2198results about "Ground installations" patented technology

A base module may be used to receive and house one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) via one or more cavities. The base module receives commands from a manager device and identifies a flight plan that allows a UAV to execute the received commands. The base module transfers the flight plan to the UAV and frees the UAV. Once the UAV returns, the base module once again receives it. The base module then receives sensor data from the UAV from one or more sensors onboard the UAV, and optionally receives additional information describing its flight and identifying success or failure of the flight plan. The base module transmits the sensor data and optionally the additional information to a storage medium locally or remotely accessible by the manager device.

Systems and methods are provided for integrated control, access, and presentation of flight information within the cockpit. Cockpit instrument systems and methods are provided which include a first cockpit instrument panel which has a first display proximately located to a first bezel. The first display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including airspeed, attitude, and altitude. The systems and methods further include a second cockpit instrument panel located adjacent to the first cockpit instrument panel. The second cockpit instrument panel has a second display proximately located to a second bezel. The second display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including detailed engine parameters. When either the first or the second cockpit instrument panel fails, the remaining functional, first or second display, is adapted to provide all of the important flight information data, including airspeed, attitude, altitude, and detailed engine parameters.

Systems and methods are provided for integrated control, access, and presentation of flight information within the cockpit. Cockpit instrument systems and methods are provided which include a first cockpit instrument panel which has a first display proximately located to a first bezel. The first display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including airspeed, attitude, and altitude. The systems and methods further include a second cockpit instrument panel located adjacent to the first cockpit instrument panel. The second cockpit instrument panel has a second display proximately located to a second bezel. The second display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including detailed engine parameters. When either the first or the second cockpit instrument panel fails, the remaining functional, first or second display, is adapted to provide all of the important flight information data, including airspeed, attitude, altitude, and detailed engine parameters.

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems ground support platform is a portable, multifunctional apparatus to accommodate UAS (Drone, UAV) landings, takeoffs, idle time, maintenance, retail merchandise product display and package delivery support within the UAS recreational and business industry. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems ground support platform will provide stability and cleanliness of a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Ownership identification is intergraded into the base platform.

An unmanned aerial vehicle delivery system utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver packages between an initiation point and multiple delivery points at a raised elevation. The UAV flies between points in an organized manner, using logistical, maintenance and safety software, commands from a delivery organization, and guidance tools to coordinate deliveries. One advantage of the system is that the UAV engages the delivery points at a raised elevation, rather than the ground level. The UAV docks through an elevated structure at the delivery point for delivering the package and replenishing a power source. The package is conveyed from a docking end and through a central shaft of the elevated structure by means of an elevator. The package then travels to a lower structure, such as a house or office, for pickup. After completion of the delivery, the UAV replenishes its power source and/or continues on the delivery route.

A system, method, and computer program product assist a technician in troubleshooting an aircraft auxiliary power unit (APU). A portable computer is couplable of download the fault data captured in a memory of the ECU. The fault data corresponds to one or more instances of APU failure. The computer is further programmed to compare the fault data to predetermined fault patterns stored in a database. Each record of the database has one of the fault patterns, a corresponding fault indication, and a corresponding service recommendation indication. The computer is further programmed so that when a record in which the fault pattern matches the fault data is found, the corresponding fault indication and service recommendation are retrieved from the database and provided to the technician via the computer's display or other suitable output mechanism.

A flight data recorder designed for small aircraft captures various onboard flight data in real-time and stores it in non-volatile memory. Recorded data includes aircraft's instantaneous position, altitude, attitude, engine RPM, G forces, flap position, cockpit voice and others. These data are obtained from various sensors which are integrated into the recorder. At the end of a flight the recorded data is downloaded into a computer using a wireless communications data transceiver also integrated into the recorder. It is an inexpensive system that does not require interfacing to any of the aircraft's instruments. It does not require removal or attaching any equipment to be able to download data. In addition to accident investigation, applications include training, preventive maintenance and asset monitoring.

