An imaging system has a tether sub-system deployable and retrievable from an aircraft, an imaging device attached at a deployable end of the tether, and control apparatus comprising control and communication circuitry receiving images captured by the imaging apparatus and storing the images. The tether is deployed to a predetermined length, the aircraft is piloted in a flight pattern causing the imaging device at the deployed end of the tether to attain a fixed position proximate an imaging target, and the control apparatus is operated to capture images of the target.

An imaging system has a tether sub-system deployable and retrievable from an aircraft, an imaging device attached at a deployable end of the tether, and control apparatus comprising control and communication circuitry receiving images captured by the imaging apparatus and storing the images. The tether is deployed to a predetermined length, the aircraft is piloted in a flight pattern causing the imaging device at the deployed end of the tether to attain a fixed position proximate an imaging target, and the control apparatus is operated to capture images of the target.

A data delivery system has a tether deployable from an aircraft having a first data repository, a transmission pod at a deployed end of the tether, the transmission pod having first wireless communication circuitry, a communication conductor in parallel with the tether connecting the data repository in the aircraft with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a receiving station on ground surface having a receiving antenna, second wireless communication circuitry compatible with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a second data repository. The tether is deployed from the aircraft in a manner to position the transmission pod stationary proximate the receiving station antenna, and data is downloaded from the data repository in the aircraft to the data repository in the receiving station via the communication conductor and the wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod.

An ordnance delivery system has a cable deployable by a winch from an aircraft, an end effector comprising controllable thrusters attached at a deployed end of the cable, first control circuitry in the end effector and second control circuitry in the aircraft, the first and second control circuitry in communication, an ordinance delivery region in the end effector carrying ordnance for delivery on a target, and a release mechanism by which the ordnance is released to fall on the target. The aircraft is piloted to a position over a target, the end effector is controlled to position more accurately over the target; and the release mechanism is activated, releasing the ordnance to fall on the target.

An ordnance delivery system has a cable deployable by a winch from an aircraft, an end effector comprising controllable thrusters attached at a deployed end of the cable, first control circuitry in the end effector and second control circuitry in the aircraft, the first and second control circuitry in communication, an ordinance delivery region in the end effector carrying ordnance for delivery on a target, and a release mechanism by which the ordnance is released to fall on the target. The aircraft is piloted to a position over a target, the end effector is controlled to position more accurately over the target; and the release mechanism is activated, releasing the ordnance to fall on the target.

Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight to recover an in-flight target UAV. The towline or portion thereof may be oriented nearly vertical. The towline may have a fitting thereon. A capture mechanism on the target UAV may have one or more deployable flaps that engage with the near vertical towline and fitting. The flaps may stow to secure the target aircraft to the towline and fitting. The host aircraft may then retract the towline to pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft using a hoist system having a winch. A latching system located in a pylon of the host aircraft, which may be under a wing, may have a towline connector that engages with and secures the target UAV. The host aircraft may have multiple hoist systems for deployment and/or recovery of multiple target UAV's.

A carrier aerial vehicle system includes a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wireless communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.

A carrier aerial vehicle system includes a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wireless communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.

A combined vertical takeoff and landing UAV having a large vertical takeoff and landing UAV, a connecting device, and a small vertical takeoff and landing UAV. The connecting device having a clamping component and an adsorption component. The clamping component includes a clamping part, and a clamping groove is arranged on the clamping part. The clamping component having a snap-fitting part, and a snap-fitting groove is arranged on the snap-fitting part. The clamping groove and the snap-fitting groove are correspondingly set. A first holding space is arranged on the clamping part, and a second holding space is arranged on the snap-fitting part. The adsorption component comprises a first magnetic element located in the first holding space, and the adsorption component also comprises a second magnetic element, which is located in the second holding space.

A precision delivery vehicle having a vehicle body assembly, a fixed wing system, a rotor system and a guidance system. The vehicle body assembly can retain a payload. The fixed wing system includes first and second wings coupled to the vehicle body for fixed wing flight. The rotor system includes a mast structure, a rotor hub rotatable about the mast structure and at least two rotor blades coupled to the rotor hub and rotatable with the rotor hub relative to the mast structure. The at least two rotor blades are movable between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the precision delivery vehicle is in fixed wing flight. Upon placement of the at least two rotor blades into the deployed configuration, the precision delivery vehicle is placed into rotative flight. The guidance system is structurally configured to direct the precision delivery vehicle to a target.