Abstract:
An aerial vehicle landing station comprising a first post and a second post, wherein the second post is spaced apart from the first post and a cable to capture an aerial vehicle, wherein the cable is stretched between the first post and the second post and configured to support the weight of the aerial vehicle once captured and the cable may provide a charging current to the aerial vehicle once captured. One or more markers may be further positioned on the cable to designate a landing point, wherein the one or more markers are configured to be visually tracked by the aerial vehicle. A cable management device coupled to the cable via one or more pulleys may regulate tension of the cable. A communications transceiver at the aerial vehicle landing station may wirelessly communicate data with the aerial vehicle.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a small unmanned air vehicle repulsing apparatus including a capturing body adapted to capture a drone, a target to be captured; and a capturing body launching apparatus adapted to launch the capturing body at the drone, in which the capturing body launching apparatus can quickly capture the drone by launching the capturing body even if the suspicious drone flies into an area to be protected so as to protect the interest and safety of law-abiding people.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a ground survey and obstacle detection system using one or multiple detection devices, such as aerial detection devices. Aerial detection devices are sent ahead of the primary vehicle to survey a territory and map out any obstacles. The aerial detection device is equipped with sensors to scan the ground below it and detect obstacles. The aerial detection device is not affected by or prone to triggering dangerous obstacles. The aerial detection device flies above the ground and may be configured to send a signal back alerting the primary vehicle to the existence of obstacles.
Abstract:
Techniques and systems for providing miniaturized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. The techniques and systems can include significant off-board processing support for the UAVs to enable the UAVs to be smaller, lighter, and less expensive than conventional UAVs. The techniques and systems can include routines to provide enhanced support for police during routine traffic stops. The techniques and systems can also include routines to locate objects or people including, for example, locating a lost child in a crowd or a lost vehicle in a parking lot. The miniaturized UAVs can provide enhances perception for the user to enable the user to over and around objects for improved visibility and safety, among other things.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for launch and retrieval of a hovering aircraft. Generally, the apparatus of the present disclosure is configured to capture a hovering aircraft between two or more fingers of an aircraft capturer, guide the captured aircraft into a docking station for servicing and/or storage, and launch the aircraft from the docking station. The apparatus of the present disclosure is thus configured to bring the aircraft from an imprecise, irregular hover into a secure and well-controlled rest state. The tolerance of imprecision provided by the apparatus makes it particularly suited for use under a practical conditions such as aboard a small boat in a rough sea.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while providing continuous power to at least one system on the UAV. The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV. The UAV and/or the energy provision station may have a backup energy source to provide continuous power to the UAV.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for launching and recovering moving objects with a pin array chamber are disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a pin array chamber system releases and captures an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while airborne. The host aircraft has an in slip-stream chamber where two opposing plates of pin arrays exert a clamping force as pins extend onto the UAV to capture or release. As the pins are retracted from a captive UAV, thereby releasing a clamping force, the UAV continues with free-flight under its own power. In reverse, the UAV using precision relative navigation moves into the pin array chamber system under its own power in free-flight, and is then captured by the extensions of the pins with a clamping force. The pin array chamber system can also be used for ground systems, naval systems, space systems and microscopic systems.
Abstract:
This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.
Abstract:
A UAV support vehicle carries a UAV support apparatus for launching and/or recovering a UAV while the UAV support vehicle is moving. The UAV support apparatus releases the UAV during launch and receives the UAV during recovery. An active suspension may be connected between the UAV support vehicle and at least a portion of the UAV support apparatus and reduce motion imparted to that portion of the UAV support apparatus. During UAV recovery, data from a synchronization link between the UAV and the UAV support vehicle may be used to maneuver the UAV and/or the UAV support vehicle.
Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods for impacting, by a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), a net having at least three sides; and converting the kinetic energy of the SUAV into at least one of: elastic potential energy of one or more tensioned elastic cords connected to at least one corner of the net, gravitational potential energy of a frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, rotational kinetic energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net, and elastic potential energy of the frame member connected to at least one corner of the net.