A system for cushioning airdropped cargo includes a pallet supporting associated cargo. At least one lower inflatable impact attenuator in the form of a pneumatic cushion is positioned between the pallet and the cargo. A compression pad is positioned between the lower pneumatic cushion and the cargo. At least one upper pneumatic cushion is positioned atop the cargo. A parachute is connected by parachute rigging to the pallet.

The control device is configured to control an aerial vehicle that carries a carrying object and includes a sensor capable of measuring a ground surface temperature during flight. The control device acquires a ground surface temperature in an area where the carrying object is planned to be released, the ground surface temperature being measured by the sensor. And then, the control unit performs control regarding release of the carrying object in accordance with the ground surface temperature in the area.

A high transport efficiency aircraft apparatus for precisely delivering a payload at a target area without stopping is disclosed. An aircraft is adapted to fly at low speed and less than 10 feet above ground level over the target area, with a delivery trajectory including a steep descent toward the target area and a steep ascent away from the target area. The aircraft includes a payload bay constructed to contain the payload within the aircraft, and a payload release mechanism adapted to release the payload from the payload bay when the aircraft flies over the target area, allowing the payload to fall and arrive unharmed at the target area unaided by an aerodynamic deceleration device.

A method of assembling a delivery payload assembly configured to be deployed from an aircraft and travel along a flight path to a predetermined landing destination includes attaching a tail-kit assembly to a first end of a payload, the tail-kit assembly including a rotor blade assembly including a plurality of rotor blades having a central axis of rotation, and a flight control and navigation system configured to control a collective pitch angle of each of the plurality of rotor blades of the rotor blade assembly, configured to control an axial thrust force of the rotor blade assembly, the axial thrust force being at an angle with respect to the central axis of rotation of the rotor blade assembly, and configured to navigate the delivery payload assembly along the flight path to the predetermined landing destination. The method further includes removing the tail-kit assembly from the payload after the payload is delivered to the predetermined landing destination.

A method of assembling a delivery payload assembly configured to be deployed from an aircraft and travel along a flight path to a predetermined landing destination includes attaching a tail-kit assembly to a first end of a payload, the tail-kit assembly including a rotor blade assembly including a plurality of rotor blades having a central axis of rotation, and a flight control and navigation system configured to control a collective pitch angle of each of the plurality of rotor blades of the rotor blade assembly, configured to control an axial thrust force of the rotor blade assembly, the axial thrust force being at an angle with respect to the central axis of rotation of the rotor blade assembly, and configured to navigate the delivery payload assembly along the flight path to the predetermined landing destination. The method further includes removing the tail-kit assembly from the payload after the payload is delivered to the predetermined landing destination.

A parachute system includes a payload support configured to operably support a payload below a parachute and an azimuth control device mounted to the payload support and/or the payload. The azimuth control device is configured to operably impart a yaw rotation to the payload in order to adjust an azimuth of the payload. The azimuth control device may include a thrust producing fluid jet device, a thrust producing propeller device, and/or a manipulatable control surface, among others.

There is provided an energy absorbing landing gear system for attachment to a vertical landing apparatus. The energy absorbing landing gear system includes a linear damper assembly, and a load limiter assembly coupled to the linear damper assembly, the load limiter assembly having at least one deformable element to enhance an energy absorption capability. When the energy absorbing landing gear system is attached to the vertical landing apparatus, during a landing phase, the linear damper assembly contacts a landing surface, and a piston assembly of the linear damper assembly moves a first compression distance toward the load limiter assembly, and when the linear damper assembly reaches a maximum compression, the linear damper assembly moves a second compression distance into the load limiter assembly, and the at least one deformable element deforms.

An air delivery barrel system is described, the air delivery barrel system includes a strap system that provides line stretch of the strap system when a force is exerted on the strap system, the strap system including a continuous strap, a first barrel, the first barrel being formed out of a cylindrically shaped wall and the cylindrically shaped wall including a channel that the strap system passes through, an end cap, the end cap being detachably connectable to a bottom end of the first barrel, the end cap protecting a bottom portion of the strap system, a lid, the lid being detachably connectable to a top end of the first barrel, the lid including a recess through which the strap system passes through, and a second barrel that can be situated within the first barrel and the cylindrically shaped wall of the first barrel protects the second barrel.

An air delivery barrel system is described, the air delivery barrel system includes a strap system that provides line stretch of the strap system when a force is exerted on the strap system, the strap system including a continuous strap, a first barrel, the first barrel being formed out of a cylindrically shaped wall and the cylindrically shaped wall including a channel that the strap system passes through, an end cap, the end cap being detachably connectable to a bottom end of the first barrel, the end cap protecting a bottom portion of the strap system, a lid, the lid being detachably connectable to a top end of the first barrel, the lid including a recess through which the strap system passes through, and a second barrel that can be situated within the first barrel and the cylindrically shaped wall of the first barrel protects the second barrel.

A container for dropping from an aerial vehicle in flight comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, a plurality of side walls, and a plurality of air brakes comprising flat panels. A plurality of side air brakes, wherein each side air brake is connected to a corresponding side wall at or near an upper edge thereof, is freely pivotable around a side air brake pivot axis at or near the upper edge of the corresponding side wall from a passive position, in which the side air brake extends substantially parallel to the corresponding side wall, to a deployed position, in which the side air brake extends substantially transversely relative to the corresponding side wall, by air flowing between the side air brake and the corresponding side wall. A top air brake is connected, with one edge thereof, to the upper wall or one of the side walls, and configured to extend substantially transversely from the upper wall to tilt the container during dropping around a horizontal axis for pivoting the side air brakes from the passive position thereof to the deployed position thereof.