Abstract: In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device.

Abstract: Rescue parachute deployment systems (RPDSs) and related techniques are provided to improve the safety and operational flexibility of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An RPDS includes a canopy assembly, a rotor guard disposed at least partially about the canopy assembly and configured to protect the canopy assembly from rotor strike damage as the canopy assembly is launched through a rotor plane of the UAV, and an ejector assembly configured to deploy the rotor guard into and the canopy assembly through a rotor plane of the UAV. The RPDS may also include a logic device coupled to and/or integrated with the ejector assembly and/or the UAV that is configured to determine a rescue parachute launch condition is active and to control the ejector assembly to deploy the canopy assembly through the rotor plane of the UAV.

Abstract: Systems and methods include tracking a current location of an unmanned device on a local map, receiving image data from an imaging sensor associated with the unmanned device, detecting a first remote device and outputting associated first detected object information, determining a first location of the detected first remote device on the local map, receiving first location information associated with a first remote coordinate system of the first remote device, the first location information corresponding to a location of the first remote device when the image data was captured, and determining a transformation between the local map and the first remote coordinate system. The local map may be aligned to a plurality of remote coordinate systems through triangulation based at least in part on location detections of a plurality of corresponding remote devices. The remote devices may generate a beacon or light that is detected by the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to operating a mobile platform are disclosed. In one embodiment, a logic circuit of a mobile platform may control a first gimbal system of the mobile platform to selectively direct a first variable navigation imaging system of the mobile platform to a first fixation point in an environment. The logic circuit may control a second gimbal system of the mobile platform to selectively direct a second variable navigation imaging system of the mobile platform to a second fixation point in the environment. The logic circuit may navigate the mobile platform about the environment, via a propulsion system of the mobile platform, based on image data associated with the first and second fixation points received from the first and second variable navigation imaging systems, respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a UAV on a surface of a landing platform. The method may further include operating a positioning device disposed under the surface to locate the UAV. The method may further include operating the positioning device to move the UAV to a location and/or an orientation on the surface. The UAV may comprise landing gear having a plurality of legs, where each leg comprises a shock absorption system. The method may further include operating the shock absorption system during the receiving operation to reduce force received at stress areas of the UAV, and after the receiving operation, operating the shock absorption system to dampen movement by the UAV. Related devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: High resolution object detection systems and methods provide accurate, real-time, one-stage processing, and include a backbone network configured to receive an input image and generate multi-scale feature representations, a feature fusion block configured to fuse the multi-sale feature representations, a plurality of representation transfer modules configured to isolate and decouple sub-task networks and the multi-scale feature representations, and a cascade refinement module configured to process each representation transfer module output to refine predictions. The backbone network generates a plurality of image features corresponding to each of a plurality of image scales and includes a plurality of convolutional layers and a stem block after the first convolutional layer, wherein the stem block improves feature extraction performance. The feature fusion block generates feature outputs for each of a plurality of image scales.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to skid and roll along an environmental surface. A rollable UAV includes an airframe assembly, a propulsion system, and a logic device configured to communicate with the propulsion system. The airframe assembly includes a cylindrical rolling guard configured to allow the UAV to roll along an environmental surface in contact with the cylindrical rolling guard. The logic device is configured to determine a rolling orientation for the UAV corresponding to the environmental surface, maneuver the UAV to place the cylindrical rolling guard of the airframe assembly in contact with the environmental surface, and roll the airframe assembly of the UAV along the environmental surface at approximately the determined rolling orientation while the cylindrical rolling guard is in contact with the environmental surface.

Abstract: Techniques for deicing propellers for mobile platforms are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system may include a propeller comprising a propeller blade having a channel extending from an ingress aperture to an egress aperture along a longitudinal axis of the propeller blade. The system may further include a cowl comprising an air duct configured to direct heated air into the channel to deice the propeller blade. The cowl may be configured to selectively couple to the propeller and an electric motor and form a seal between the cowl and the electric motor to capture the heated air exuded by the electric motor. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An airframe assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided where the airframe assembly includes a top airframe assembly, a bottom airframe assembly, and a planar support frame disposed between the top and bottom airframe assemblies. The top and bottom airframe assemblies may form one or more rotor ducts disposed about one or more UAV propulsion motor mounts, respectively, where the rotor ducts are configured to protect rotating rotors disposed therein from physical damage caused by impact with environmental flight hazards. The airframe assembly may further include a heat sink thermally coupled to electronics of the UAV and disposed within the airframe assembly such that rotating blades in the rotor ducts cause air to be drawn from outside of inlet orifices of the top airframe assembly, through an airflow channel in which dissipation surfaces of the heat sink are disposed, and into a rotor duct via an airflow outlet.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle (UV) is provided. The UV comprises an aircraft component, an interposer component electrically and mechanically coupled to the aircraft component, and a payload component electrically and mechanically coupled to the interposer component. The interposer component comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configured the processor to receive a communication from one of the aircraft component or the payload component, and sent the communication to the other of the aircraft component or the payload component.

