Abstract: The invention proposes a new device and method that allows scanning and downloading the content of a portable storage device (i.e., USB drive) from any computer with a portable storage device plug and a browser without the risk of having the computer infected by virus or malware resident in the portable storage device. The device can be manufactured in a small and portable device.

Abstract: Determining a descent trajectory described by an Aircraft Intent Description Language (AIDL) is disclosed. An example method includes accessing historical flight data for a recorded flight trajectory, the recorded flight trajectory having been performed by a first aircraft type of multiple aircraft types and for a first airline of multiple airlines; estimating, using a processor, an aircraft intent parameter and an initial condition of the recorded flight trajectory based on an aircraft intent description language (AIDL) representation of the recorded flight trajectory; and mapping, using the processor, the aircraft intent parameter and the initial condition to a combination of the first aircraft type, the first airline, and an identified intended descent procedure.

Abstract: A method for modeling aircraft performance including (a) introducing aircraft degradation coefficients in a nominal aircraft performance model of an aircraft and obtaining a degraded aircraft performance model, (b) calculating computed trajectory data in a trajectory computation infrastructure using as inputs aircraft intent which represents trajectory data, weather data, and the degraded aircraft performance model; (c) comparing the trajectory data with the computed trajectory data; (d) obtaining an enhanced aircraft performance model by considering the degraded aircraft performance model as the enhanced aircraft performance model, when the result of the comparison is less than a previously established threshold; and (e) modifying, when the result of the comparison is higher than the previously established threshold, the aircraft degradation coefficients and executing steps (a) to (e) of the method, until the result of the comparison is less than the previously established threshold.

Abstract: A method of extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The method comprises detecting that an energy storage device on board the UAV is depleted below a threshold level, landing the UAV at a base station, and initiating operation of the base station to cause a replacement mechanism thereof to remove the energy storage device on board the UAV from the UAV and to replace this with another energy storage device.

Abstract: A mobile UAV infrastructure and management system for control and management of one or more unmanned aerial vehicles including at least one landing platform to facilitate operational readiness of the unmanned aerial vehicle, radio beacons for localization of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a command and control station in communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and an unmanned ground vehicle for deploying the landing platform, the radio beacons and the command and control station.

Abstract: An autonomous battery replacement station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The UAV includes a replaceable battery. The station includes (a) a landing platform configured to receive the UAV, (b) a storage location configured to store a replacement battery for the UAV, and (c) a means for swapping the replaceable battery on the UAV with a replacement battery from the storage location.

Abstract: The invention proposes a new device and method that allows scanning and downloading the content of a portable storage device (i.e., USB drive) from any computer with a portable storage device plug and a browser without the risk of having the computer infected by virus or malware resident in the portable storage device. The device can be manufactured in a small and portable device.

Abstract: A mobile UAV infrastructure and management system for control and management of one or more unmanned aerial vehicles including at least one landing platform to facilitate operational readiness of the unmanned aerial vehicle, radio beacons for localization of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a command and control station in communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and an unmanned ground vehicle for deploying the landing platform, the radio beacons and the command and control station.

Abstract: Determining a descent trajectory described by an Aircraft Intent Description Language (AIDL) is disclosed. An example method includes accessing historical flight data for a recorded flight trajectory, the recorded flight trajectory having been performed by a first aircraft type of multiple aircraft types and for a first airline of multiple airlines; estimating, using a processor, an aircraft intent parameter and an initial condition of the recorded flight trajectory based on an aircraft intent description language (AIDL) representation of the recorded flight trajectory; and mapping, using the processor, the aircraft intent parameter and the initial condition to a combination of the first aircraft type, the first airline, and an identified intended descent procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-implemented method of generating an aircraft intent description expressed in a formal language that provides an unambiguous four-dimensional description of an aircraft's intended motion and configuration during a period of flight. A flight intent description is parsed to provide instances of flight intent that span a flight segment, the flight segments together spanning the period of flight. The parsed flight intent is enriched with objectives and constraints according to user preferences, operational context and aircraft performance. The resulting enriched flight intent is converted into a parametric aircraft intent description by ensuring that each flight segment closes all associated degrees of freedom of motion and of configuration of the aircraft. At least some instances of aircraft intent contain a parameter range, and the method further comprises optimizing the parametric aircraft intent by determining an optimal value for the parameter of each parameter range.

Abstract: A method for modeling aircraft performance including (a) introducing aircraft degradation coefficients in a nominal aircraft performance model of an aircraft and obtaining a degraded aircraft performance model, (b) calculating computed trajectory data in a trajectory computation infrastructure using as inputs aircraft intent which represents trajectory data, weather data, and the degraded aircraft performance model; (c) comparing the trajectory data with the computed trajectory data; (d) obtaining an enhanced aircraft performance model by considering the degraded aircraft performance model as the enhanced aircraft performance model, when the result of the comparison is less than a previously established threshold; and (e) modifying, when the result of the comparison is higher than the previously established threshold, the aircraft degradation coefficients and executing steps (a) to (e) of the method, until the result of the comparison is less than the previously established threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-implemented method of generating an aircraft intent description expressed in a formal language that provides an unambiguous four-dimensional description of an aircraft's intended motion and configuration during a period of flight. A flight intent description is parsed to provide instances of flight intent that span a flight segment, the flight segments together spanning the period of flight. The parsed flight intent is enriched with objectives and constraints according to user preferences, operational context and aircraft performance. The resulting enriched flight intent is converted into a parametric aircraft intent description by ensuring that each flight segment closes all associated degrees of freedom of motion and of configuration of the aircraft. At least some instances of aircraft intent contain a parameter range, and the method further comprises optimising the parametric aircraft intent by determining an optimal value for the parameter of each parameter range.

Abstract: An autonomous battery replacement station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The UAV includes a replaceable battery. The station includes (a) a landing platform configured to receive the UAV, (b) a storage location configured to store a replacement battery for the UAV, and (c) a means for swapping the replaceable battery on the UAV with a replacement battery from the storage location.