Abstract: A vertiport exchange station has a plurality of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air taxis, a plurality of landing/takeoff pads arranged in a rectangular pattern, a passenger terminal for arrival and departure of passengers, a plurality of electric motor driven chassis each adapted to carry a pod adapted to carry one or more passengers, a transfer path guiding the chassis in a closed loop, and a control system. One or more incoming passengers enter a pod at the passenger terminal, an air taxi is guided to a specific pad, the chassis carrying the pod is transported to a point near the specific pad, is guided to stop on the specific pad, the air taxi is guided to connect to the pod, the pod is detached from the chassis, and the air taxi is guided to ascend and to proceed to a programmed destination.

Abstract: A control system and apparatus for managing charging of electric vehicles in a transportation infrastructure and controlling at least the flight paths for drone-assisted vehicles requiring periodic charge comprises a transportation system control node connected in a first wide area network (WAN), a plurality of vehicle charging facilities distributed within the geographic region covered by the first wide area network and a charge controller connected to each of the plurality of charging facilities for brokering electric power from a power source to at least one structurally supported charge transfer apparatus maintained at each of the charging facilities.

Abstract: A transportation system has transport vehicles with electric motors, pods, being enclosed compartments that accommodate cargo, podports, being exchange stations, charging stations, and a computerized transport control system. An authorized person communicates a request to the computerized transport control system to transport a specific cargo from a first location in the geographic area to a second location in the geographic area, the computerized transport control system defines a journey from the first location to the second location, along a route comprising sequential hops through a series of podports and charging stations. The computerized transport control system manages movement of transport vehicles, exchanges at podports, and charging at charging stations along the defined route, and terminates the journey at the second location where the cargo disembarks.

Abstract: A passenger transport system has a pod adapted to carry passengers or articles and a first attachment interface, a plurality of transport vehicles, each adapted to couple to the passenger pod, a first entry station adapted to load a passenger or articles into the pod, a plurality of exchange points, and a final destination station adapted to unload the passenger or articles from the pod carried by the transport vehicle. The pod with a passenger or articles is loaded at the first entry station travels on transport vehicles between individual ones of the exchange stations, until arriving at the final destination station where the passenger or the articles are unloaded, the passenger or articles remaining in the pod through all exchanges between transport vehicles.

Abstract: A passenger transport system has a pod adapted to carry passengers or articles and a first attachment interface, a plurality of transport vehicles, each adapted to couple to the passenger pod, a first entry station adapted to load a passenger or articles into the pod, a plurality of exchange points, and a final destination station adapted to unload the passenger or articles from the pod carried by the transport vehicle. The pod with a passenger or articles is loaded at the first entry station travels on transport vehicles between individual ones of the exchange stations, until arriving at the final destination station where the passenger or the articles are unloaded, the passenger or articles remaining in the pod through all exchanges between transport vehicles.

Abstract: A method for transporting a person or a parcel from a first location to a second location involves mounting a pod having a rechargeable battery and a compartment to a first vehicle, moving the first vehicle with the pod mounted to a loading position at or near the first location, loading a person or a parcel into the pod, moving the first transporter vehicle from the loading position to a first exchange point, exchanging the passenger pod from the first transporter vehicle to a second transporter vehicle at the first exchange point by de-mounting the pod from the first transporter vehicle and mounting the pod to the second transporter vehicle by a compatible physical interface between the pod and the second transporter vehicle, and transporting the second transporter vehicle with the pod to the second location.

Abstract: A control system and apparatus for managing charging of electric vehicles in a transportation infrastructure and controlling at least the flight paths for drone-assisted vehicles requiring periodic charge comprises a transportation system control node connected in a first wide area network (WAN), a plurality of vehicle charging facilities distributed within the geographic region covered by the first wide area network and a charge controller connected to each of the plurality of charging facilities for brokering electric power from a power source to at least one structurally supported charge transfer apparatus maintained at each of the charging facilities.

Abstract: A method for transporting a person or a parcel from a first location to a second location involves mounting a pod having a rechargeable battery and a compartment to a first vehicle, moving the first vehicle with the pod mounted to a loading position at or near the first location, loading a person or a parcel into the pod, moving the first transporter vehicle from the loading position to a first exchange point, exchanging the passenger pod from the first transporter vehicle to a second transporter vehicle at the first exchange point by de-mounting the pod from the first transporter vehicle and mounting the pod to the second transporter vehicle by a compatible physical interface between the pod and the second transporter vehicle, and transporting the second transporter vehicle with the pod to the second location.

Abstract: An exchange station has openings for drones, a passenger check-in/check-out bay for processing passengers, a drone connect/release bay, having apparatus adapted to manage passenger pods mounted on smart chassis, and a computerized control system in wireless communication with control circuitry in the drones and smart chassis, guiding smart chassis with mounted passenger pods and drones, to make the exchange of pods from the smart chassis to drones. A passenger entering the passenger check-in bay is loaded into a pod mounted on a smart chassis, the pod with passenger is transported to the drone-connect/release bay, and the pod is there joined to a bare drone and disconnected from the smart chassis, the drone leaving with the passenger pod to a destination, and the smart chassis traveling away from the drone connect-release bay.

