A secure, personalized, and locatable container for residential, commercial, industrial, and military use that is capable of interfacing with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for the purpose of sending and receiving mail and parcels. The container is stationary when installed but can be uninstalled and easily transportable to an alternate location for re-installation. The present invention of the container and proprietary communications protocol provides the benefit of touchless, secure, and verifiable parcel service anywhere in the world.

An aircraft is described with both VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) capabilities and convention airplane capabilities. A preferred embodiment comprises a fuselage and fixed wing, with one boom on either side of the fuselage. Each boom comprises a tilt rotor on a fore end and a fixed rotor on the aft end. Both rotors can be directed vertically for VTOL capability. During cruise the tilt rotors can be directed forward for thrust and the fixed rotors can be stopped and directed along the boom axis, minimizing drag. The described embodiments have advantages in weight savings and maneuverability compared to other VTOL aircraft.

Disclosed are a collaborative charging method, apparatus, and logistics device, which relate to the technical field of logistics. One specific implementation mode of the method comprises: judging whether remaining battery power of a first logistics device satisfies a preset charging condition; if so, determining a target second logistics device for charging the first logistics device; and controlling the target second logistics device to move to meet the first logistics device so as to charge the first logistics device. According to the implementation mode, collaborative charging between respective logistics devices can avoid problems such as low charging efficiency and energy waste caused by necessity of returning to a charging station for charging.

A drone-based product delivery mechanism in which power is transferred between the drone's battery and a product's battery while the product is in transit to its destination. For a short distance delivery, the drone battery may be used to charge the product battery so that the product is delivered with a fully-charged battery. On the other hand, for long distance deliveries, the power from a fully-charged product battery may be used to charge the drone's battery to extend the flight time/radius of the drone or to supplement the drone battery to conserve its power. The power transfer may be carried out using a wireless connection or a wired connection. The wireless connection may be a Qi interface, whereas the wired connection may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. The product packaging may be re-designed to allow the desired power transfer between the drone and the product inside the packaging.

The present disclosure relates to a flying body. The flying body includes a mounting space for mounting an object, a loading port for loading the object in the mounting space, and a take-out port for taking out the object loaded in the mounting space, wherein the loading port and the take-out port are provided at least partially at different positions. According to such a configuration, even a person without specialized knowledge can operate it easily and safely.

The delivery system S acquires sensing information sensed in a transfer area by a sensor mounted on UAV 1 that delivers an article, and determines whether visibility in the transfer area is good on the basis of the sensing information. Then, in a case where it is determined that the visibility is not good, the delivery system S performs a first notification processing for stopping a recipient who is going to receive the article from heading for the area, while in a case where it is determined that the visibility is good, the delivery system S performs a second notification processing for directing the recipient to head for the area.

A delivery container for a drone includes: an outer container (2) which is formed of an elastic material and is watertight and has a load opening (3) that opens and closes which is provided with a water stop portion (3a) to be watertight; and a cushioning portion (5) formed of an elastic material having an air chamber (6) and which is interposed between a load (B) stored inside the outer container (2) and the outer container (2) to hold the load (B) within a predetermined range inside the outer container (2). The delivery container can prevent a load to be delivered from getting damaged or wet and can easily and more reliably protect the load is provided.

A method includes receiving a digital surface model of an area for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation. The digital surface model represents an environmental surface in the area. The method includes determining, for each grid cell of a plurality of grid cells in the area, a confidence value of an altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell and determining a terrain clearance value based at least on the confidence value of the altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell. The method includes determining a route for a UAV through the area such that the altitude of the UAV is above the altitude of the environmental surface at each grid cell of a sequence of grid cells of the route by at least the terrain clearance value determined for the grid cell. The method includes causing the UAV to navigate through the area using the determined route.

A landing system suitable for receiving an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). A landing surface is disposed on the AGV, and the landing system comprises a loading channel suitable for passing an object delivered by the UAV through a first loading channel opening in the landing surface. The object passes within the loading channel through to a second loading channel opening at a bottom aspect of the AGV. In this way, a UAV can land on the landing surface, and the AGV positions the object in line with a target delivery location, where the object is delivered. Aspects of the landing system comprise an electromagnet or vacuum chamber for securing the UAV to the landing surface, thereby enhancing stability of the UAV during movement of the landing system.

A system used to facilitate the landing of unmanned aerial vehicles on any desired coordinates, and docking and retake-off of them includes a motor operating the platform, a LED lighting employed for an operation of the system under low light conditions, electromagnetic magnets used for fixing the unmanned aerial vehicle on the platform, a transformer box used to supply electrical energy needed by the electromagnetic magnets and the LED lighting, a control cards box hosting control cards employed to control operations of junction boxes, the motor and the electromagnetic magnets, and a cable box through which connection cables of the system pass.