A method for an automated aircraft landing analysis including: receiving one or more aircraft landing performance parameters for one or more landing phases; determining a landing performance deviation for each of the one or more landing phases in response to the one or more aircraft landing performance parameters; identifying at least one of a system fault, a failure, and a pilot error that could have led to the landing performance deviations for each of the one or more landing phases; developing a fault tree for the landing performance deviations for each of the one or more landing phases; identifying measurable parameters, calculable parameters, inferable parameters, or observable parameters within the fault tree; converting the fault tree into a high level reasoning model using a standard inference methodology; performing a root cause analysis; identifying a root cause of the landing performance deviation; and displaying the root cause of landing performance deviation.

A method includes navigating, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to a first altitude above a first delivery point at a delivery location. The method further includes determining, by the UAV, a second delivery point at the delivery location. The method includes navigating, by the UAV, through a descending trajectory to move the UAV from the first altitude above the first delivery point to a second altitude above the second delivery point at the delivery location. The second altitude is lower than the first altitude. The method additionally includes delivering, by the UAV, a payload to the second delivery point at the delivery location. The method includes after delivering the payload, navigating, by the UAV, through an ascending trajectory to move the UAV from a third altitude above the second delivery point to a fourth altitude above the first delivery point. The fourth altitude is higher than the third altitude.

Systems and methods for enabling consistent smooth takeoffs and landings of vertical and/or short-runway takeoff and landing aircraft at sites with gusty conditions. The system includes a network of wind measurement stations deployed around the perimeter of a takeoff/landing site for spatio-temporally characterizing wind fluctuations (e.g., wind gusts) that enter a volume of airspace overlying the site, data processing means for deriving information about the fluctuations from the wind measurements, communication means for transmitting disturbance information to the aircraft, and a flight control system onboard the aircraft that is configured to use the disturbance information to control the aircraft in a manner that compensates for the fluctuations. The wind measurement units may include laser Doppler anemometers, sound detection and ranging systems or other devices capable of simultaneous spatially and temporally resolved wind measurements.

Detection means of an unmanned aerial vehicle control system is configured to detect an object existing at a location at which at least one of landing or takeoff of an unmanned aerial vehicle is to be performed. Type identification means is configured to identify a type of the object based on a result of detection by the detection means. Restriction means is configured to restrict at least one of landing or takeoff of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the type identified by the type identification means.

Systems, devices, and methods including at least one computing device associated with a ground control station, the at least one computing device configured to: determine a starting position for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) descent based on one or more local weather conditions; determine a flight pattern for landing the UAV based on the determined starting position for the UAV; and modify the determined flight pattern based on a change in the one or more local weather conditions and a current position of the UAV.

Drone systems and methods for delayed package delivery includes, in an air traffic control system configured to manage UAV flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; directing a UAV, in transit, to deliver a package to a delivery location and following a flight plan provided to the UAV by the air traffic control system or a drone operator, to hold a position; and directing the UAV to deliver the package after holding the position.

In an example, a method for controlling a vehicle in a degraded visual environment is provided. The method includes identifying a degraded visual environment corresponding to a phase of a route followed by the vehicle. The method includes determining, based on the phase of the route, a first segment of a trajectory of the vehicle along which to search for a location with an improved navigation environment. The method includes causing the vehicle to follow the first segment until: (i) identifying the improved navigation environment, or (ii) reaching an end of the first segment without identifying the improved navigation environment. The method includes determining a second segment of the trajectory based on whether the improved navigation environment has been identified. The method includes causing the vehicle to follow the second segment.

A fixed-wing UAV includes an automatically loitering routine to allow a single user to launch the vehicle. In a takeoff mode, the UAV follows a predefined routine to climb to a predetermined altitude and maintain a substantially constant distance from a controller. Once control inputs are received from the controller, the automatically loitering routine disengages. During a landing sequence, the UAV is placed into an autonomous landing mode. The UAV initiates a glide path to a desired landing position; at a predetermined altitude, the UAV executes a reverse thrust operation to quickly decelerate at a touch down point. The UAV then executes landing maneuvers to safely touch down.

An aircraft based object acquisition system includes an airframe capable of flight. The system includes one or more sensors configured to identify a physical characteristic of an object or an environment. An object acquisition mechanism is coupled to the airframe and configured to manipulate and secure the object to the airframe. A ground based movement system may be configured to position the airframe such that the object is accessible to the object acquisition mechanism. A processor is communicatively configured to control operation of the ground based movement system to approach the object based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors, and to control the object acquisition mechanism to pick up the object based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors.

In an example, a method of generating flight paths for navigating an aircraft is provided. The method includes hovering the aircraft at a predetermined hover point. The predetermined hover point corresponds to a first takeoff waypoint of a first trajectory of the aircraft. The method includes scanning at least a portion of a first flight path of the first trajectory. The method includes determining that an obstacle obstructs the first flight path of the first trajectory. The first flight path begins at the first takeoff waypoint. The method includes determining a second takeoff waypoint. Determining the second takeoff waypoint includes assigning the first flight path to begin at the second takeoff waypoint. The method includes changing the first flight path of the first trajectory in accordance with the second takeoff waypoint, thereby forming a second flight path of a second trajectory. The method includes causing the aircraft to follow the second flight path of the second trajectory from the second takeoff waypoint.