The present invention relates to the management, on board an aircraft, of the aeronautical digital telecommunications networks ACARS and ATN. It covers a method for automatic choice of the transmission sub-network of the ACARS or ATN networks which is most appropriate for the exchange of digital messages with the ground, taking account of the capabilities of the equipment of the aircraft, of that existing on the ground in the area overflown, of the costs and of the reliabilities of the possible links, and of the preferences of the pilot, of his airline and of the control services. This method consists principally in the creation and updating of a database containing information: costs, performance levels, security/reliability, aircraft configuration, availabilities of the communications sub-networks as well as the stipulations by the pilot, by his airline and by the control services, and in the automatic selection of a communications mode via a sub-network of the ACARS or ATN networks, taking into account an order of preference established on the basis of criteria based on the information contained in the database (342).

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an antenna located so that when baggage is being loaded on a vehicle, the antenna is capable of detecting information transmitted from at least one identity RFID tag located on the vehicle as well as information transmitted from a baggage RFID tag located on an item being loaded on or unloaded from the vehicle (though not necessarily simultaneously). A computer system is configured to compare the information transmitted from the identity RFID tag with expected vehicle information for the item loaded on or unloaded from the vehicle. An alarm condition may be generated if the results of the comparison indicate that the item is loaded on a vehicle other than that which was expected. The computer system may also provide notification to passengers or others regarding successful loading of the item on the vehicle. Similar processes may be used during unloading operations.

An automated aircraft towing vehicle system for use with aircraft is provided. When coupled to an aircraft the towing tractor vehicle facilitates the movement of the aircraft without the requirement for use of the aircraft's jet engines. The towing vehicle system comprises a towing tractor vehicle having remotely controllable steering, braking, and acceleration. The remote system controller is located in the aircraft being towed such that the pilot of the aircraft being towed is capable of controlling the starting, stopping and steering of the towing tractor vehicle. The towing tractor vehicle further includes a remotely controllable de-coupling means. When the aircraft is towed to the desired location, the decoupling of the aircraft from the towing tractor vehicle is controllable by the remote system controller.

An inspection system includes a passenger identity verification system, a passenger screening system, and a computer coupled to the passenger verification system and the passenger screening system, the computer configured to receive information from the passenger verification system and operate the passenger screening system based on the information.

A system for starting a gas turbine engine of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a pneumatic starter motor, a discrete starter valve switchable between an on-state and an off-state, and a controller operable to perform a starting sequence for the gas turbine engine. The starting sequence includes alternating on and off commands to an electromechanical device coupled to the discrete starter valve to achieve a partially open position of the discrete starter valve to control a flow from a starter air supply to the pneumatic starter motor to drive rotation of a starting spool of the gas turbine engine below an engine idle speed.

A combined systems user interface (CUI) may be configured with an advanced technology screening checkpoint (ATSC), which is a passenger-friendly, high performance system for screening passengers and carry-on items to detect assembled bombs, bomb components, metallic and non-metallic weapons, and other contraband items. The CUI may include a baggage, passenger, and secondary screening status regions. The baggage screening status region displays screening information generated by an explosives screening system and a baggage imaging system, while the passenger screening status region displays screening information generated by an explosives detection portal and a metal detection portal. In some implementations, a secondary screening status region displays screening information generated by a body scanning system and an enhanced explosives screening system.

The invention discloses a battery automatic replacement system of a small-sized multi-rotor-wing unmanned aerial vehicle. The battery automatic replacement system comprises a multi-track trolley, a battery storage disk, an unmanned aerial vehicle landing gear, a landing gear fixing plate, a landing gear fixing plate support, a battery storage disk support and a mechanical arm, wherein the landing gear fixing plate is arranged above the multi-track trolley, and is fixedly connected with the multi-track trolley through the landing gear fixing plate support; the unmanned aerial vehicle landing gear is arranged above the landing gear fixing plate; a battery inlet matched with the size of a battery is formed in the center of the fixing plate; the battery storage disk is arranged below the landing gear fixing plate, and is fixedly connected with the multi-track trolley through the battery storage disk support; and the mechanical arm is arranged below the battery storage disk. The battery automatic replacement system adopts a turntable type battery storage bin, so that five times of battery replacement can be performed at most through one step; and the battery automatic replacement system adopts a blind plugging type battery installation mode to achieve effects of convenience, fastness and high efficiency.

