Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a user input device, and ground station. The user input device is configured to generate a signal and control the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the generated signal. The ground station is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a tether assembly. The ground station includes a motorized spool and a controller. The motorized spool is coupled to the tether assembly and configured to electromechanically control spooling and unspooling of a tether of the tether assembly. The controller is configured to control operation of the motorized spool based on an anticipated movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for maintaining railway situational awareness, includes a ground station configured to be mounted to a train, a UAV including a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of condition and/or an event. The memory contains instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: selectively deploy the UAV, from the ground station mounted to the train, receive the signal from the sensor; and determine a condition and/or an event, relative to the train, based on the sensed signal.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for maintaining UAV flight continuity, includes a ground station, a first UAV, a second UAV, a processor, and a memory. The memory contains instructions thereon, which, when executed by the processor in response to receiving a remaining battery charge signal from the first UAV, selectively deploy the second UAV from the ground station when the remaining battery charge signal indicates that a remaining battery charge of the first UAV is below a threshold value, and return the first UAV to the ground station.

Abstract: A ground station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a box assembly, a hatch assembly, and a landing pad assembly. The hatch assembly is pivotably coupled to the box assembly. The landing pad assembly is movably coupled to the box assembly and is movably coupled to the hatch assembly.

Abstract: A system for inspecting an aircraft includes a drone, a base station, and a controller. The drone includes one or more cameras. The base station has a storage compartment configured to store the autonomous drone therein. The controller has a processor and a memory. The memory has instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the base station to drive to a first predetermined location relative to the aircraft, and cause the drone to fly from the storage compartment of the base station to a first predetermined position relative to the aircraft so that the drone can record image data of at least portions of the aircraft with the one or more cameras.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for maintaining roadway personnel safety includes a monitoring device configured to be worn by a user and to provide a notification, a UAV including a sensor configured to sense a signal indicating a railway condition and/or a railway event, and a ground station configured to house the UAV when the UAV is not in use. The ground station is further configured to be mounted on a train or vehicle. The system further includes a processor and a memory that contains instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to selectively deploy the UAV from the ground station when the ground station is supported on the train or the vehicle, receive the signal from the sensor, detect the railway condition and/or the railway event based on the received signal, and transmit the notification to the monitoring device based on the based on the sensed signal.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle, a tether assembly selectively coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, a processor, and a memory. The memory contains instructions thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to disconnect the tether assembly from the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes a tether assembly, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a processor, and a memory. The unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a housing and a slider plate supported by the housing. The memory containing instructions thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to move the slider plate relative to the housing to selectively decouple the tether assembly from the housing.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes a ground station, a tether assembly coupled to the ground station, and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle having a quick release mechanism selectively coupled to the tether assembly to restrain movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The quick release mechanism is electrically actuatable to decouple the tether assembly from the unmanned aerial vehicle for enabling the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly freely.

Abstract: A landing station for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a landing surface and a centering wheel. The centering wheel is coupled to the landing surface and has a spoke extending therefrom. The spoke is positioned to rotate relative to the landing surface in response to rotation of the centering wheel relative to the landing surface. The spoke is configured to rotate into engagement with a landing leg of the unmanned aerial vehicle to impart centrifugal force onto the landing leg sufficient to rotate the unmanned aerial vehicle toward a predetermined position on the landing surface.

Abstract: A landing station for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a landing surface and a centering wheel. The centering wheel is coupled to the landing surface and has a spoke extending therefrom. The spoke is positioned to rotate relative to the landing surface in response to rotation of the centering wheel relative to the landing surface. The spoke is configured to rotate into engagement with a landing leg of the unmanned aerial vehicle to impart centrifugal force onto the landing leg sufficient to rotate the unmanned aerial vehicle toward a predetermined position on the landing surface.

Abstract: A charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a landing surface having a first charging terminal formed of a first electrically conductive material, a second charging terminal formed of a second electrically conductive material and spaced apart from the first charging terminal, and an electrically insulating material disposed between the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal. A centering wheel is rotatably associated with the landing surface and has a center hub and spokes extending from the center hub. A rotator coupled to the centering wheel can rotate the centering wheel to align the unmanned aerial vehicle with the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal.

Abstract: A charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a landing surface having a first charging terminal formed of a first electrically conductive material, a second charging terminal formed of a second electrically conductive material and spaced apart from the first charging terminal, and an electrically insulating material disposed between the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal. A centering wheel is rotatably associated with the landing surface and has a center hub and spokes extending from the center hub. A rotator coupled to the centering wheel can rotate the centering wheel to align the unmanned aerial vehicle with the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for the establishment of a fleet of networked unmanned vehicles. The system provides at least one vehicle control device configured to interface with a third party unmanned vehicle and establish communications with other unmanned vehicles and with remote control stations. A plurality of vehicle control devices may be used with a plurality of remote control stations to establish a networked fleet of unmanned vehicles. Communication between the networked vehicles may include control information, sensor information, and mission information.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for the establishment of a fleet of networked unmanned vehicles. The system provides at least one vehicle control device configured to interface with a third party unmanned vehicle and establish communications with other unmanned vehicles and with remote control stations. A plurality of vehicle control devices may be used with a plurality of remote control stations to establish a networked fleet of unmanned vehicles. Communication between the networked vehicles may include control information, sensor information, and mission information.