49results about "Tethered aircraft" patented technology

An environmental monitoring network has transportable, self-contained, environment sensing capsules, each capsule is water-proof, with first and second sections, the second section being hollow. Apertures in the capsule's housing enable fluid and gas entry wherein first sensor(s) disposed internal to the housing measure within the hollow, and second sensor(s) disposed external to the housing measure external to the housing. A controller and power system are connected to the first and second sensors and transmits measured data. An access entry way is on a side of the housing, enabling access to first sensors, controller system, power system, and the communication system. A central data server is configured to receive and analyze the measurement data sent from the capsules. There is a priority list of appropriate personnel for contact by the central data server in an event there is an emergency condition at a capsule location.

Combined aerospace system is a multi-stage technology to deliver payloads to orbit and to midair. The system comprises a carrier aircraft, a tow aircraft, a towed spaceplane or a rocket plane or a glider. The carrier aircraft, coupled with the spaceplane and / or the rocket plane or several gliders, takeoff from a runway and ascends to a staging altitude and speed under the carrier aircraft power. After staging, the tow aircraft will pick up the spaceplane or the rocket plane or the glider from the carrier aircraft in flight. The towed spaceplane or the rocket plane or the glider continues ascending and accelerating by the tow aircraft. The spaceplane or the rocket plane will disconnect from the tow aircraft and continue to ascend and accelerate in an atmosphere by using the ramjet engine. The spaceplane or the rocket plane equipped with a propulsion unit is used to place the spacecraft into the earth orbit. The glider will disconnect from the tow aircraft and lands in designated place. Gliders can be used for instantly delivering of correspondence, parcels, and civil goods from a supplier to wide variety of individual consumers or corporate customers.

A drone network (1) having at least three drones, with at least one first work drone (2), the work drone (2) being designed to perform activities in its environment and being connected to a base station (5) via a supply line (4), and having at least one auxiliary drone (3), with the supply line (4) being guided to the work drone (2) via the auxiliary drone (3). The drone network additionally includes a further, third drone (14) which has sensors (8) and / or monitors (9) for monitoring the work drone (2) and / or auxiliary drone (3) and / or monitors (9) for monitoring the environment of the work drone (2) and / or auxiliary drone (3). A system (13) is also provided having a drone network (1) and a base station (5).

A method of aligning an aircraft with a landing platform in motion comprises measuring a GPS heading with at least one GPS sensor positioned at a known location relative to the landing platform while the landing platform is in motion, measuring an orientation of the aircraft with an orientation sensor fixed relative to the aircraft, calculating an orientation of the landing platform from the GPS heading, calculating an orientation offset between the measured orientation of the aircraft and the calculated orientation of the landing platform, and changing an orientation of the aircraft or the landing platform to reduce the orientation offset. A system for landing and securing an aircraft in an enclosure, a system for disconnecting a tether from an aircraft, and a system for landing an aircraft in an enclosure are also described.

An aerial vehicle electrical power system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, and related methods are provided. The aerial vehicle electric power system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by an aerial vehicle. At least one electrical circuit is carried by the aerial vehicle. The at least one electrical circuit has a DC buck converter electrically in series with at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs. An output voltage from the DC buck converter is a fixed ratio of an input voltage into the DC buck converter. A tether is connected between the aerial vehicle and a power source positioned remote from the aerial vehicle. Electrical power is transmitted to the aerial vehicle and at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs through the tether. The electrical circuit minimizes variances in power supplied to the aerial vehicle and the plurality of LEDs.

A method, apparatus, and system for supplying power during the takeoff and landing of an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft is disclosed herein. A power supplying method is performed by a power supply system comprising a drone and a hub. The power supplying method includes: determining whether power is required for an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft to land on the hub using battery information of the UAM aircraft when the UAM aircraft is determined to be in a landing mode; moving the drone from the hub to the UAM aircraft using location information of the UAM aircraft when it is determined that power is additionally required for the UAM aircraft to land on the hub; docking the drone to the UAM aircraft to couple with; and supplying power required for the UAM aircraft to land on the hub to the UAM aircraft by the drone.

According to the invention, there is provided a storage box comprising at least one door, the door being movable between a first position in which the door is closed and a second position in which the door is open; a platform capable of supporting an aircraft; and a mechanical connection device connected between the platform and the at least one door, wherein the mechanical connection device is configured such that the platform is simultaneously raised when the door is moved from its first position to its second position; the platform is simultaneously lowered when the door is moved from its second position to its first position; and a controller configured to control the mechanical connection device. There is further provided a corresponding method of deploying an aircraft; a corresponding method of storing an aircraft; an assembly comprising a storage box and an aircraft; and a vehicle comprising a storage box.

