Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a unitary ring gear-flange body (URGFB). In an illustrative example, the flange body may be spin-formed and may, for example, include a riser body extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis and a flange extending substantially radially outward from the riser body. To the riser body may, for example, be welded a ring gear to form a unitary assembly, the ring gear having an axis of revolution aligned with the longitudinal axis. A continuous coating may, for example, be applied to at least a selected portion of a surface of the unitary assembly. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a cost-efficient, weight-efficient, and/or time-efficient unitary body which may, for example, be coupled to machinery to provide a shaftless torque-transmitter.

Abstract: A drone and a positioning method thereof, a drone communication system and an operation method thereof are provided. The positioning method of the drone is applicable for a drone to cruise in a flight field. The positioning method includes the following steps: flying according to a destination coordinate in the flight field; sensing a plurality of base stations via a first wireless communication module to obtain a plurality of first radio wave signals of the plurality of base stations; positioning according to the plurality of first radio wave signals to determine a current coordinate of the drone; and flying toward the destination coordinate in the flight field according to the current coordinate. In this way, the drone is capable of reliably positioning to effectively perform automatic flight missions.

Abstract: A system having components coupled to an aircraft and components remote from the aircraft processes radar-augmented data, transmits information between aircraft system components and/or remote system components, and dynamically determines locations and states of the aircraft, while the aircraft is in flight. Based on the locations and states of the aircraft, the system generates instructions for flight control of the aircraft toward a flight path appropriate to the locations of the aircraft, and can update flight control instructions as new data is received and processed.

Abstract: A wind speed detection system and a wind speed detection method are provided. The wind speed detection system includes a pipe body and a controller. The pipe body comprises a pressure sensing module and a suction pump. The pressure sensing module is connected to a first opening through a first pipe and connected to a second opening through a second pipe. The first pipe has a main pipe. Two ends of a first alternative pipe are connected to two ends of the main pipe. When the controller performs a self-checking operation, the main pipe is closed and the first alternative pipe is opened. The controller starts the suction pump to perform forward suction. The controller measures a first air pressure through the first pipe and measures a second air pressure through the second pipe by the pressure sensing module. The controller calculates a reference wind speed value according to the first and second air pressures.

Abstract: A bidirectional air conveyor device is disclosed, including: a housing that includes an intake port and an outlet port; a first air input port; a first airflow generator defined within the housing, wherein the first airflow generator is coupled to the first air input port; a second air input port; a second airflow generator defined within the housing, wherein the second airflow generator is coupled to the second air input port; wherein the first airflow generator is configured to cause a first airflow to enter the intake port and exit the outlet port in response to a first supply of air to the first air input port; and wherein the second airflow generator is configured to cause a second airflow to enter the outlet port and exit the intake port in response to a second supply of air to the second air input port.

Abstract: A system having components coupled to an aircraft and components remote from the aircraft processes sensor-derived data, transmits information between aircraft system components and remote system components, and dynamically generates updated analyses of position and orientation of the aircraft relative to a desired landing site, while the aircraft is in flight toward the desired landing site. Based on the position and orientation information, the system generates instructions for flight control of the aircraft toward a flight path to the landing site, and can update flight control instructions as new data is received and processed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery replacement mechanism configured to pick and place a battery from and in a first accommodation bay. The first accommodation bay is provided with a first latch to hold the battery therein. The battery replacement mechanism includes a multi-axial slide table assembly, a carrier, and a pick-and-place device. The carrier is movably disposed on the multi-axial slide table assembly, and the pick-and-place device is movably disposed on the carrier. The carrier includes a second latch, and the pick-and-place device includes a catching hook. The second latch is configured to release the first latch of the first accommodation bay, so that the battery may enter and exit the first accommodation bay, and the catching hook is connected to the battery and is configured to drag the battery toward and away from the carrier. The disclosure further provides a battery replacement system and a battery replacement method for a UAV.

Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a body and a plurality of rotary-wing parts. The body has a front-end portion, a rear-end portion, two side portions, and a reference plane passing through the front-end portion, the rear-end portion, and the two side portions. The plurality of rotary-wing parts are disposed to the body. Each of the rotary-wing parts includes at least one blade and a shaft coupled to the at least one blade. The at least one blade is rotated around an axis of the shaft. An angle between the axis of the shaft and a normal line of the reference plane is between 5 and 30 degrees. The rotorcraft can provide additional lift force, to help reduce the weight of the rotorcraft.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a unitary ring gear-flange body (URGFB). In an illustrative example, the flange body may be spin-formed and may, for example, include a riser body extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis and a flange extending substantially radially outward from the riser body. To the riser body may, for example, be welded a ring gear to form a unitary assembly, the ring gear having an axis of revolution aligned with the longitudinal axis. A continuous coating may, for example, be applied to at least a selected portion of a surface of the unitary assembly. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a cost-efficient, weight-efficient, and/or time-efficient unitary body which may, for example, be coupled to machinery to provide a shaftless torque-transmitter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vacuum extraction for material sorting applications are provided. In one embodiments, a vacuum object sorting system comprises: a vacuum extraction assembly that includes at least one vacuum extractor device having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the at least one vacuum extractor device is configured to convert a controlled compressed air stream into a channeled vacuum airflow entering the inlet and exiting the outlet; and an object recognition device coupled to sorting control logic and electronics, wherein the controlled compressed air stream is controlled in response to a signal generated by the object recognition device; wherein the at least one vacuum extractor device is configured to capture a target object identified by the sorting control logic and electronics utilizing the channeled vacuum airflow, and further utilizing the channeled vacuum airflow, to pass the target object through the inlet and outlet to a deposit location.

