Abstract: Disclosed is a package delivery mechanism for use by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The package delivery mechanism includes a gravity activated locking mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the UAV based on the weight of the package. When the package is attached to suspension means of the UAV that lowers the package to the ground from the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension means, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches on the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension means, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package. The package delivery mechanism includes a severing module to sever the suspension means from the UAV.

Abstract: Disclosed are unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) positioning mechanisms for moving a UAV across a surface. The positioning mechanisms comprise a first guide assembly arranged opposite to a second guide assembly. A drive system is arranged to move the first guide assembly towards the second guide assembly and guide the UAV from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are concerned with system for identifying an aerial vehicle. The system comprises: a radar sub-system, the radar sub-system comprising at least one radar connectable to a static support member and a transceiver configured to transmit data indicative of one or more targets identified by the radar within an airspace; a receiver arranged to receive the data indicative of one or more targets identified by the radar; and a processing system configured to process said data, whereby to identify at least one aerial vehicle. In some embodiments the radar comprises a marine radar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can “kill” the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard “kill” switch from the base unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package delivery mechanism for use by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The package delivery mechanism includes a gravity activated locking mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the UAV based on the weight of the package. When the package is attached to suspension means of the UAV that lowers the package to the ground from the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension means, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches on the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension means, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package. The package delivery mechanism includes a severing module to sever the suspension means from the UAV.

Abstract: Disclosed are transportable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) facilities. The facilities comprise a housing having an ingress port arranged to receive a payload for delivery by a UAV. The UAV facility is arranged to determine whether the payload corresponds to a delivery consignment based upon a comparison of one or more determined physical characteristics of the payload with one or more expected characteristics of the delivery consignment.

Abstract: Disclosed are unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) facilities suitable for use by both emergency and non-emergency UAVs. The facilities comprise a housing having first and second moveable platforms. A cover is arranged above the second moveable platform. A drive system operates the first and second moveable platforms and the cover.

Abstract: In an embodiment an unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a central body and a plurality of support structures extending outwards from the central body. Each support structure supports a rotor blade assembly and is provided with one or more deformable portions. The rotor blade assembly defines a rotational axis of one or more rotor blades associated with the rotor blade assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can “kill” the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard “kill” switch from the base unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can “kill” the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard “kill” switch from the base unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are transportable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) facilities. The facilities comprise a housing for holding a UAV, where the housing defines a landing area for the UAV. The facilities also comprise a structure for reducing wind speed across the landing area.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are methods and systems that relate to delivery of a payload to a particular delivery surface. A payload is collected at a first physical location using a retractable delivery mechanism of a UAV, and the UAV flies to a designated second physical location, whereupon sensor data is obtained using one or more sensors of the UAV. The sensor data is used to obtain characteristics of an area which may be used as a delivery surface at the second physical location. An actual delivery surface is selected based on criteria in the form of rule data specifying an appropriate delivery surface and the sensor data. Once the delivery surface has been selected the retractable delivery lowers the payload towards the selected delivery surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are concerned with system for identifying an aerial vehicle. The system comprises: a radar sub-system, the radar sub-system comprising at least one radar connectable to a static support member and a transceiver configured to transmit data indicative of one or more targets identified by the radar within an airspace; a receiver arranged to receive the data indicative of one or more targets identified by the radar; and a processing system configured to process said data, whereby to identify at least one aerial vehicle. In some embodiments the radar comprises a marine radar.

Abstract: Disclosed are unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) positioning mechanisms for moving a UAV across a surface. The positioning mechanisms comprise a first guide assembly arranged opposite to a second guide assembly. A drive system is arranged to move the first guide assembly towards the second guide assembly and guide the UAV from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A package delivery mechanism (PDM) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. The PDM includes a gravity activated locking mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the UAV based on the weight of the package. When the package is attached to a suspension member of the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension member, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension member, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package delivery mechanism for use by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The package delivery mechanism includes a gravity activated locking mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the UAV based on the weight of the package. When the package is attached to suspension means of the UAV that lowers the package to the ground from the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension means, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches on the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension means, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package. The package delivery mechanism includes a severing module to sever the suspension means from the UAV.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can “kill” the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard “kill” switch from the base unit.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed involve a container for delivery by drone (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle). The container can include a coupling mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the drone based on a tension applied to the coupling mechanism. The package can include sidewalls affixed to a top wall. The sidewalls can include securing mechanisms to be secured to a bottom wall of the container. A rigid extremity can be a contiguous extension of any of the sidewalls and extend below a lower surface of the sidewalls. The rigid extremity can include a malleable contour proximate to a corner of the container. The malleable contour can extend from a base of the rigid extremity through the sidewall. An aperture in the top wall can be configured for a inserting member of a coupling mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package delivery mechanism (PDM) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The PDM includes a gravity activated locking mechanism to lock and unlock a package attached to the UAV based on the weight of the package. When the package is attached to suspension means of the UAV that lowers the package to the ground from the UAV, the locking mechanism automatically engages with the package and keeps the package locked to the suspension means, due to the weight of the package. When the package is lowered and reaches on the ground, the weight of the package is offloaded from the suspension means, which enables the locking mechanism to be disengaged, thereby releasing the package. The PDM includes a severing module to sever the suspension means from the UAV.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for landing a drone using a parachute. The technique includes a parachute deployment system (PDS) that can deploy a parachute installed in a drone and land the drone safely. The parachute may be deployed automatically, e.g., in response to a variety of failures such as a free fall, or manually from a base unit operated by a remote user. For example, the PDS can determine the failure of the drone based on data obtained from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a barometer of the drone and automatically deploy the parachute if any failure is determined. In another example, the remote user can “kill” the drone, that is, cut off the power supply to the drone and deploy the parachute by activating an onboard “kill” switch from the base unit.