An object taking-out apparatus for taking out objects randomly stacked in a container according to a condition of how each object is placed, which includes a robot hand having telescopic means and a coupling member whose one ends are connected to a robot arm end, and holding means coupled to their other ends. The telescopic means expands and contracts to cause the holding means to assume either a first orientation where a small angle is formed or a second orientation where a large angle is formed between a holding direction axis of the holding means and a rotary axis of the robot arm end, thereby taking out objects without causing interaction between the robot and the container.

A security checkpoint includes a personal scanning portal, a parcel scanning portal and a controller for ensuring substantially simultaneous scanning of a person and the parcel associated with the person. The controller also adjusts the level of scrutiny at each portal based on scanned data received at the other portal and based on information in a database relating to the specific person at the security checkpoint.

A method and a corresponding system for assisting the passage of an entity (10) through successive zones (Zn to z1) to a destination (40) are provided. The method includes the steps of: associating an identifier with the entity; creating a plurality of required incidents for the entity, each required incident having a place reference and a time reference associated with it, the required incidents including a final incident for which the place reference is the destination and the time reference is a predetermined time; at intervals, detecting the presence of the entity in one of said zones and the time of said presence, thereby generating a match; registering correspondences between the matches thus-generated and said required incidents; and generating an alert for the entity when the time reference for a required incident is reached and that incident does not have a corresponding match. The method operates on a pull system whereby earlier events are driven by the requirements of future events. The method allows preventative action to be taken before delays occur and can adjust to deal with variations in local conditions. A preferred embodiment is implemented in a transport hub, where the entities may be passengers, crew or luggage.

An interleaver that implements the LCS turbo interleaver algorithm utilized by the CDMA2000 standard is described. The interleaver includes a first computation unit for receiving an input address and computing a first sequential interleaved address during a first clock cycle in response thereto. A second computation unit is included for receiving an input address and computing a second sequential interleaved address during the first clock cycle in response thereto. The interleaver further includes a comparator for determining whether the first or the second sequential interleaved address is invalid and generating a signal in response thereto. The output of the comparator provides a control signal to a switch which selects the first or the second sequential interleaved address as an output interleaved address for the first clock cycle. The interleaver is further designed to move in a forward direction or a reverse direction.

The invention discloses a feeding platform and a feeding method suitable for field operation feeding for an agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle. The feeding platform comprises a mobile rack, and a take-off and landing platform unit, a pesticide supplementing unit and an energy supplementing unit arranged on the rack; the take-off and landing platform unit comprises a landing plate and a lifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism is arranged between the bottom of the landing plate and the rack; the pesticide supplementing unit comprises a pesticide storage box and a pesticide feed pump. According to the invention, the mobile rack is adopted to carry the feeding platform, and thus the unmanned aerial vehicle can be carried to move flexibly and conveying is facilitated; when the unmanned aerial vehicle performs operation, the take-off and landing positions of the unmanned aerial vehicle can be changed continually midway for supplementing energy and spraying materials, and the take-off and landing positions adjacent to the operation positions can be selected, so that effective operation duration of the unmanned aerial vehicle is increased, and the operation efficiency of the unmanned aerial vehicle is improved. The lower part of the landing plate is provided with the lifting mechanism, so that the landing plate not only can be maintained in a horizontal state in the uneven farmland ground, but also can be adjusted to an appropriate height.