According to the present invention there is provided a storage case, which comprises, at least one door which is moveable between an first position in which the door is closed and a second position in which the door is opened; a platform, which can support an aerial vehicle; and a mechanical connection means which is connected between the platform and the at least one door, wherein the mechanical connection means is configured such that as the door is moved from its first position to its second position the platform simultaneously elevated; and as the door is moved from its second position to its first position the platform simultaneously lowered; and a controller which is configured to control the mechanical connection means. There is further provided a corresponding method of deploying an aerial vehicle; a corresponding method of storing an aerial vehicle; an assembly which comprises the storage case and an aerial vehicle; and a vehicle which comprises the storage case.

To prevent deterioration in the response of a winch.SOLUTION: A tether coupling method includes a step of coupling another tether different from one tether to the other end of the one tether whose one end is connected to a kite, in a separable manner during flight of the kite.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

The present invention relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles, and specifically relates to a wired tethered unmanned aerial vehicle high-altitude base station and a usage method thereof, which includes a tethered control base. An electrical equipment compartment for installing base station equipment and unmanned aerial vehicle control equipment is arranged inside the tethered control base, and further includes: an unmanned aerial vehicle storage compartment, which is arranged above the electrical equipment compartment. The present invention connects the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle in the air with the tethered control base on the ground through a tether cable. The tethered control base continuously provides power and communication for the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle through the tether cable. When the unmanned aerial vehicle pulls the tether cable under the action of environmental factors such as wind, the tether cable can drive the arc-shaped lead frame to slide in the arc-shaped fitting groove through the lead sleeve, and buffer through the return spring, so as to avoid the tether cable from breaking due to excessive instantaneous tension, and at the same time avoid the tethered unmanned aerial vehicle from losing balance and falling due to sudden tension, which is beneficial to improving the overall reliability and safety of the equipment.

A supply system for connecting a first vehicle has a platform, a first vehicle, a bendable connection element with one end connected with the first vehicle and another end connected with the platform and at least one floating unit for lifting the bendable connection element at least partly over a minimum floating height. The at least one floating unit is attachable to the bendable connection element distant from the first vehicle.

A payload retrieval apparatus including a stand having an upper end and a lower end, a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel coupled to the stand, a first extension that extends in a first direction from the first end of the channel, wherein the first extension is configured to direct a tether extending from a UAV and a payload retriever attached to an end of the tether toward the first end of the channel, wherein the second end of the channel has a payload engaging member positioned near the second end of the channel that is adapted to secure a payload, and wherein the payload retrieval apparatus is configured to cause the UAV to pick up the payload with the payload retriever while maintaining flying.

An aerial vehicle electrical power system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, and related methods are provided. The aerial vehicle electric power system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by an aerial vehicle. At least one electrical circuit is carried by the aerial vehicle. The at least one electrical circuit has a DC buck converter electrically in series with at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs. A tether is connected between the aerial vehicle and a power source positioned remote from the aerial vehicle. Electrical power is transmitted to the aerial vehicle and at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs through the tether. The electrical circuit minimizes variances in power supplied to the aerial vehicle and the plurality of LEDs.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tethered with an optical fiber is an unmanned aerial vehicle, drone or the like carrying an optical device which is tethered to an external light source. The light source may be a ground-based laser. The optical device is connected to, and optically coupled with, the light source by a tether including at least one optical fiber. A stabilizer may be mounted on the optical device for stabilizing orientation and direction thereof. The optical device may include at least one collimator and at least one focusing lens for shaping and focusing the received light for output to a selected target.

Power kite and a bridle system adapted to connect th power kite to a control box, the power kite having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the bridle system comprising multiple power lines and at least two steering lines, the steering lines being connected to zones including wingtips of the power kite such that a steering angle of the power kit is controllable by balancing the steering lines, wherein the multiple power lines comprise a front line connected to a front zone of the power kite including a central part of the leading edge and comprise a back line connected to a back zone of the power kite including a central part of the trailing edge, such that an angle of attack of the power kite is controllable by balancing the front and back lines. Figure 4

An aerostat having an elongate hollow body having a length defining a local axis of the body, the hollow body being suitable for receiving sufficient lighter-than-air gas, such that the aerostat can become buoyant in air, the aerostat body comprising a sequence of a plurality of joined body portions, each body portion comprising an outer skin and a hollow internal space, wherein the joins are substantially perpendicular to the local axis of the body, the joined body portions comprising two end body portions, and a plurality of internal body portions, so that the joined body portions together form the elongate hollow body; and a method of manufacturing an aerostat according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of supporting a first body portion to form a first mounted hollow body portion, supporting a second body portion to form a second mounted hollow body portion, bringing the first and second mounted body portions to come into contact such that the outer skins of the first and second body portions come into alignment, followed by joining together the outer skins of the first and second body portions, followed by repeating the process with further body portions, thereby to produce the aerostat having an elongate hollow body.

