Abstract: A method for automated assignment of a staging pad to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes: launching the UAV from a launch location; tracking a drift of the UAV from the launch location; determining a subsequent position of the UAV after the launching based upon geofiducial navigation; calculating an estimated position of the launch location by offsetting the subsequent position by the drift; attempting to match the estimated position to an available staging pad of a plurality of staging pads; and assigning the UAV to the available staging pad when the estimated position successfully matches to the available staging pad.

Abstract: A method includes determining an operational condition associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method includes, responsive to determining the operational condition, causing the UAV to perform a pre-flight check. The pre-flight check includes hovering the UAV above a takeoff location. The pre-flight check includes, while hovering the UAV, moving one or more controllable components of the UAV in accordance with a predetermined sequence of movements. The pre-flight check includes obtaining, by one or more sensors of the UAV, sensor data indicative of a flight response of the UAV to moving the one or more controllable components while hovering the UAV. The pre-flight check includes comparing the sensor data to expected sensor data associated with an expected flight response to the predetermined sequence of movements while hovering the UAV. The pre-flight check includes, based on comparing the sensor data to the expected sensor data, evaluating performance of the UAV.

Abstract: Systems and methods for validating a position of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are provided. A method can include receiving map data for a location, the map data including labeled data for a plurality of landmarks in a vicinity of the location. The method can include generating image data for the location, the image data being derived from images of the vicinity generated by the UAV including at least a subset of the plurality of landmarks. The method can include determining a visual position of the UAV using the image data and the map data. The method can include determining a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position of the UAV. The method can include generating an error signal using the visual position and the GNSS position. The method can also include validating the GNSS position in accordance with the error signal satisfying a transition condition.

Abstract: A delivery method using curbside payload pickup by a UAV is provided. The method includes providing instructions to cause physical loading of a payload onto an autoloader device for subsequent UAV transport of the payload. A communication signal is received indicating that the autoloader device has been physically loaded with the payload. A UAV from a group of one or more UAVs is selected to pick up the payload from the autoloader device. Instructions are provided to cause the selected UAV to navigate to the autoloader device to pick up the payload and transport the payload to a delivery location.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a position of an autoloader device for the UAV; based on the determined position of the autoloader device, causing the UAV to follow a descent trajectory in which the UAV moves from a starting position to a first nudged position in order to deploy a tethered pickup component of the UAV to a payout position on an approach side of the autoloader device; deploying the tethered pickup component of the UAV to the payout position; causing the UAV to follow a side-step trajectory in which the UAV moves laterally to a second nudged position in order to cause the tethered pickup component of the UAV to engage the autoloader device; and retracting the tethered pickup component of the UAV to pick up a payload from the autoloader device.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a position of an autoloader device for the UAV; based on the determined position of the autoloader device, causing the UAV to follow a descent trajectory in which the UAV moves from a starting position to a first nudged position in order to deploy a tethered pickup component of the UAV to a payout position on an approach side of the autoloader device; deploying the tethered pickup component of the UAV to the payout position; causing the UAV to follow a side-step trajectory in which the UAV moves laterally to a second nudged position in order to cause the tethered pickup component of the UAV to engage the autoloader device; and retracting the tethered pickup component of the UAV to pick up a payload from the autoloader device.

Abstract: A method includes capturing, by a sensor on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an image of a delivery location. The method also includes determining, based on the image of the delivery location, a segmentation image. The segmentation image segments the delivery location into a plurality of pixel areas with corresponding semantic classifications. The method additionally includes determining, based on the segmentation image, a percentage of obstacle pixels within a surrounding area of a delivery point at the delivery location, wherein each obstacle pixel has a semantic classification indicative of an obstacle in the delivery location. The method further includes based on the percentage of obstacle pixels being above a threshold percentage, aborting a delivery process of the UAV.

Abstract: A method includes navigating, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to a first altitude above a first delivery point at a delivery location. The method further includes determining, by the UAV, a second delivery point at the delivery location. The method includes navigating, by the UAV, through a descending trajectory to move the UAV from the first altitude above the first delivery point to a second altitude above the second delivery point at the delivery location. The second altitude is lower than the first altitude. The method additionally includes delivering, by the UAV, a payload to the second delivery point at the delivery location. The method includes after delivering the payload, navigating, by the UAV, through an ascending trajectory to move the UAV from a third altitude above the second delivery point to a fourth altitude above the first delivery point. The fourth altitude is higher than the third altitude.

Abstract: A method includes capturing, by a sensor on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an image of a delivery location. The method further includes determining, based on the image of the delivery location, a segmentation image. The segmentation image segments the delivery location into a plurality of pixel areas with corresponding semantic classifications. The method also includes determining, based on the segmentation image, a distance-to-obstacle image of a delivery zone at the delivery location. The distance-to-obstacle image comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel representing a distance in the segmentation image from a nearest pixel area with a semantic classification indicative of an obstacle in the delivery location. Additionally, the method includes selecting, based on the distance-to-obstacle image, a delivery point in the delivery zone. The method also includes positioning the UAV above the delivery point in the delivery zone for delivery of a payload.

