Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically adjusting aircraft performance parameters for use on an airdrop. The method comprises establishing and transmitting initial dimensions for a drop zone from a ground element to a flight management system (FMS) of an in-flight cargo aircraft via a secure data link. The ground element continually monitors ground-based parameters affecting the dimensions of the drop zone and transmits changes to the parameters to the FMS via the secure data link. The FMS adjusts a computed air release point (CARP) for the airdrop and continually updates flight performance parameters for the in-flight cargo aircraft based on the changes to the ground-based parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for aiding airdrop computations is described. The system includes a ground system, a data link, and an airborne system. The ground system accumulates substantially real time drop zone GPS and meteorological data, which is transferred to the airborne system via the data link. The airborne system makes adjustments to a release point of the airdrop based on the data received from the ground system. Additionally, the airborne system provides airdrop status to the ground system via the data link.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a housing, a rotor that is rotated to propel the housing, a pressure sensor that generates a signal indicative of an air pressure proximate a bottom surface of the housing, and a processor configured to determine, based on the signal, when an increase in air pressure proximate the bottom surface is greater than or equal to a threshold value associated with the ground effect of the rotor, wherein the processor controls the rotor to cease rotating or decrease rotational speed to land the unmanned aerial vehicle upon determining that the increase in pressure is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a housing, a rotor that is rotated to propel the housing, a pressure sensor that generates a signal indicative of an air pressure proximate a bottom surface of the housing, and a processor configured to determine, based on the signal, when an increase in air pressure proximate the bottom surface is greater than or equal to a threshold value associated with the ground effect of the rotor, wherein the processor controls the rotor to cease rotating or decrease rotational speed to land the unmanned aerial vehicle upon determining that the increase in pressure is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

Abstract: A smart servo controller that is operable to control a redundant configuration of servo motors corresponding to mechanical control surfaces of an aerial vehicle is described. The controller (i) outputs the necessary electrical signals that control the servo motors corresponding to each control surface, (ii) monitors those signals, (iii) monitors the positions of the servo motor shafts, and (iv) provides notification to a flight control computer upon detecting a servo malfunction.

Abstract: A system and method for aiding airdrop computations is described. The system includes a ground system, a data link, and an airborne system. The ground system accumulates substantially real time drop zone GPS and meteorological data, which is transferred to the airborne system via the data link. The airborne system makes adjustments to a release point of the airdrop based on the data received from the ground system. Additionally, the airborne system provides airdrop status to the ground system via the data link.