Abstract: Mechanisms to realize lightweight rotational joints having passive, high torque braking in one or more degrees of freedom are presented herein. In addition, robotic systems incorporating one or more rotational joints with passive, high torque braking as described herein are also presented. Each degree of freedom includes a spring element to preload the braking assembly to maintain high torque braking. The force generated by the spring is multiplied to a much larger force applied to the braking elements by a lever structure and an eccentric mechanism. A human user manually displaces the spring element and effectively reduces braking torque to a desired amount. In a further aspect, a two degree of freedom mechanical shoulder joint and brake device is disposed in a structural path between the harness assembly of an upper body support system and a surface of a working environment.

Abstract: An efficient material recovery facility is disclosed, including: a first sorting device configured to: process a first instruction to remove a first target item from a set of items; and in response to the first instruction, perform a first sorting action to remove the first target item from the set of items, wherein the set of items excluding at least the first target item is to be transported towards a second sorting device, wherein the second sorting device is associated with a same sorting device type as the first sorting device; and wherein the second sorting device is configured to perform a second sorting action to remove a second target item from the set of items excluding at least the first target item in response to receiving a second instruction to remove the second target item.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle and a landing method for unmanned aerial vehicle are provided. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a positioning device and a processor. When the processor detects a fight status of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the processor obtains a current coordinate from the positioning device. According to the current coordinate, a predetermined route, and a plurality of emergency landing coordinates, the processor calculates a plurality of distances for the unmanned aerial vehicle moving from the current coordinate to each of the emergency landing coordinates along the predetermined route. According to a shortest distance among the plurality of distances, the processor obtains a target emergency landing coordinate. The processor controls the unmanned aerial vehicle to move to the target emergency landing coordinate along the predetermined route.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic system comprises: a robot comprising a robotic actuator and at least one robotic arm mechanically coupled to the robotic actuator; a suction gripper mechanism that comprises: a linear shaft element; an internal airflow passage within the linear shaft configured to communicate an airflow between an airflow application port at a first end of the linear shaft and a gripping port positioned at an opposing second end of the linear shaft; a suction cup assembly comprising a suction cup element coupled to the gripping port; and an actuator configured to rotate the linear shaft in order to articulate an orientation of the suction cup assembly.

Abstract: A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.

Abstract: An autonomous snowbank deconstructing system includes an autonomous vehicle, one or more boom arms coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a dulled shovel component coupled to the one or more boom arms. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously gather loose debris to form one or more debris piles with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the loose debris, and autonomously deconstruct accumulated debris with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the accumulated debris.

Abstract: A method and a system for spatial static map construction are provided. In the method, a three-dimensional space is scanned by using a LiDAR sensor to generate a LiDAR frame including multiple points in the three-dimensional space in a time sequence. As for each point in the LiDAR frame, a corresponding point closest to the point is found from a static map built according to the three-dimensional space, and a distance from the corresponding point is calculated. The point is labelled as a dynamic point if the distance is greater than a threshold, and otherwise labelled as a static point. Each labelled dynamic point is compared with points in N LiDAR frames generated before the time sequence, and corrected as a static point if included in the N LiDAR frames. The dynamic points in the LiDAR frame are removed, and each static point is updated to the static map.

Abstract: A temperature control equipment, adapted to control the temperature of a docking station for a UAV, wherein a cover of the docking station includes a first and a second vents. The temperature control equipment includes a first and a second temperature control devices. The first temperature control device includes a first and a second airflow openings, and the second temperature control device includes a third and a fourth airflow openings. The first, second, third, and fourth airflow openings, and the first and second vents form a first airflow path; or the first and second airflow openings, the first vent, and a third vent of the cover form a second airflow path; or the first, second, third, and fourth airflow openings, the first, second, and third vents, a fourth vent of the cover form a third airflow path. A heater is located on the first, second or third airflow path.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a monitoring system, a base station, and a control method of drones. The drone includes a battery that supplies electric power for the drone and that connects with a charging connector. The base station includes a charging device, and the charging device includes a power supply connector, a power supply, and a power controller. The power supply connector is used for connecting to the charging connector. The power supply provides electric power. The power controller is coupled to the power supply and the power supply connector. The power controller is used to determine the battery specification of the battery and charge the battery from the power supply according to the battery specification. Thereby, the charging efficiency can be improved and the charging abnormality can be avoided.