Abstract: A method for automated assignment of a staging pad to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes: launching the UAV from a launch location; tracking a drift of the UAV from the launch location; determining a subsequent position of the UAV after the launching based upon geofiducial navigation; calculating an estimated position of the launch location by offsetting the subsequent position by the drift; attempting to match the estimated position to an available staging pad of a plurality of staging pads; and assigning the UAV to the available staging pad when the estimated position successfully matches to the available staging pad.

Abstract: A technique for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes monitoring a sensed airspeed of the UAV, obtaining a commanded speed for the UAV, wherein the commanded speed representing a command to fly the UAV at a given speed relative to an airmass or to Earth, and when the commanded speed is greater than the sensed airspeed, using the commanded speed in lieu of the sensed airspeed to inform flight control decisions of the UAV.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes causing an operational member of a system to move. The method includes driving a power or control signal through a conductive coupling member. The conductive coupling member is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal in a power circuit, and the coupling member secures the operational member to a structural member of the system. The method includes detecting an electrical disconnect between the first terminal and a second terminal. The method includes determining a mechanical break associated with the coupling member based on the electrical disconnect between the first terminal and the second terminal. The method includes causing the operational member of the system to stop moving based on determining the mechanical break associated with the coupling member.

Abstract: A method includes determining an operational condition associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method includes, responsive to determining the operational condition, causing the UAV to perform a pre-flight check. The pre-flight check includes hovering the UAV above a takeoff location. The pre-flight check includes, while hovering the UAV, moving one or more controllable components of the UAV in accordance with a predetermined sequence of movements. The pre-flight check includes obtaining, by one or more sensors of the UAV, sensor data indicative of a flight response of the UAV to moving the one or more controllable components while hovering the UAV. The pre-flight check includes comparing the sensor data to expected sensor data associated with an expected flight response to the predetermined sequence of movements while hovering the UAV. The pre-flight check includes, based on comparing the sensor data to the expected sensor data, evaluating performance of the UAV.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides variant major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) beta chains, as well as heterodimers and multimers including MHCII alpha chains and the variant MHCII beta chains. Also provided by the present disclosure are nucleic acids, expression cassettes, and expression vectors encoding the MHCII beta chains. The heterodimers and multimers of the present disclosure have a higher affinity for CD4 co-receptors than comparable reagents including wild type MHCII beta chains, and therefore are advantageous for use in methods of phenotyping or activating CD4+ T cells.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes an airframe; vertical propulsion units, and a controller. The vertical propulsion units are mounted to the airframe and include propellers oriented to provide vertical propulsion to the aerial vehicle. The vertical propulsion units are physically organized in quadrants on the airframe with each of the quadrants including two or more of the vertical propulsion units. The controller is coupled to the vertical propulsion units to control operation of the vertical propulsion units. At least two of the vertical propulsion units in each of the quadrants are adapted to counter-rotate from each other during flight of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes causing an operational member of a system to move. The method includes driving a power or control signal through a conductive coupling member. The conductive coupling member is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal in a power circuit, and the coupling member secures the operational member to a structural member of the system. The method includes detecting an electrical disconnect between the first terminal and a second terminal. The method includes determining a mechanical break associated with the coupling member based on the electrical disconnect between the first terminal and the second terminal. The method includes causing the operational member of the system to stop moving based on determining the mechanical break associated with the coupling member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that can help an aerial transport service provider (ATSP) determine how to distribute and redistribute unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) amongst a plurality of UAV deployment stations located throughout a geographic area. In accordance with example embodiments, the ATSP system can take one or more performance metrics for item providers into account when determining how much UAV transport capacity to allocate to different item providers for a given time period. The ATSP can then determine how to distribute UAVs amongst different UAV nests in advance of and/or during the given time period, such that each item provider's allocated UAV transport capacity is available from the UAV nest or nest(s) that serve each item provider during the given time period.

Abstract: A technique for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes monitoring a sensed airspeed of the UAV, obtaining a commanded speed for the UAV, wherein the commanded speed representing a command to fly the UAV at a given speed relative to an airmass or to Earth, and when the commanded speed is greater than the sensed airspeed, using the commanded speed in lieu of the sensed airspeed to inform flight control decisions of the UAV.

Abstract: A technique for controlling vertical propulsion units of an aerial vehicle includes determining whether an initial thrust command output vector results in a thrust command clipping of one of the vertical propulsion units. The vertical propulsion units are physically organized into propulsion rings including an inner ring and an outer ring. Torque associated with the initial thrust command output vector is transferred from each the vertical propulsion units in the outer ring to the vertical propulsion units in the inner ring when the thrust command clipping of one of the vertical propulsion units in the outer ring occurs. A revised thrust command output vector is determined after transferring the torque. The vertical propulsion units are driven according to the revised thrust command output vector.

Abstract: A technique for controlling vertical propulsion units of an aerial vehicle includes determining whether an initial thrust command output vector results in a thrust command clipping of one of the vertical propulsion units. The vertical propulsion units are physically organized into propulsion rings including an inner ring and an outer ring. Torque associated with the initial thrust command output vector is transferred from each the vertical propulsion units in the outer ring to the vertical propulsion units in the inner ring when the thrust command clipping of one of the vertical propulsion units in the outer ring occurs. A revised thrust command output vector is determined after transferring the torque. The vertical propulsion units are driven according to the revised thrust command output vector.