and/or dispersion of the radar signals creates a reduced radar return in comparison to the environment about the landing marker. The UAV can detect the area of reduced radar return and determine that it is a landing marker. Additionally, the UAV can determine a position of the landing marker relative to the UAV, based on the reduced radar return, to effect delivery of an item by the UAV. The landing marker can include materials, structures and/or features to absorb and/or disperse radar signals to cause the reduced radar return.

A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the landing location based on the second set of flight data.

Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for performing data backup using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). An example method includes in response to detecting a data backup request from a user device, determining a geographic location of the user device and dispatching the UAV to the geographic location; controlling the UAV to obtain user data from the user device; and controlling the UAV to navigate to a data center to back up the obtained user data onto a cloud storage.

An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.

An aircraft landing assist apparatus includes an image obtaining unit, a shape obtaining unit, a measuring unit, and a calculating unit. The image obtaining unit is configured to obtain an image of a surrounding region of a landing point on which an aircraft is to land. The shape obtaining unit is configured to obtain a shape of the surrounding region of the landing point on the basis of the obtained image. The measuring unit is configured to measure an above-air wind direction and an above-air wind velocity. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a landing-point wind direction and a landing-point wind velocity on the basis of the obtained shape of the surrounding region of the landing point, the measured above-air wind direction, and the measured above-air wind velocity.

The present invention relates to a system comprising a drone (1), a wire (2) and a docking station (3) allowing the autonomous landing of the drone (1) in degraded conditions. The docking station (3) comprises a landing platform (32). The landing procedure includes stopping the automatic position control of the drone (1), producing a motor thrust higher than the weight of the drone (1), the automatic control of the attitude of the drone (1), and pulling upon the wire (2) in order to bring the drone (1) back to the platform (32). This system makes emergency landings possible, or landings under violent winds, or when the docking station (3) is in movement on a vehicle, reducing material breakage.

An UAV landing system includes an UAV and a target area. The target area includes a first reference area of a first color. An image below the UAV is captured to generate a reference image. The reference image includes at least two reference points located in a surrounding area of the reference image. A processor of the UAV determines whether the colors of the at least two reference points are all the first color. If the determined result is yes, the processor controls a controller of UAV to drive the UAV to move downward toward the target area. If the determined result is no, the processor determines whether the at least two reference points include the reference point of the first color. If the determined result is yes, the processor controls the controller to drive the UAV to fly along a flight adjustment direction.

A docking station for an aircraft includes a base portion and an alignment system disposed on the base portion configured to orient the aircraft relative to the base portion. The alignment system can include a plurality of outer protrusions extending away from the base portion in a vertical direction.