A system for providing a smart, self-healing blockchain-based data exchange data storage device within a self-healing node centric blockchain mesh network, a smart self-healing data exchange device being within one or more universal computing nodes within a self-healing node centric blockchain mesh network is disclosed. The smart self-healing data exchange device being contained within one or more universal computing nodes within a self-healing node-centric blockchain mesh network. The smart self-healing blockchain data exchange device includes a blockchain processor for storing and maintaining a set of blockchain data records stored within a blockchain ledger, each blockchain data record within the set of blockchain data records having a blockchain ID, a universal computing node ID, a bundle of digital access rights, and content data, and an instantiation of the blockchain ledger communicatively coupled to the blockchain processor is stored within a plurality of the one or more universal computing nodes within a self-healing node centric blockchain mesh network. The bundle of digital access rights provides for rights and privileges associated with blockchain data records that can be divided by use, terms, and ownership.

An automatic take-off and landing control device for an aircraft is provided. The control device comprises at least two of at least one local tracking device adapted for receiving at least one local signal from at least one local ground station and for determining a position of the aircraft based on the local signals, at least one GNSS tracking device adapted for receiving a GNSS signal and for determining a position of the aircraft based on the GNSS signal; and at least one camera device adapted for observing an environment of the aircraft and for determining a position of the aircraft based on the camera signal.

A method of determining a vertical path of an aircraft from its current position, an associated computer program product and a determining system are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes determining a vertical path of the aircraft including determining an initial path segment and N following path segments, composing the vertical path of the aircraft from the determined path segments and freezing this vertical path. The method further includes determining a status of each of the altitude constraints along the entire vertical path of the aircraft, each status being chosen between an achievable status when the corresponding altitude constraint is satisfied and a missed status otherwise, and displaying the vertical path of the aircraft and statuses of the determined altitude constraints to the operator.

A method for autonomously tracking a landing surface by a UAV to enable repeated autonomous take off and landings without the need for GPS data or any other satellite positioning techniques. The landing surface may be on an autonomous and/or moving ground vehicle, and comprises two or more markers on the landing surface. The markers may be of different sizes. The drone comprises two or more downward looking cameras, with at least one camera having a different focal length to the other, to form a dual monocular system which captures images of the markers on the landing surface. The images are analysed to estimate the pose of the markers and thus determine the location of the UAV with respect to the landing surface, which is then provided to a flight controller of the UAV.

Systems, devices, and methods for a fleet of three or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), where each UAV of the fleet of UAVs comprise a respective flight control computer (FCC); at least one computing device at a ground control station, where each computing device is in communication with each FCC, and where each computing device is associated with at least one operator; where the fleet of UAVs above the threshold altitude are in communication with the first computing device monitored by at least one operator such that a ratio of operators to UAVs above the threshold altitude exceeds a 1:1 ratio; and where the first UAV below the threshold altitude is in communication with the second computing device monitored by at least one operator such that a ratio of operators to UAVs below the threshold altitude does not exceed the 1:1 ratio.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes receiving, by the UAV, flight information describing a job to perform an inspection of a rooftop. A particular altitude is ascended to, and an inspection of the rooftop is performed including obtaining sensor information describing the rooftop. Location information identifying a damaged area of the rooftop is received. The damaged area of the rooftop is traveled to. An inspection of the damaged area of the rooftop is performed including obtaining detailed sensor information describing the damaged area. A safe landing location is traveled to.

A technique for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in proximity to a terminal area from which the UAVs are staged includes charging a plurality of the UAVs on charging pads disposed in a staging array at the terminal area. Merchant facilities for preparing packages for delivery by the UAVs are disposed about a periphery of the staging array. The UAVs are relocated under their own propulsion from interior charging pads to peripheral loading pads of the staging array as the peripheral loading pads become available and the UAVs are deemed sufficiently charged and ready for delivery missions.

To more reliably land a flying body at a desired point, a flying body includes a determiner that determines whether the flying body is taking off and ascending from a takeoff point or descending to land, a camera mounted in the flying body, a recorder that records a lower image captured by the camera if it is determined that the flying body is taking off and ascending and a guider that, if it is determined that the flying body is descending to land, guides the flying body to the takeoff point while descending using a lower image recorded in the recorder during takeoff/ascent and a lower image captured during the descent.

To more reliably land a flying body at a desired point, a flying body includes a determiner that determines whether the flying body is taking off and ascending from a takeoff point or descending to land, a camera mounted in the flying body, a recorder that records a lower image captured by the camera if it is determined that the flying body is taking off and ascending and a guider that, if it is determined that the flying body is descending to land, guides the flying body to the takeoff point while descending using a lower image recorded in the recorder during takeoff/ascent and a lower image captured during the descent.

A control channel allocation method for a flying device comprises: allocating a task to a flying device, wherein the task comprises flight information for the flying device; determining a flight time of the flying device flying from a departure station to an arrival station according to the flight information; searching for one or more control channels at the departure station and the arrival station that are idle during the flight time based on one or more control channel occupation tables as one or more target control channels, wherein the one or more control channel occupation tables store idle states of a plurality of control channels at the departure station and the arrival station during a plurality of periods of time; and allocating the one or more target control channels for controlling the flying device to fly from the departure station to the arrival station.