To provide a suspended aerial vehicle system which reduces an installation area and provides other advantages such as longer flight time and higher load resistance in comparison to a conventional drone product.SOLUTION: A suspended aerial vehicle system includes an aerial vehicle with a thruster assembly and a supporting line attached to the aerial vehicle that is capable of supporting at least some of the weight of the aerial vehicle. The supporting line may have an adjustable length which when varied, and in coordination with variations in a thrust characteristic of the aerial vehicle, may change the position of the aerial vehicle. Other aspects are also described and claimed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Provided is a system for tethering a drone 100, the system comprising a mechanism 103 that is connected to the drone and that extends from an upper region of the drone towards a bottom region of the d

A payload retrieval apparatus including a stand having an upper end and a lower end, a channel having a first end and a second end, the channel coupled to the stand, a first extension that extends in a first direction from the first end of the channel, wherein the first extension is configured to direct a tether extending from a UAV and a payload retriever attached to an end of the tether toward the first end of the channel, wherein the second end of the channel has a payload engaging member positioned near the second end of the channel that is adapted to secure a payload, and wherein the payload retrieval apparatus is configured to cause the UAV to pick up the payload with the payload retriever while maintaining flying.

An aerial vehicle electrical power system for use with a tethered aerial vehicle, and related methods are provided. The aerial vehicle electric power system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by an aerial vehicle. At least one electrical circuit is carried by the aerial vehicle. The at least one electrical circuit has a DC converter electrically in series with at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs. A tether is connected between the aerial vehicle and a power source positioned remote from the aerial vehicle. Electrical power is transmitted to the aerial vehicle and at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs through the tether. The electrical circuit minimizes variances in power supplied to the aerial vehicle and the plurality of LEDs.

A payload receiver apparatus including a base configured to receive a payload, suspended from an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), an extending member having an upper end positioned above the base, a first tether engager that extends in a first direction from the extending member, wherein the base includes a payload platform positioned, below the first tether end of the channel and configured to receive a. payload thereon, wherein the first tether engager is adapted to guide a tether having a first end attached to the UAV and a second end attached to a payload coupling apparatus to a position above the payload platform.

A tether management system is disclosed. The tether management system includes a spool, a tension sensor, a controller and a moveable pulley. The spool is rotatable to reel in and reel out a tether. The tension sensor measures a tension of the tether. The controller receives a desired tension of the tether and controls the rotation of the spool to reel in and reel out the tether based on a difference between a measured tension from the tension sensor and the desired tension of the tether. The moveable pulley is disposed to engage tether between the spool and the tension sensor. The moveable pulley being able to be biased and moveable along a linear path to adjust a tension of the tether when the tension of the tether deviates from the desired tension. A method for managing tether is also disclosed.

An aerostat having an elongate hollow body having a length defining a local axis of the body, the hollow body adapted to receive sufficient lighter than air gas such that the aerostat can become buoyant in air, the aerostat body comprising a series of a plurality of joined body portions, the present invention relates to an elongate hollow body comprising a plurality of body portions, each body portion comprising an outer skin and a hollow interior space wherein a joint is substantially perpendicular to a local axis of the body, the joined body portions comprising two end body portions and a plurality of interior body portions such that the joined body portions together form the elongate hollow body; and a method of manufacturing an aerostat according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: supporting a first body portion to form a first mounted hollow body portion; supporting the second body portion to form a second mounted hollow body portion; contacting the first mounted body portion and the second mounted body portion such that the outer skins of the first body portion and the second body portion are aligned; the outer skin of the first body part and the outer skin of the second body part are jointed together; the process is then repeated with a further body portion, thereby creating an aerostat having an elongate hollow body.

A power supply system for an urban air mobility (UAM) device includes a charging station provided on the ground and including a power cable for supplying power, a UAM power supply mobility device configured to be anchored at the charging station and provided with the power to charge a battery therein or to supply the power to the UAM device separated from the charging station using the power cable while flying with the UAM device, and an auxiliary mobility device configured to control a path of the power cable to keep the power cable in a preset space while flying between the charging station and the UAM power supply mobility device.

The application relates to a drone network (1) consisting of at least two drones, with at least one first worker drone (2), wherein the worker drone (2) is equipped to perform tasks in its environment and is connected to a base station (5) via a power supply line (4), and with at least one auxiliary drone (3). The drone network (1) is characterized in that the power supply line (4) is routed via the auxiliary drone (3) to the worker drone (2). The invention further relates to a system (13) comprising a drone network (1) and a base station (5).

A payload system for carrying a payload including a platform configured to support the payload, and a payload distribution sensor configured to sense the distribution of the payload on the platform. At least two autonomous aerial vehicles are provided, with coupling arrangements being configured to couple each vehicle to the platform. One or more processing devices configured to determine a payload distribution in accordance with signals from the payload distribution sensor and control operation of the vehicles in accordance with the determined payload distribution to thereby allow the platform and payload to be lifted.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for an airframe of a volitant body are presented herein. An apparatus may include a body having a normal axis. The body comprising a central air passage communicating through the body along the normal axis of the body. The central air passage may have an inlet at a first end of the body and an outlet at a second end of the body, the second end being opposite the first end. The central air passage may form an interior surface of the body. The central air passage permitting a flow of air through the body via the central air passage. The inlet may be formed to produce a Venturi effect in the flow of air passing through the central air passage from the inlet to the outlet by choking the flow of air at the inlet.