A method for package delivery includes identifying a plurality of delivery locations for package delivery. The method includes determining a driving route for an automated ground vehicle to optimize delivery to the delivery locations using one or more automated aerial vehicles. The method includes controlling the automated ground vehicle to navigate the delivery route. The method further includes determining timing for release of the one or more automated aerial vehicles during navigation of the delivery route to deliver packages to the plurality of delivery locations.

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 system is provided for multi-engine coordination of gas turbine engine motoring in an aircraft. The system includes a controller operable to determine a motoring mode as a selection between a single engine dry motoring mode and a multi-engine dry motoring mode based on at least one temperature of a plurality of gas turbine engines and initiate dry motoring based on the motoring mode.

An autonomous inspection solution includes: a UAV having a navigation component and a first inspection sensor suite. The navigation component is configured to: autonomously deploy the UAV from a support vehicle; fly a first route at an inspection site, based at least upon a sensor type of the first inspection sensor suite; and autonomously return to the support vehicle upon completion of assigned inspections. In some examples, the first inspection sensor suite includes an optical camera, a thermal imaging sensor, an RF sensor, or an inventory management sensor, and a second inspection sensor suite has at least one different sensor than the first inspection sensor suite. The navigation component is further configured navigate the UAV to fly a second route, based at least upon a sensor type of the second inspection sensor suite. A data component stores or wirelessly transmits data received from the affixed inspection sensor suites.

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, and a winch mounted to the chassis. The winch includes a reel and a motor. The reel has a line wound thereon, the line having a free end. The reel includes a circumferential channel in which a wound portion of the line is wound onto the reel. The circumferential channel includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a passage connecting the inner portion and the outer portion. The motor is operable to rotate the reel under control of the control system to thereby cause the line to wind onto and off of the reel, thereby causing the free end of the line to raise and lower.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a control system, and at least one rotor. The chassis includes a first battery compartment configured to receive sliding insertion of a first battery, and a second battery compartment configured to receive sliding insertion of a second battery. The control system is operable to receive power from the first battery and the second battery when the first battery is received in the first battery compartment and the second battery is received in the second battery compartment. The at least one rotor is operable to generate lift under control of the control system when both the first battery and the second battery are installed to the chassis. The control system is configured to remain at least partially active under power supplied by the first battery when the second battery is removed from the second battery compartment.

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.

An example carriage is configured for mounting to an unmanned aerial vehicle. The carriage generally includes a housing assembly configured for mounting to the unmanned aerial vehicle, a movable grip mounted to the housing assembly for movement between a capturing position and a releasing position, a latch device, and a driver. The latch device has a latching state and an unlatching state, is configured to retain the movable grip in the capturing position when the latch device is in the latching state, and is configured to permit movement of the movable grip from the capturing position to the releasing position when in the unlatching state. The driver is operable to transition the latch device from the latching state to the unlatching state.

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.

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, a plurality of arms extending outward from the chassis, a plurality of rotors, and a support structure mounted atop the chassis. Each rotor is mounted to a corresponding arm of the plurality of arms, is in communication with the control system, and is operable to generate lift under control of the control system. The support structure includes a plurality of arched struts that connect to one another at an apex region of the support structure.