Anti-collision airport system including a motorized mobile device to be moved close to an aircraft. The system includes a database to record structural characteristics of categories of aircraft and structural characteristics of the motorized mobile device. The controller is configured to identify a category corresponding to the aircraft and a positioning of the motorized mobile device with respect to the aircraft, search and retrieve, from the database, structural characteristics associated with the category corresponding to the aircraft and structural characteristics of the motorized device, calculate a trajectory for the movement of the motorized mobile device on the basis of the structural characteristics of the aircraft and of the motorized mobile device and of the positioning of the motorized mobile device with respect to the aircraft, and control the motorized mobile device according to the calculated trajectory.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, a line having one end coupled to the chassis and an opposite free end, wherein the free end is positioned below the chassis, and a severing mechanism operable to sever the line under control of the control system.

An airport ground power unit for supplying electric current to an aircraft parked on the ground, a method of operating the ground power unit, a system for supplying electric current to an aircraft parked on the ground, a method of operating such system, and a Y-adaptor.

A system and monitoring tool for monitoring at least one characteristic of an earth working operation. The monitoring tool includes an unmanned vehicle and a tether connecting the unmanned vehicle to home device. The tether may provide a secure connection for transmission of information and/or power to the unmanned vehicle.

A portable device for holding and carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) includes a body. The body includes a first holding member configured to hold the UAV and having a shape matching a shape of the UAV. The portable device also includes a charging board disposed in the body. The portable device also includes a first charging station disposed in the first holding member and configured to electrically connect with the charging board for charging the UAV. The portable device further includes at least one second charging station disposed on the body and configured to electrically connect with the charging board for charging at least one battery.

An airport ground power unit for supplying electric current to a parked aircraft and a related system and method. The ground power unit includes a first electric battery, an inverter for transforming an output current of the battery to an alternating output current to be supplied to the aircraft, and one or more first electronic switches for connecting and disconnecting the first battery to and from the inverter. The first switches are connected in serial to the first battery, and together connected to the inverter. A first controller unit controls at least one of the one or more first switches. The ground power unit further includes a second electric battery and second electronic switches for connecting and disconnecting the second battery. The second switches are connected in serial to the second battery and are together connected to the inverter such that they are in parallel to the serially connected first battery and the first switches. At least one of the second switches is controlled by the first or a second digital controller unit.

An example charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the charging station generally including a nest and a charging device. The nest includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines an upper opening sized and shaped to receive a landing apparatus of the UAV, and a diameter of the nest reduces from a first diameter at the upper opening to a second diameter at the lower portion. The charging device is mounted in the nest, and includes a first contact pad and a second contact pad. The charging device is configured to apply a voltage differential across the first contact pad and the second contact pad such that the charging station is operable to charge a power supply of the UAV via the landing apparatus.

A method according to certain embodiments generally involves operating a system including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a base station. The base station includes a nest including an upper opening having an upper opening diameter and a lower opening having a lower opening diameter less than the upper opening diameter. The lower opening is accessible from within the base station. The method generally includes landing the UAV within the nest such that a portion of the UAV is accessible via the lower opening, releasably attaching a load to the UAV, and operating the UAV to deliver the load to a destination.

A transportation system and method serve passenger-conveying VTOL air vehicles (AVs) at a vertiport. The vertiport has a flight deck including at least one landing pad, a passenger terminal, and a dynamic partition arrangement that defines a capsule for receiving one of the AVs at a time. The dynamic partition arrangement assumes a first open state in which it is open to the flight deck and closed to the passenger terminal and a second open state in which it is closed to the flight deck and open to the passenger terminal. A robotic system includes a handling robot that automatically approaches and docks with the AV after landing, and conveys the AV between the landing pad and the capsule via an opening provided by the first open state of the dynamic partition.

A docking assembly for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The docking assembly includes a dock having a shaft. The present invention further includes UAVs. Each of the UAVs include a slot sized such that the shaft may slidably engage the slot. The shaft of the dock inserts through the slot of the UAVs, thereby docking the UAVs on the dock.