A fuel storage and dispensing device that includes one or more storage tanks that are housed in a cabinet. A dispenser is fluidly attached to one or more of the storage tanks through a conduit. The dispenser includes one or more safety features to prevent inadvertent dispensing of fuel and to control the dispensing of the fuel.

An environmentally friendly fuel distribution station includes an upper canopy, said upper canopy including a fuel tank and an outer shell enclosing said fuel tank, a plurality of supporting columns supporting said upper canopy and said fuel tank, a fuel distribution interface suspended from said upper canopy, said fuel distribution interface selectively distributing fuel from said fuel tank during a fueling operation, and a convenience store suspended from at least one of the upper canopy and one or more of the plurality of supporting columns.

An environmentally friendly fuel distribution station includes an upper canopy, said upper canopy including a fuel tank and an outer shell enclosing said fuel tank, a plurality of supporting columns supporting said upper canopy and said fuel tank, a fuel distribution interface suspended from said upper canopy, said fuel distribution interface selectively distributing fuel from said fuel tank during a fueling operation, and a convenience store suspended from at least one of the upper canopy and one or more of the plurality of supporting columns.

A refueling system has a vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose, an end effector having controlled flight, the fuel hose connected at an end away from the first vehicle, through the end effector to a fuel connector under the end effector, a second vehicle having a fuel tank coupled through a pumping apparatus to a fueling port on an acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire the end effector and connect the fueling port and the fuel connector of the end effector, and control circuitry enabling controlled flight of the end effector, wherein the end effector is controlled to be acquired by the acquisition apparatus to couple the fuel connector with the fueling port and fuel is provided from the fuel tank of one of the vehicles to the fuel tank of the other of the vehicles through the pumping apparatus.

A refueling system has a vehicle having a fuel tank connected to a deployable fuel hose, an end effector having controlled flight, the fuel hose connected at an end away from the first vehicle, through the end effector to a fuel connector under the end effector, a second vehicle having a fuel tank coupled through a pumping apparatus to a fueling port on an acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire the end effector and connect the fueling port and the fuel connector of the end effector, and control circuitry enabling controlled flight of the end effector, wherein the end effector is controlled to be acquired by the acquisition apparatus to couple the fuel connector with the fueling port and fuel is provided from the fuel tank of one of the vehicles to the fuel tank of the other of the vehicles through the pumping apparatus.

A personnel rescue system has a winch subsystem comprising a first tether deployable and retrievable with a powered winch, a powered and controllable end effector attached at a deployable end of the first tether, a second tether attached by a first end to the end effector, a personnel harness attached at a second end of the second tether; and control apparatus in communication with the end effector, the control apparatus operable to maneuver the end effector vertically and laterally, carrying the personnel harness to a subject to be rescued.

A personnel rescue system has a winch subsystem comprising a first tether deployable and retrievable with a powered winch, a powered and controllable end effector attached at a deployable end of the first tether, a second tether attached by a first end to the end effector, a personnel harness attached at a second end of the second tether; and control apparatus in communication with the end effector, the control apparatus operable to maneuver the end effector vertically and laterally, carrying the personnel harness to a subject to be rescued.

A satellite refueling system has a refueling satellite carrying fuel, a fuel hose connected to the fuel carried by the refueling satellite, with a maneuverable end effector at a deployed end of the fuel hose, the end effector comprising a fuel supply nozzle connected to the fuel hose, a plurality of thrusters on the end effector providing thrust in a plurality of directions, an imaging device on the end effector capturing images in an immediate environment of the end effector, and computerized circuitry operating individual ones of the plurality of thrusters in response to the images captured by the imaging device. The refueling satellite deploys the fuel hose, and the computerized circuitry operates the thrusters to maneuver the end effector, bringing the fuel supply nozzle to a location to deliver fuel.

A satellite refueling system has a refueling satellite carrying fuel, a fuel hose connected to the fuel carried by the refueling satellite, with a maneuverable end effector at a deployed end of the fuel hose, the end effector comprising a fuel supply nozzle connected to the fuel hose, a plurality of thrusters on the end effector providing thrust in a plurality of directions, an imaging device on the end effector capturing images in an immediate environment of the end effector, and computerized circuitry operating individual ones of the plurality of thrusters in response to the images captured by the imaging device. The refueling satellite deploys the fuel hose, and the computerized circuitry operates the thrusters to maneuver the end effector, bringing the fuel supply nozzle to a location to deliver fuel.

A stabilizing system for a winch cable has a winch cable deployed and suspended from a helicopter, a cargo support attached at a deployed end of the winch cable, an end effector attached to the winch cable, the end effector comprising thrusters directed in a plurality of directions orthogonal to a vertical axis of the winch cable, first control circuitry in the helicopter, and second control circuitry in the end effector. Thrust of individual thrusters is controlled through the first and second control circuitry maintaining the axis of the winch cable vertical, damping swinging of the cable.