An unmanned aerial vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an aerial vehicle body capable of flying; a winding machine provided to the aerial vehicle body and capable of winding and unwinding a linear member an end of which is connectable to a delivery target; and a fall prevention mechanism provided to the aerial vehicle body and capable of holding the delivery target disconnected from the linear member.

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages and/or cargo through the use of unmanned delivery vehicle. In some embodiments, a mechanical package release system is provided that comprises: a package release hanger configured to couple with and suspend from an unmanned delivery vehicle; and one or more tension supports each configured to secure with a package and to releasably couple with the package release hanger wherein a decrease of at least a threshold amount of a force being applied by the weight of the package on the one or more tension supports induces a mechanical release of the coupling between the one or more tension supports and the package release hanger resulting in a release of the package from the unmanned delivery vehicle.

A system to maintain a phase difference is disclosed. Two or more aircraft fly in a continuous periodic trajectory. The system maintains a phase difference between the two or more aircraft. Telemetry information for a reference aircraft moving in a first periodic trajectory is received. A phase difference between a primary aircraft and the reference aircraft with respect to the first periodic trajectory is determined. A variance in the phase difference between the primary aircraft and the reference aircraft from the target phase difference is determined. A new trajectory for the primary aircraft that decreases the variance in the phase difference with respect to the new periodic trajectory is determined, and the primary aircraft is maneuvered to follow the new trajectory.

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance delivery of packages. Some embodiments provide an unmanned delivery system comprising: a rotational drive shaft; a crane motor cooperated with the drive shaft that is rotated by the crane motor; a first crane system with a first cord fixed with the first crane system, wherein the first crane system is configured to cooperate with the drive shaft to control the first crane system in controlling the spooling and retraction of the first cord; a control circuit coupled with the crane motor; and a stop switch electrically coupled with the control circuit and positioned to be contacted by a package release hanger secured with the first cord when the first cord is retracted to a first threshold; wherein the control circuit is configured to stop the crane motor in response to receiving a signal from the stop switch.

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

Described herein are apparatuses for passively releasing a payload of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). An example apparatus may include, among other features, (i) a housing; (ii) a swing arm coupled to the housing, wherein the swing arm is operable to toggle between an open position and a closed position; (iii) a spring mechanism adapted to exert a force on the swing arm from the open position toward the closed position; (iv) a receiving system of a UAV adapted to receive the housing, wherein the receiving system causes the swing arm to be arranged in the open position; and (v) a spool operable to unwind and wind a tether coupled to the housing, wherein unwinding the tether causes a descent of the housing from the receiving system, and wherein winding the tether causes an ascent of the housing to the receiving system.

Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, and methods to deploy and stow a deployable equipment to and from a hoist, to control a load on a suspension without transfer of torque to the suspension cable, for the deployable equipment to obtain data and information from the hoist, and for the deployable equipment to control the hoist, such as a reel of a hoist, to control a z-axis of a terminal end of the suspension cable. Control of the z-axis may be, for example, to control an elevation of a load, such as relative to carrier, ground, or an objective or target, to control a tension on or of suspension cable. Control of the z-axis may be, for example, to control a rate of ascent or descent of a terminal end of suspension cable.

Example implementations may relate to self-deployment of operational infrastructure by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Specifically, a control system may determine operational location(s) from which a group of UAVs is to provide aerial transport services in a geographic area. For at least a first of the operational location(s), the system may cause a first UAV from the group to perform an infrastructure deployment task that includes (i) a flight from a source location to the first operational location and (ii) installation of operational infrastructure at the first operational location by the first UAV. In turn, this may enable the first UAV to operate from the first operational location, as the first UAV can charge a battery of the first UAV using the operational infrastructure installed at the first operational location and/or can carry out item transport task(s) at location(s) that are in the vicinity of the first operational location.

An example embodiment includes a landing pad having a housing and a power terminal configured to draw electric power from a power source. The landing pad further includes an electrically conductive landing terminal dorsal to the housing and configured such that, during a landing state of an aerial vehicle, the landing terminal makes contact with a plurality of electric contacts disposed ventrally to a fuselage of the aerial vehicle. The landing terminal is configured to transfer electric power drawn by the power terminal to the aerial vehicle via the electric contacts during the landing state of the aerial vehicle.

A deployable clasping system is configured to be deployed from a component and securely clasp and release an object. The deployable clasping system includes a cable that is deployable from the transit vehicle. A clasp assembly is coupled to the cable. The clasp assembly is configured to securely clasp the object. A propulsion sub-system is coupled to one or both of the cable and the clasp assembly. The propulsion sub-system is configured to maneuver the clasp assembly to the object.