Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a modular buoy deployment system including modules arranged to be assembled at a destination location and an aerial delivery apparatus arranged to deliver the buoy modules to the destination location. The modules are connectable to at least one other module and form a buoy when assembled. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a platform arranged to receive one or more aerial delivery apparatuses. Each module conforms to a delivery criteria of the aerial delivery apparatus. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a power system arranged to recharge the aerial delivery apparatus.

A helicopter includes a gimbal assembly, a first rotor assembly, a second rotor assembly, a fuselage, and a controller. The first rotor assembly, the second rotor assembly, and the fuselage are mechanically coupled to the gimbal assembly. The first rotor assembly includes a first rotor and the second rotor assembly includes a second rotor, the first rotor including a plurality of first fixed-pitch blades and the second rotor including a plurality of second fixed-pitch blades. Each of the plurality of first and the second fixed-pitch blades are coupled to a hub of its respective rotor via a hinge mechanism that is configured to allow each of the fixed-pitch blades to pivot from a first position to a second position, the first position being substantially parallel to the fuselage and the second position being substantially perpendicular to the fuselage.

The current invention concerns an improved system for cargo delivery through (unmanned) aerial vehicles (preferably UAVs or drones) to specifically designed home stations. Additionally, a method is described according to which the system of the invention functions.

Example positioning systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a landing platform includes a base having an aperture and multiple positioning arms attached to the base. Each of the multiple positioning arms can rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position. Additionally, each of the multiple positioning arms are configured to engage a positioning ring on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and further configured to reposition the UAV on the base.

A monitoring system, a base station, and a control method thereof are provided. The monitoring system includes a drone and a base station. The drone includes a main body and at least two leg holders extending from the main body. The base station includes a platform and a positioning mechanism. The platform has a horizontal plate, and the drone is placed on the platform. The positioning mechanism includes at least two movement members. The movement members are movably disposed on the platform and movable between a first position and a second position. When the movement members are located at the second position, the movement members hold and fix the leg holders of the drone, each of the leg holders forms an inclined angle with respect to the horizontal plate, and the inclined angle is less than 90 degrees.

Systems, apparatuses and methods for landing an unmanned aircraft on a mobile structure are presented. Sensors on the aircraft identify a predetermined landing area on a mobile structure. The aircraft monitors the sensor data to maintain its position hovering over the landing area. The aircraft estimates a future attitude of the surface of the landing area and determines a landing time that corresponds to a desired attitude of the surface of the landing area. The unmanned aircraft executes a landing maneuver to bring the aircraft into contact with the surface of the landing area at the determined landing time.

Apparatuses for securing drones during transport and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a structural panel of a vehicle having a compartment configured to receive and retain a drone, a retractable cover member configured to at least partially cover the compartment to create an enclosure around the drone, and a drone securement assembly that retains the drone within the enclosure so as to prevent the drone from displacement during vehicle operation.

A portable drone port that is portable and disposed on a landing surface for a drone includes a covering section configured to cover the landing surface and provided with markers of different sizes. The covering section includes a restraining section configured to restrain, on the covering section, the drone that lands on the covering section. The restraining section is hook-and-loop fasteners including a hook-and-loop fastener on one side disposed on the covering section and a hook-and-loop fastener on the other side disposed on the drone and configured to join to the hook-and-loop fastener on the one side.

A portable drone port that is portable and disposed on a landing surface for a drone includes a covering section configured to cover the landing surface and provided with markers of different sizes. The covering section includes a restraining section configured to restrain, on the covering section, the drone that lands on the covering section. The restraining section is hook-and-loop fasteners including a hook-and-loop fastener on one side disposed on the covering section and a hook-and-loop fastener on the other side disposed on the drone and configured to join to the hook-and-loop fastener on the one side.

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.