A planting system includes a seed flow controller coupled to a hopper and a spreader. The seed flow controller, hopper, and spreader are transported by an unmanned aerial vehicle to spread the seeds over a geography. The seed flow controller includes several rollers having apposed outer surfaces. The rollers also include fins that extend about respective roller axes such that the fins cross at discrete contact points as the rollers rotate. The interfacing rollers break up clumps of seed material stored in the hopper and controllably convey the seed material from the hopper to the spreader. The spreader has a spinning spreader plate that flings the seed material laterally outward to spread the seed material over the ground.

A planting system includes a seed flow controller coupled to a hopper and a spreader. The seed flow controller, hopper, and spreader are transported by an unmanned aerial vehicle to spread the seeds over a geography. The seed flow controller includes several rollers having apposed outer surfaces. The rollers also include fins that extend about respective roller axes such that the fins cross at discrete contact points as the rollers rotate. The interfacing rollers break up clumps of seed material stored in the hopper and controllably convey the seed material from the hopper to the spreader. The spreader has a spinning spreader plate that flings the seed material laterally outward to spread the seed material over the ground.

Embodiments of an active object mounting system secure an object of interest to a surface of a secured-to object using one or more vacuum mounting modules, wherein each vacuum mounting module comprises at least one vacuum pump controllably coupled to a microcontroller, a vacuum cup fluidly coupled to the at least one vacuum pump, and a transceiver that receives an instruction corresponding to one of a vacuum cup actuation signal or a vacuum cup release signal.

Embodiments of an active object mounting system secure an object of interest to a surface of a secured-to object using one or more vacuum mounting modules, wherein each vacuum mounting module comprises at least one vacuum pump controllably coupled to a microcontroller, a vacuum cup fluidly coupled to the at least one vacuum pump, and a transceiver that receives an instruction corresponding to one of a vacuum cup actuation signal or a vacuum cup release signal.

A drone docking station for a vehicle includes: a transfer device configured to have a cargo loaded on a drone or to vertically move the cargo transferred by the drone; a guide device including a guide panel provided on a roof of the vehicle and connected to an upper end portion of the transfer device to have the drone accommodated on an upper portion of the guide panel, wherein the guide panel is disposed to surround the transfer device and provided to move inward or outward or to be rotated around a center portion of the transfer device; and a control unit electrically connected to the guide device and configured to rotate or move the guide panel so that the drone corresponds to the cargo positioned in the transfer device when the drone is accommodated on the guide panel.

A drone docking station for a vehicle includes: a transfer device configured to have a cargo loaded on a drone or to vertically move the cargo transferred by the drone; a guide device including a guide panel provided on a roof of the vehicle and connected to an upper end portion of the transfer device to have the drone accommodated on an upper portion of the guide panel, wherein the guide panel is disposed to surround the transfer device and provided to move inward or outward or to be rotated around a center portion of the transfer device; and a control unit electrically connected to the guide device and configured to rotate or move the guide panel so that the drone corresponds to the cargo positioned in the transfer device when the drone is accommodated on the guide panel.

A ground marker for use in identifying a location associated with a mission performed by an aerial vehicle includes a visible surface with aspects that are positioned at different vertical heights or elevations. The vertical variation in the aspects of the visible surface enhances a level of visibility of the ground marker within images captured by cameras provided aboard the aerial vehicle, resulting in more accurate estimations of ranges to such markers (e.g., altitudes) determined from such images. The visible surface includes one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar codes, alphanumeric characters and symbols thereon and is provided on or within rigid or flexible frames that are adapted to be placed on ground surfaces at the location associated with the mission.

A ground marker for use in identifying a location associated with a mission performed by an aerial vehicle includes a visible surface with aspects that are positioned at different vertical heights or elevations. The vertical variation in the aspects of the visible surface enhances a level of visibility of the ground marker within images captured by cameras provided aboard the aerial vehicle, resulting in more accurate estimations of ranges to such markers (e.g., altitudes) determined from such images. The visible surface includes one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar codes, alphanumeric characters and symbols thereon and is provided on or within rigid or flexible frames that are adapted to be placed on ground surfaces at the location associated with the mission.

The present disclosure relates to an ejecting system (1) for dispensing countermeasure. The system (1) comprising at least one magazine (2) comprising at least one expendable cartridge (3) and a transporting rack (4) extending in a first direction (D1). Further, the system (1) comprises a magazine feeding mechanism (5) arranged to cooperate with said transporting rack (4) to move each of the at least one magazines (2) from a stored position to a loaded position. Further, the system (1) comprises a dispensing means (6) arranged to hold said at least one magazine (2) when said at least one magazine (2) is in a loaded position, wherein the dispensing means (6) comprises an electrical connector arrangement (7). Moreover, the system (1) comprises a first positioning mechanism (8) arranged to move said dispensing means (6) and the at least one magazine (2) from the loaded position to a protruding position.

The present disclosure relates to an ejecting system (1) for dispensing countermeasure. The system (1) comprising at least one magazine (2) comprising at least one expendable cartridge (3) and a transporting rack (4) extending in a first direction (D1). Further, the system (1) comprises a magazine feeding mechanism (5) arranged to cooperate with said transporting rack (4) to move each of the at least one magazines (2) from a stored position to a loaded position. Further, the system (1) comprises a dispensing means (6) arranged to hold said at least one magazine (2) when said at least one magazine (2) is in a loaded position, wherein the dispensing means (6) comprises an electrical connector arrangement (7). Moreover, the system (1) comprises a first positioning mechanism (8) arranged to move said dispensing means (6) and the at least one magazine (2) from the loaded position to a protruding position.