Techniques involve utilizing a multi-track cargo handling assembly to guide individual cargo items in parallel tracks to an aft end of a deck of an amphibious air cushion vehicle when unloading from the aft end. Such a multi-track cargo handling assembly includes a framework constructed and arranged to couple with the deck of the amphibious air cushion vehicle, and a set of guide rails coupled with the framework. The set of guide rails defines the parallel tracks and is constructed and arranged to constrain movement of the cargo items along the parallel tracks.

A vehicle-based airborne wind turbine system having an aerial wing, a plurality of rotors each having a plurality of rotatable blades positioned on the aerial wing, an electrically conductive tether secured to the aerial wing and secured to a ground station positioned on a vehicle, wherein the aerial wing is adapted to receive electrical power from the vehicle that is delivered to the aerial wing through the electrically conductive tether; wherein the aerial wing is adapted to operate in a flying mode to harness wind energy to provide a first pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle; and wherein the aerial wing is also adapted to operate in a powered flying mode wherein the rotors may be powered so that the turbine blades serve as thrust-generating propellers to provide a second pulling force through the tether to pull the vehicle.

The universal vehicle system is designed with a lifting body which is composed of a plurality of interconnected modules which are configured to form an aerodynamically viable contour of the lifting body which including a front central module, a rear module, and thrust vectoring modules displaceably connected to the front central module and operatively coupled to respective propulsive mechanisms. The thrust vectoring modules are controlled for dynamical displacement relative to the lifting body (in tilting and/or translating fashion) to direct and actuate the propulsive mechanism(s) as needed for safe and stable operation in various modes of operation and transitioning therebetween in air, water and terrain environments.

A water-propelled or water-powered unmanned aerial vehicle including a base configured to carry a payload, and at least one nozzle attached thereto. The at least one nozzle is configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid from a source located remotely from the vehicle. The vehicle includes a control system configured to alter or otherwise selectively dictate the flow of fluid through the at least one nozzle and/or the orientation of the at least one nozzle with respect to the base in response to a received control signal for providing controlled unmanned vehicle flight.

Flight based infrared imaging systems and related techniques, and in particular unmanned aerial system (UAS) based systems, are provided for aiding in operation and/or piloting of a mobile structure. Such systems and techniques may include determining environmental conditions around the mobile structure with the UAS detecting the presence of objects and/or persons around the mobile structure and/or determining the presence of other structures around the mobile structure. Instructions for the operation of such mobile structures may then be accordingly determined responsive to such data.

Stowable and deployable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A UAV in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a main body, frames carried by the main body, and motors carried by the frames. At least two frames are positioned to move relative to each other between a stowed configuration in which the frames are generally aligned proximate to each other and a deployed configuration different from the stowed configuration. The main body can include a first body portion pivotably connected to a second body portion. In a stowed configuration, the body portions can generally overlap each other. A UAV in accordance with particular embodiments includes a modular electronics unit carried by the UAV and including a camera, a battery, and a vehicle controller. Modular electronics units can be configured to be removably connected to and disconnected from the UAV and other vehicles.

Equipment and methods that combine the use of wave powered vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). A UAV can be launched from a wave-powered vehicle, observe another vessel, and report the results of its observation to the wave-powered vehicle, and the wave-powered vehicle can report the results of the observation to a remote location. The UAV can land on water and can then be recovered by the wave-powered vehicle.

A base module may be used to receive and house one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via one or more cavities. The base module receives commands from a manager device and identifies a flight plan that allows a UAV to execute the received commands. The base module transfers the flight plan to the UAV and frees the UAV. Once the UAV returns, the base module once again receives it. The base module then receives sensor data from the UAV from one or more sensors onboard the UAV, and optionally receives additional information describing its flight and identifying success or failure of the flight plan. The base module transmits the sensor data and optionally the additional information to a storage medium locally or remotely accessible by the manager device.

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a rotorcraft-assisted launch and retrieval system including a rotorcraft having a fixed-wing aircraft capture assembly configured to capture a fixed-wing aircraft.

A vehicle capable of multiple varieties of locomotion having a main body; a plurality of motors and blades providing flying capability; each motor being associated with and powering a blade assembly; two legs extending from opposing sides of the main body creating a ground propulsion system. The ground propulsion system having two legs; each leg connected to a track body at the opposing leg end; each track body comprised of a plurality of drive gears; each track body connected to and retaining a track providing ground propulsion. The vehicle can either drive or fly based on its base structure, in additional to carrying a payload. The payload is carried below the main body of the vehicle and between the tracks or running gear. When the vehicle is in flight, the tracks are able to rotate up into a fly/flight mode to protect the blades during flight.