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for safely transporting passengers from pickup locations to destination locations on-demand using automated/pilotless vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. In one implementation, an on-demand passenger transport system includes one or more VTOL aircraft which operate without human pilots, and each of the VTOL aircraft operates under the control of an associated onboard computer. The disclosed system further includes a ground control system which is configured to: receive a service request from a passenger for a transport service of the VTOL aircraft; assign one of the VTOL aircraft to the requesting passenger; process the service request to generate a flight task; transmit the flight task to the assigned VTOL aircraft. The onboard computer of the VTOL aircraft is configured to control a flight of the VTOL aircraft to transport the passenger from a pickup location to a destination location by air based on the flight task.

Systems for towing a trailer by a towing vehicle and a method for controlling such a system are disclosed. The systems and method are configured to maintain a constant towing load on the towing vehicle as well as optimizing other performance criteria such as fuel efficiency. The system comprises a closed loop controller, a towing arm assembly, a load measuring device, an electric hub motor, brakes, a motor controller and a brake controller disposed on the trailer. In another embodiment, two separate systems are installed, one on each side of the trailer. A load force feeds into a PID controller programmed with preset proportional, differential and integral parameters. The PID controller generates a command signal to either modulate the brakes or motor up or down depending on the sign of the command signal. A process output updates the system which continuously adjusts based on driving conditions.

A parallel link robot (10) provided with a base (11), a moving part (12), three links (20a to 20c) coupling the base and the moving part and having respectively single degrees of freedom with respect to the base, and three actuators (13a to 13c) respectively driving the links, each of the links comprised of a drive link (21a to 21c) coupled with the base and two driven links (22a to 22c, 23a to 23c) coupling the drive link and the moving part and parallel to each other, and further provided with a posture changing mechanism (15) which changes a posture of an element (19) attached to the moving part, an additional actuator (13d to 13f) arranged between the two driven links of at least one link in parallel to these driven links, and a power transmission shaft (39) which extends coaxially from the additional actuator and transmits rotational drive force to the posture changing mechanism. Due to this, it is possible to increase the degrees of freedom without reducing the possible region of operation and the acceleration/deceleration performance.

A Ground Runway Awareness and Advisory System (GRAAS) that provides supplemental position information and airport situational awareness alerts and advisories to pedestrians and vehicle operators during surface operations by providing timely aural, textual, graphic or pictographic alerts and advisory messages to pedestrians and vehicle operators in a significant number of different scenarios that have led to past runway and taxiway incursion occurrences. These messages are optionally supplemented by a situational awareness video display wherein one or more of the user's position, heading and ground speed are superimposed on a graphic display of airport features of interest. The GRAAS thereby satisfies one clear requirement in reducing VPDs: that the pedestrians or vehicle operators have a clear understanding of the airport layout, including designations of runways and taxiways, and their position relative to the airport layout and features, including aircraft, other ground vehicle traffic and pedestrians where position information is available.

A computer-implemented method in one example calls for receiving a physical object at a controlled-access facility such as an airport; scanning the object to capture identifying information of the object based on intrinsic properties of the object, without specific need of any label, tag, or other extrinsic proxy that may be attached to the item; and inducting the object into a reference database system by storing a record in the reference database system that includes the feature vector. A tracking system provides substantially continuous position and identity information of the object, and detects the introduction of any foreign object into the system, to improve security, and avoid lost and delayed items such as airline passenger bags. The tracking system may utilize networked tracking units, each unit comprising scanners and a local processor to realize various object tracking and related functions.

The invention discloses an intelligent luggage barrow of an airport. The intelligent luggage barrow is characterized in comprising a main body frame, a control panel, a deep visual identification device, a control box and a chassis driving device, wherein the main body frame comprises a luggage load bearing device and a functional frame; the functional frame comprises two supporting rods and an advertising space panel arranged between the two supporting rods; a small part luggage frame is arranged between the supporting rods on the top; two sides of the top end of each supporting rod are provided with panel supporting frames; the control panel is embedded into the panel supporting frames on two sides and is fixed by bolts; the deep visual identification device is fixed on a rear plate of the small part luggage frame; the chassis driving device is arranged on a wheel axle, and the supporting rods above the chassis driving device are riveted with the control box; a control system is integrated in the control box. According to the intelligent luggage barrow, functions including autonomous navigation, intelligent following, voice interaction, service consultation, on-line entertainment, convenient shopping, automatic weighting, forbidden article detection, automatic conversation, one-key recovery, kid missing prevention, automatic printing of boarding checks and the like are combined, and the intelligent luggage barrow of the airport can lead intelligent, fashionable, relaxed and convenient brand-new airport service experience.

