Paired drone-based systems and methods are described that inspect a delivery vehicle. For example, a system may include a docking station within the vehicle and a sensor-enabled inspection drone paired to the vehicle and that aerially inspects targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle. In response to an activation command, the inspection drone transitions to an active power state, uncouples from the docking station, identifies the targeted inspection points as corresponding to respective parts of the vehicle, moves to respective aerial positions proximate each of the targeted inspection points, automatically identifies an out of range inspection condition about a targeted inspection point based upon sensor-based inspection information detected from at least one of the aerials positions, and responsively transmits an inspection notification message to a vehicle receiver on the vehicle to indicate the targeted inspection point is outside an acceptable range for operation of the vehicle.

An aerial vehicle is described that is capable of interacting within a TES environment, and capable of acting as a Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) platform to represent virtually any type of aircraft in the simulation. The aerial vehicle may include sensors for determining its own location and/or orientation, and may further carry a payload of components that can be assembled modularly to equipped the aerial vehicle with different types of functionality. Such functionality can include enabling the aerial vehicle to gather information regarding its surroundings, engage with other military entities within the TES environment, and/or enable other military entities within the TES environment to engage with it.

The invention relates to a method for protecting an object, in particular a land vehicle or watercraft, in particular a ship, from of a radar-guided missile by deploying and using an active offboard reflector, which is arranged at a decoy and comprises at least one receiving antenna and at least one transmitting antenna, wherein a radar signal transmitted by the radar-guided missile is picked up and is returned to the missile as an amplified signal in the previously ascertained opposite direction of reception; the invention proposes carrying out the method by deploying a plurality of flying drones, each having at least one active offboard reflector, and positioning the drones relative to one another in space in such a way that the active offboard reflectors thereof act as individual scattering centers and the signals therefrom that are returned to the missile collectively produce a radar scatter pattern that simulates the object to be protected.

An assembly comprising a drone (1) and at least one releasable load (37) mounted on the drone, the drone comprising an on-board data processing system, the releasable load (37) comprising at least one sensor delivering a piece of information that can be used to ascertain the path of same and actuators for controlling flight control surfaces allowing it to be oriented as it falls, being linked to the drone (1) by an optical fibre (70), the load and the drone being arranged to exchange information via the optical fibre while the load is falling, the load transmitting data originating from said at least one sensor and the drone transmitting data for controlling the actuators, established taking into account that received from the load, in order to guide the load towards a predefined target.

Various methods for utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor hazards for a user may include maintaining the UAV at a monitoring position relative to the user, monitoring an area surrounding the user for approaching objects, detecting an approaching object, determining whether the approaching object poses a danger to the user, and performing one or more actions to mitigate the danger of the approaching object in response to determining that the approaching object poses a danger to the user.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying and tracking UAVs including a plurality of sensors operatively connected over a network to a configuration of software and/or hardware. Generally, the plurality of sensors monitors a particular environment and transmits the sensor data to the configuration of software and/or hardware. The data from each individual sensor can be directed towards a process configured to best determine if a UAV is present or approaching the monitored environment. The system generally allows for a detected UAV to be tracked, which may allow for the system or a user of the system to predict how the UAV will continue to behave over time. The sensor information as well as the results generated from the systems and methods may be stored in one or more databases in order to improve the continued identifying and tracking of UAVs.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, by an unmanned aircraft including a processor, a control signal that causes the unmanned aircraft to fly in proximity to a transmission medium, where the unmanned aircraft includes a carrying system that releasably carries a communication device, and where a positioning of the communication device in proximity to the transmission medium enables the communication device to be physically connected on the transmission medium and enables the communication device to provide communications. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, by an unmanned aircraft including a processor, a control signal that causes the unmanned aircraft to fly in proximity to a transmission medium, where the unmanned aircraft includes a carrying system that releasably carries a communication device, and where a positioning of the communication device in proximity to the transmission medium enables the communication device to be physically connected on the transmission medium and enables the communication device to provide communications. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Disclosed is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a pre-defined shape to deploy one or more items. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes an upper housing, a lower housing, and a power unit. The upper housing includes plurality of rotors to lift and propel the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Further the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes various electronic components such as plurality of electronic cards, a processing unit, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a communication unit, an electronic gyroscope, a barometer, engines and flight control system, video camera, a forward looking infrared (FLIR) device, a microphone, and a laser telemeter/designator/range finder. The power unit powers the aforementioned electronic components. The lower housing includes plurality of storage units to stores one or more items. The lower housing is removably attached with the upper housing in a way to deploy the items at a predetermined location through plurality of openings.

A radiation detection system is disclosed comprising of number of detector elements arranged in a regular pattern that allows for directional information to be collected based on the number of radiation interaction events in each detection element. This system is mounted to an unmanned vehicle. In some embodiments, this information is used by the motion control unit of the unmanned vehicle to guide its movement toward a radiation source. A radiation spectrometer, also integrated in the detection system, is able to identify radiation sources.