A landing platform control system and methods used for refuel or recharge purposes by a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) performing aerial surveys are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of landing platforms positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, each landing platform comprising a mount connecting the landing platform to a surface, a mount component for coupling a floor, a floor to support a UAV while docked at the landing platform, a cover enclosing the floor; a battery charger; and a communications interface. The floor can be rotated to clear any accumulated debris. The cover can be coupled to the floor. The cover can alternate between open and closed position via rotating along the same axis as the floor.

The exemplary embodiments provide a system of selectively moving airplanes on an airport apron. Airplanes are selectively moved from selective parking locations to areas adjacent to take-off locations such as runways. Airplanes may also be selectively moved from an area of the apron adjacent to a landing location and/or to a parking location. This may include for example an unloading location, an airport terminal, a servicing location, a fueling location, storage location and/or other suitable location. The exemplary system includes driving channels through which a carriage is selectively moved. The carriage includes a basket for operatively engaging at least one front wheel of selected airplanes for purposes of transporting such airplanes to and between the desired locations.

This disclosure relates generally to aircraft tugs, which assist in the movement of small aircraft. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a remote power switch, which may also be referred to as an emergency tug shutoff (ETSO) switch, for remotely stopping movement of an aircraft tug. Systems that include such an aircraft tug and at least one remote power switch are also disclosed, as are methods for remotely stopping an aircraft tug.

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.

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 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.

The exemplary embodiments provide a system of selectively moving airplanes on an airport apron. Airplanes are selectively moved from selective parking locations to areas adjacent to take-off locations such as runways. Airplanes may also be selectively moved from an area of the apron adjacent to a landing location and/or to a parking location. This may include for example an unloading location, an airport terminal, a servicing location, a fueling location, storage location and/or other suitable location. The exemplary system includes driving channels through which a carriage is selectively moved. The carriage includes a basket for operatively engaging at least one front wheel of selected airplanes for purposes of transporting such airplanes to and between the desired locations.

A remote towing interface is used to couple a towbar to an aircraft having a fuselage and a steerable landing gear. The remote towing interface includes a towbar coupler mounted to the aircraft and configured to releasably couple a towbar to the aircraft. The remote towing interface further includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a position of the towbar relative to the aircraft when the towbar is coupled to the towbar coupler, and the controller controls the steerable landing gear according to the sensed position of the towbar relative to the aircraft.

A remote towing interface is used to couple a towbar to an aircraft having a fuselage and a steerable landing gear. The remote towing interface includes a towbar coupler mounted to the aircraft and configured to releasably couple a towbar to the aircraft. The remote towing interface further includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a position of the towbar relative to the aircraft when the towbar is coupled to the towbar coupler, and the controller controls the steerable landing gear according to the sensed position of the towbar relative to the aircraft.

An aircraft collision avoidance system including (a) at least one separation monitoring device connectable to at least a portion of an aircraft and/or vehicle, the separation monitoring device comprising (1) at least one transmitter, (2) at least one receiver, and (3) an image sensor, and (b) a master unit.