The composite rotating fixed-wing aircraft consists of the coaxial counter-paddle, reverse gear, engine output shaft, engine with a starter-generator, wings, tail blades, landing device, culvert, steering gear, fairing, fuselage, motor, motor drive shaft, wing control unit of small angle of attack, aileron rudder surface, and tailplane rudder surface. Co-axial counter-blade is located in the upper part of the aircraft, which connects with the engine output shaft; the reverse gear is installed between the co-axial counter-propellers; the motor connects with motor drive shaft powered by the starter-generator of the engine; the wings are located on both sides of aircraft and connect with the fuselage; the tail blades are located at the aircraft tail, which are installed behinde motor drive shaft; the landing device is located under the lower part of the fuselage and fixed with it; the culvert connects with the landing device; the fairing is installed in the culvert and connects with the steering gear; the wing control unit of small angle of attack is installed on the wing. The aircraft design method has six steps with strict scientific idea; this invention has a wide range of practical value and application prospect.

The invention discloses a hypersonic aerocraft and air inlet internal and external waverider integrated design method, and relates to a near space aerocraft. An aerodynamics characteristic is firstly appointed, and then a design scheme meeting the characteristic is inferred backwards; a three-dimensional shock wave curved surface in a complex shape is appointed, the change rule of the transverse curvature center is obtained, and a series of basic flow fields meeting the needs of the waverider design are inferred backwards according to the change rule; flow lines of different curvature centers and different radial positions are traced in every basic flow field in the circumferential direction; a waverider device capable of producing the appointed complex three-dimensional shock wave curved surface is obtained finally, namely the integrated design scheme is obtained. The advantages of a waveriders and an internal waverider air inlet are kept, the integrated design of the two high-performance devices is achieved, the waverider model with high lift-drag ratio and the scheme of the air inlet with full-flow capture can be obtained at the same time, and accordingly the overall performance of the aerocraft is improved.

A preconditioned air system for cooling an interior cabin space of a parked aircraft includes a thermal energy storage unit, which contains a thermal energy storage medium for storing cooling capacity. During use, a ground-based air-cooling unit is placed in thermal communication with the thermal energy storage medium. The ground-based air-cooling unit draws upon cooling capacity that has been stored previously within the thermal storage medium for cooling the interior cabin space. Storage of cooling capacity is performed during off-peak demand times and/or during low power cost times. System modularity supports cooling of variously sized aircraft even under extreme temperature conditions.

An automatic guidance and control system for aircraft moving on the ground. On-ground taxi control is provided in response to steering commands for nosewheel positioning.

The invention relates to an automatic battery replacement device which is used for automatically replacing a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle. A battery holder is arranged on the unmanned aerial vehicle. The automatic battery replacement device comprises a battery replacement platform, a lift platform, a battery charging base and a battery assembling and disassembling mechanism. The lift platform can rise and fall relative to the battery replacement platform so that the lift platform can be higher than or basically flush with or lower than the battery replacement platform. The battery charging base can charge the battery disassembled from the unmanned aerial vehicle. The battery assembling and disassembling mechanism can take the power-lack battery out of the battery holder of the unmanned aerial vehicle, place the battery on the battery charging base to be charged and assembling the fully-charged battery on the battery charging base onto the battery holder of the unmanned aerial vehicle. According to the automatic battery replacement device, no manual battery replacement is needed, labor is reduced, the unmanned aerial vehicle and other devices can be conveniently used, and the automatic uninterrupted cruise of the rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicle is achieved.