Abstract: In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle (UV) is provided for transmitting data to a payload device connected to the UV. The UV comprises a processor configured to control operations of the UV, a first and a second communication interface for connecting to a payload device, a third communication interface for communicating with a remote station, and a non-transitory memory device storing instructions configured to cause the processor to to receive and transmit data. The processor is configured to receive one or more data packets through the third communication interface from the remote station, transmit the one or more data packets to the payload device through the first communication interface when the one or more data packets are designated for the first communication interface, and transmit the one or more data packets to the payload device through the second communication interface when the one or more data packets are designated for the second communication interface.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle (UV) navigation system is provided. The UV navigation system comprises a processor, a communication interface for communicating with a remote station, and a non-transitory memory device storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to navigate the UV. The processor is configured to receive data from sensors, camera or data line for UV processor analysis, determine that a link-free trigger event has occurred, and autonomously navigate the UV in response to the trigger event.

Abstract: In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device. The UAVs include foldable articulating arms facilitating storage in cylindrical launch/land unit housings. Each UAV is stored on a landing platform comprising an extended landing platform that include articulating arms and foldable surface.

Abstract: A main body of an unmanned vehicle is provided. The main body comprises a propulsion-receiving module having a mount point for removably mounting a propulsion source, a payload-receiving module having a mount point for removably mounting a payload, and a damper interposed between the payload-receiving module and the propulsion-receiving module to inhibit transmission of vibrations from the propulsion-receiving module to the payload-receiving module when the payload-receiving module and the propulsion-receiving module are in mechanical communication.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating shutter and light signal synchronization systems and methods are provided. In one example, a system includes a vehicle. The vehicle includes a light emitting device configured to emit a light signal. The vehicle further includes a logic device configured to transmit data associated with the light signal. The system further includes a wearable apparatus. The wearable apparatus includes a shutter device configured to synchronize with the light signal based on the data and process the light signal according to the synchronization. Related methods and devices are also provided.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to encryption and decryption of media data transmitted between an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a ground controlling base, when recording and playing back the media data by combining symmetric and asymmetric cryptography.

Abstract: A system, computer-implemented method and non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for generating a two-dimensional (2D) map of an area of interest are provided. The system comprises a processor and memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to perform the method. The method comprises determining a perimeter of an area of interest, obtaining nadir images of the area of interest, obtaining at least one oblique image of the area of interest from at least one corner of the perimeter, and processing the nadir and oblique images together to form the 2D map of the area of interest.

Abstract: Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and related techniques are provided to improve the operation of unmanned mobile sensor or survey platforms. A tether management system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a communication module and an orientation sensor coupled to a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the communication module is configured to establish a communication link with a base station associated with the tethered UAV, the orientation sensor is configured to provide headings of the tethered UAV as it maneuvers within a survey area. The logic device is configured to determine an accumulated twist of a tether coupled between the base station and the tethered UAV and generate a tether damage warning notification based, at least in part, on the determined accumulated twist and a maximum allowable accumulated twist associated with the tether coupled between the base station and the tethered UAV.

Abstract: Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and related techniques are provided to improve the operation of unmanned mobile sensor or survey platforms. A flight altitude estimation system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a communication module and a flight barometer coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the communication module is configured to establish a communication link with a base station associated with the mobile platform, and the flight barometer is configured to provide flight pressures associated with the UAV as it maneuvers within a survey area. The logic device is configured to receive demark pressure data from a demark barometer coupled to the base station and determine a differential flight altitude estimation based, at least in part, on received flight pressure data and demark pressure data, a reference flight pressure and a reference demark pressure corresponding to a flight initiation location of the base station.