Example landing platform systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a landing platform includes a top plate configured to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), where the top plate has a plurality of slots therethrough. A rotating plate is located adjacent the top plate and includes multiple centering pins extending therefrom and extending through the plurality of slots in the top plate. A motor is capable of rotating the rotating plate, which causes the multiple centering pins to center the UAV on the top plate.

A charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a landing surface having a first charging terminal formed of a first electrically conductive material, a second charging terminal formed of a second electrically conductive material and spaced apart from the first charging terminal, and an electrically insulating material disposed between the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal. A centering wheel is rotatably associated with the landing surface and has a center hub and spokes extending from the center hub. A rotator coupled to the centering wheel can rotate the centering wheel to align the unmanned aerial vehicle with the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal.

Example implementations may relate to using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dedicated to deployment of operational infrastructure, with such deployment enabling charging of a battery of a UAV from a group of UAVs. More specifically, the group of UAVs may include at least (i) a first UAV of a first type configured to deploy operational infrastructure and (ii) a second UAV of a second type configured to carry out a task other than deployment of operational infrastructure. With this arrangement, a control system may determine an operational location at which to deploy operational infrastructure, and may cause the first UAV to deploy operational infrastructure at the operational location. Then, the control system may cause the second UAV to charge a battery of the second UAV using the operational infrastructure deployed by the first UAV at the operational location.

Zone-based unmanned aerial vehicle landing systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes establishing a plurality of operational zones, each of the plurality of operational zones being associated with a range of altitudes, guiding an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through each of a plurality of operational zones to land the UAV on a target location using sensors, wherein the sensors are configured to sense a distance between the UAV to the target location, further wherein portions of the sensors are configured for use at different altitudes, and determining an error for the UAV during landing, wherein the UAV retreats to a higher altitude operational zone when the error is determined.

Techniques for verifying a location and identification of a landing marker to aid an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload to a location may be provided. For example, upon receiving an indication that a UAV has arrived to a delivery location, a server computer may process one or more images of an area that are provided by the UAV and/or a user interacting with a user device. A landing marker may be identified in the image and a representation of the landing marker along with instructions to guide the UAV to deliver the payload to the landing marker may be transmitted to the UAV and implemented by the UAV.

A vertical landing of an aircraft is performed using the first battery where the aircraft is unoccupied when the vertical landing is performed, the unoccupied aircraft includes the first battery, and the unoccupied aircraft excludes a second, removable battery. In response to detecting that the second, removable battery is detachably coupled to the aircraft, a power source for the aircraft is switched from the first battery to the second, removable battery. After switching the switch power source, a vertical takeoff of the aircraft is performed using the second, removable battery, wherein the aircraft is occupied when the vertical takeoff is performed.

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a base station. The method includes establishing a wireless communication with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), determining that the UAV has landed in a first area of the base station, controlling a first power device of the base station to move in a first direction to control a guiding mechanism of the base station to move toward a transferring device of the base station to push the UAV onto the transferring device, and controlling a second power device to move in a second direction to control a movement of the transferring device to transport the UAV to an operating platform.

A flight module for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft comprises multiple drive units arranged on a supporting framework structure that comprises struts interconnected at node points. Each drive unit comprises an electric motor and a propeller that is operatively connected to the electric motor. Some of the drive units are arranged outside the node points.

Disclosed is a charging station (2) for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (1) comprising one or more energy stores, the station having a charging device for transferring electrical energy to the energy store or stores. Also disclosed is a combined charging station (12) for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, each aircraft comprising one or more energy stores, the combined charging station (12) having multiple charging stations.

A position setting system including a first side plate, a second side plate and a bottom plate with two sides parallel to a length direction, each of the two sides abutting a respective side plate. The position setting system also has a first positioning device and a second positioning device configured to move along at least one of the two sides of the bottom plate, towards each other to guide and position a landing gear of the UAV to be between the first positioning device and the second positioning device during landing. During take-off, the first positioning device and the second positioning device are moved away from each other.