Abstract: Disclosed herein are system and method for automatically recharging a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a moving platform, comprising: a software module identifying the moving platform; a software module estimating a real-time state of the moving platform; a software module controlling automatic landing of the UAV on the moving platform based on the real-time state estimation of the moving platform and data collected from the one or more sensors; a software module controlling automatic connection of the UAV to a charging station of the moving platform with a pre-determined orientation; and a software module controlling automatic taking off of the UAV from the moving platform after charging.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for landing an unmanned aircraft on a mobile structure are presented. Sensors on the aircraft identify a predetermined landing area on a mobile structure. The aircraft monitors the sensor data to maintain its position hovering over the landing area. The aircraft estimates a future attitude of the surface of the landing area and determines a landing time that corresponds to a desired attitude of the surface of the landing area. The unmanned aircraft executes a landing maneuver to bring the aircraft into contact with the surface of the landing area at the determined landing time.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method for the use of unmanned aircraft systems to detect, locate, and identify objects in, on, or near the water that may provide useful information to people in a different location, such as on a nearby vessel for purposes of ultimately locating fish. The vessel can then take action based on data collected by the unmanned aircraft system, such as move to a new location to catch fish as detected by the unmanned aircraft system.