摘要:
This disclosure describes a configuration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing gear assembly that includes adjustable landing gear extension that may be extended or contracted so that the body of the UAV is contained in a horizontal plane when the UAV is landed, even on sloping surfaces. For example, when a UAV is landing, the slope of the surface may be determined and the landing gear extensions adjusted based on the slope so that the body of the UAV remains approximately horizontal when the UAV lands and is supported by the landing gear extensions.
摘要:
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.
摘要:
These teachings provide for dispatching an airborne drone to an item of inventory located within a retail shopping facility, securing that item of inventory to the airborne drone, and then directing the airborne drone to carry the item of inventory to a delivery area located within the retail shopping facility. In a typical application setting the flightpath of the airborne drone will not include any traversals of open space.
摘要:
A drone launch system includes a canister defining an internal cavity, and a drone positioned within the internal cavity in a stowed state. The drone is configured to be ejected from the canister and transition from the stowed state into a deployed state outside of the canister. A method for launching a drone, the method includes positioning the drone in a stowed state in an internal cavity of a canister, ejecting the drone from the canister, and transitioning the drone into a deployed state after the ejecting operation.
摘要:
An air vehicle may include a body having forwardly-swept fixed wings or unswept fixed wings. The body may have a longitudinal axis continuously oriented parallel to a forward flight direction when the air vehicle is in flight. The air vehicle may include at least one of the following components being mounted on opposite sides of the body: longitudinally offset engine nacelles, asymmetrically lengthened engine nacelles, and longitudinally offset protruding aerodynamic surfaces comprising at least one of stabilizers, canards, empennage control surfaces, external stores, and high aspect ratio wings.
摘要:
Disclosed is a method for delivering a load on-board an aircraft to a target. The method comprises: acquiring a position of the target; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft manoeuvrability; acquiring load properties; acquiring parameter values relating to environmental conditions; using the acquired information, determining a position and a velocity value; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure; and, at a point in the procedure that the aircraft has the determined position and its travelling at a velocity equal to the determined velocity value, releasing the load. The determined position and velocity value are such that, were the aircraft to release the load whilst having the determined position and velocity, the load would travel to be within a predetermined distance of the target. The procedure is such that the aircraft would have the determined position and velocity at some time-step.
摘要:
In one embodiment, a non-dedicated, temporarily-installed, aircraft observer bubble door, chair, sonotube ejection system, mission electronics LRU rack and workstation assembly are affixed to a host aircraft, thereby precluding the requirement for dedicated airframe modifications. One embodiment of the present invention also utilizes a multi-axis, articulated, foldable chair temporarily-installed in conjunction with a segmented or one piece pressurized observer bubble door plug and door retraction system. Once installed the subject apparatus can be stowed outboard of the fuselage cargo transit envelope to permit use of the ADS rail system in-flight, without affecting normal air drop operations, crew egress, the flight performance envelope, or emergency procedures of the host aircraft.
摘要:
Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, through the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) packs flying independent of and in proximity to the electric aircraft.
摘要:
A method and system for gathering information from and setting up a surveillance network within an earth-surface environment that includes inserting one or more mobile robotic devices having a sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, and a navigation subsystem into an earth-surface environment. The mobile robotic device may be configured into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses, and directed using the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment. The environment may be monitored and sensed information collected may be stored or communicated to a remote location. The mobile robotic device may be configured to operate with a vehicle carrier to facilitate insertion and deployment of the robotic vehicle into the earth-surface environment.
摘要:
A device receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location, and determines capability information for the UAV based on component information of the UAV. The device calculates the flight path based on the capability information, and generates flight path instructions that include delivery confirmation instructions. The device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location to deliver a payload, and obtains, based on the delivery confirmation instructions, user credentials associated with a user at the second location. The device determines whether the user is an authorized recipient of the payload, based on the user credentials, and causes the UAV to selectively deliver the payload to the user based on whether the user is the authorized recipient of the payload.