Technology for generating and displaying a graphical user interface for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed herein that generates and updates a representation of a spline flight path. In various implementations, a graphical user interface detects user interactions with a remote control device directing the flight control subsystem of the UAV to record keyframes and to compute a spline based on the keyframes during flight. The graphical user interface displays a real-time perspective of the UAV with a representation of the spline and the keyframes overlaying the view. The graphical user interface continually updates the representation as the UAV flies and when the spline is updated as the keyframes are updated.

A first hand control controls an altitude of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft; the movement of the VTOL aircraft within a plane defined by a roll axis and a pitch axis is independent of the first hand control. The first hand control is provided on a first hand side of a pilot's seat included in the VTOL aircraft. A second hand control controls the movement of the VTOL aircraft within the plane defined by the roll axis and the pitch axis; the altitude of the VTOL aircraft is independent of the second hand control. The second hand control is provided on a second hand side of the pilot's seat that is opposite from the first hand side.

A method for providing medical services to a patient, including: receiving a medical service request associated with a patient location; selecting an aircraft, located at an initial location, from a plurality of aircraft based on the patient location and the initial location; determining a flight plan for flying the aircraft to a region containing the patient location; at a sensor of the aircraft, sampling a first set of flight data; at a processor of the aircraft, autonomously controlling the aircraft to fly based on the flight plan and the set of flight data; selecting a landing location within the region; and landing the aircraft at the landing location, including: sampling a set of landing location data; determining a safety status of the landing location based on the set of landing location data; outputting a landing warning observable at the landing location; at the sensor, sampling a second set of flight data; and in response to determining the safety status and outputting the landing warning, autonomously controlling the aircraft to land at the landing location based on the second set of flight data.

A system for autonomously landing a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, comprising: a first sensor; a second sensor; and a processing resource configured to: (a) obtain, from, the first sensor, first readings; (b) generate, at a first rate, based on at least part of the first readings, a 3D model of at least, part of a scene visible by the first sensor; (c) obtain, from the second sensor, a plurality of second readings, enabling identifying changes within the at least part of the scene; (d) analyze at least part of the second readings, at a second rate, to obtain changes information indicative of the changes; (e) identify, using the 3D model and the changes information, potential landing areas for the aircraft; (f) generate commands to maneuver the aircraft towards a selected landing area of the potential landing areas; and (g) repeat steps (a) to (f) until landing the aircraft.

Systems and methods for flight control on an electric aircraft. The system includes a propulsor configured to generate lift to propel an electric aircraft, a pilot input mechanically coupled to the electric aircraft, a sensor communicatively connected to the pilot input, and a flight controller communicatively connected to the sensor. Sensor is configured to detect an input datum from the pilot input and convert the input datum into a command datum for the propulsor as a function of input mapping. Input mapping is determined as a function of the phase of flight.

Aircraft and methods of operating the aircraft to provide for increased descent angles. The aircraft includes a fuselage having fixed wings, a horizontal thrust source coupled to the fuselage and configured to selectively generate and supply horizontal thrust to the aircraft, a vertical thrust source coupled to the fuselage and configured to selectively generate and supply vertical thrust to the aircraft, the vertical thrust source including a vertical thrust rotor that is configured to selectively operate in a locked mode, in which the vertical thrust rotor cannot rotate freely in response to contact of airflow therewith, and an unlocked mode, in which the vertical thrust rotor can rotate freely in response to contact of airflow therewith, and a controller configured to selectively supply a command to the vertical thrust source that causes the vertical thrust rotor to operate in the unlocked mode.

An unmanned ground-based system is disclosed which includes a chassis, a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis and configured to allow the chassis to move about a surface, a plurality of propeller assemblies configured to provide on-ground motion propulsions, a boom having a boom propeller assembly with a propeller disposed on a plane generally perpendicular to the plurality of propeller assemblies, configured to independently and selectively provide positive and negative rectilinear thrust vectors, and an end-effector coupled to a distal end of the boom, the end-effector having a force sensor configured to provide contact force between the end-effector and an object, wherein the contact force is used as a feedback signal to determine magnitude of the positive and negative rectilinear thrust vectors that is generated by the propeller of the boom propeller assembly.

An information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to notify a package sender or a package recipient of information on one or more parking spaces at which an unmanned aircraft can land and from which the unmanned aircraft can take off, among a plurality of parking spaces for automobiles, reserve one parking space of the one or more parking spaces designated by the package sender or the package recipient as a take-off and landing location for the unmanned aircraft, and determine an operation plan for the unmanned aircraft so that the unmanned aircraft picks up or delivers a package at the take-off and landing location.

Methods and apparatus to guide an unmanned aerial vehicle for recovery thereof are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft or a payload thereof includes a tether line, and markers supported by the tether line at different positions of the tether line, the markers to be detected by the aircraft, the aircraft to be guided to engage the tether line by determining positions of the markers and calculating a position of at least a portion of the tether line based on the determined position of the markers.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for landing a vehicle. For instance, the method may include: before a descent transition point, receiving from a service a landing zone confirmation including landing zone location information and an indication that a landing zone is clear; determining a landing flight path based on the landing zone location information; and upon the vehicle starting a descent to the landing zone using the landing flight path: receiving landing zone data from at least one of a radar system, a camera system, an altitude and heading reference system (AHRS), and a GPS system; performing an analysis based on the landing zone data to determine whether an unsafe condition exists; and based on the analysis, computing flight controls for the vehicle to continue the descent or modify the descent.