Abstract: A vehicle ground collision prevention method involves acquiring a geometric profile of a road feature, the geometric profile defining a shape of the upper surface of the road feature, acquiring wheel diameters and inter-axle distances for a vehicle, generating an interference boundary based on the road feature geometric profile, wheel diameters and inter-axle distances, where the interference boundary is an upper envelope bounding the trajectories of all points on the road feature geometric profile as observed in a vehicle-fixed reference frame as the vehicle passes over the road feature, acquiring an underbody profile of the vehicle, the underbody profile defining the shape of the lower surface of the vehicle, calculating a ground clearance curve for the vehicle-road feature pair by comparing the underbody profile with the interference curve, determining a minimum ground clearance over the ground clearance curve, and providing information regarding the minimum ground clearance to the vehicle's driver.

Abstract: A stabilized UAV recovery system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment for UAV recovery over water, the system includes ship-based elements and UAV-based elements. The ship-based elements include a robot arm that holds a capture mechanism over the side of the ship while compensating for wave-induced ship motion. The UAV-based elements include a hook mounted to the top of the UAV fuselage. With the capture mechanism held stable from the perspective of a UAV approaching from behind or in front of the mechanism, the UAV is flown under it, snagging an arresting line with the hook. With continued forward motion of the UAV, the arresting line pulls out of a winch drum that is coupled to a brake, bringing the UAV to rest.

Abstract: A stabilized UAV recovery system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment for UAV recovery over water, the system includes ship-based elements and UAV-based elements. The ship-based elements include a robot arm that holds a capture mechanism over the side of the ship while compensating for wave-induced ship motion. The UAV-based elements include a hook mounted to the top of the UAV fuselage. With the capture mechanism held stable from the perspective of a UAV approaching from behind or in front of the mechanism, the UAV is flown under it, snagging an arresting line with the hook. With continued forward motion of the UAV, the arresting line pulls out of a winch drum that is coupled to a brake, bringing the UAV to rest.