Abstract: A transport system has a first set of substantially parallel rails supported above ground level by support structures, a trolley having wheels mounted to a frame with the wheels engaging the rails, at least one wheel powered to move the trolley along the set of rails, a portion of the frame depending between the rails to a level below the rails, and a downward-facing latching interface on the depending portion of the frame, and a pod enabled to carry a passenger or parcels, or both, engaged by an upward-facing latching interface to the downward-facing latching interface of the trolley, such that, as the trolley travels along the rail set, the pod is carried along below the rail set.

Abstract: A drone transport system has a carrier pod adapted for carrying a passenger or parcels with the passenger or parcels enclosed, the carrier pod having a first attachment interface at an uppermost extremity, the attachment interface having one or first physical attachment elements, and a flight-enabled drone having a downward-facing second attachment interface having one or more second physical attachment elements compatible with the first physical attachment elements of the carrier pod. The flight-enabled drone is controllable to approach the carrier pod from above, to align and engage the second physical attachment elements with the first physical attachment elements, to lift and carry the pod from one place to another, and to land and disengage the first and second physical attachment elements, leaving the carrier pod at a new place.

Abstract: A transport system has a wheeled, steerable, self-powered, self-navigating carrier vehicle, having a substantially planar support frame, an on-board, rechargeable, battery-based power system, control circuitry, including GPS circuitry, on-board the carrier vehicle, adapted to drive and steer the carrier vehicle, and an upward-facing carrier interface adapted to the support frame, the carrier interface having first physical engagement elements, and a passenger pod adapted to carry both packages and persons, the passenger pod having a structural framework, a rechargeable, battery-based power system, and a downward-facing pod interface adapted to the structural framework, the carrier interface having second physical engagement elements. The passenger pod, placed upon the carrier vehicle, engages the downward-facing pod interface to the upward-facing carrier interface by the first and second physical engagement elements.

Abstract: An exchange station has openings for drones, a passenger check-in/check-out bay for processing passengers, a drone connect/release bay, having apparatus adapted to manage passenger pods mounted on smart chassis, and a computerized control system in wireless communication with control circuitry in the drones and smart chassis, guiding smart chassis with mounted passenger pods and drones, to make the exchange of pods from the smart chassis to drones. A passenger entering the passenger check-in bay is loaded into a pod mounted on a smart chassis, the pod with passenger is transported to the drone-connect/release bay, and the pod is there joined to a bare drone and disconnected from the smart chassis, the drone leaving with the passenger pod to a destination, and the smart chassis traveling away from the drone connect-release bay.

Abstract: A charging system for a drone carrying a passenger pod has a base structure connected to a power grid, a row of substantially planar wireless charging pads supported by the base structure, and a computerized controller enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power. As a drone carrying a passenger pod approaches the charging-system, the computerized controller directs the moving drone into a path bringing a charging receiver pad of the passenger pod carried by the drone, and connected to a battery of the passenger pod, into proximity with the row of substantially planar charging pads, and directs the drone to move the carried passenger pod along the row of charging pods, managing speed and direction of the moving drome along the path, as charging of the battery of the passenger pod is accomplished.

Abstract: A transport system has a first set of substantially parallel rails supported above ground level by support structures, a trolley having wheels mounted to a frame with the wheels engaging the rails, at least one wheel powered to move the trolley along the set of rails, a portion of the frame depending between the rails to a level below the rails, and a downward-facing latching interface on the depending portion of the frame, and a pod enabled to carry a passenger or parcels, or both, engaged by an upward-facing latching interface to the downward-facing latching interface of the trolley, such that, as the trolley travels along the rail set, the pod is carried along below the rail set.

Abstract: A transport system has a wheeled, steerable, self-powered, self-navigating carrier vehicle, having a substantially planar support frame, an on-board, rechargeable, battery-based power system, control circuitry, including GPS circuitry, on-board the carrier vehicle, adapted to drive and steer the carrier vehicle, and an upward-facing carrier interface adapted to the support frame, the carrier interface having first physical engagement elements, and a passenger pod adapted to carry both packages and persons, the passenger pod having a structural framework, a rechargeable, battery-based power system, and a downward-facing pod interface adapted to the structural framework, the carrier interface having second physical engagement elements. The passenger pod, placed upon the carrier vehicle, engages the downward-facing pod interface to the upward-facing carrier interface by the first and second physical engagement elements.

Abstract: A charging system for a drone carrying a passenger pod has a base structure connected to a power grid, a row of substantially planar wireless charging pads supported by the base structure, and a computerized controller enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power. As a drone carrying a passenger pod approaches the charging-system, the computerized controller directs the moving drone into a path bringing a charging receiver pad of the passenger pod carried by the drone, and connected to a battery of the passenger pod, into proximity with the row of substantially planar charging pads, and directs the drone to move the carried passenger pod along the row of charging pods, managing speed and direction of the moving drome along the path, as charging of the battery of the passenger pod is accomplished.

Abstract: A drone transport system has a carrier pod adapted for carrying a passenger or parcels with the passenger or parcels enclosed, the carrier pod having a first attachment interface at an uppermost extremity, the attachment interface having one or first physical attachment elements, and a flight-enabled drone having a downward-facing second attachment interface having one or more second physical attachment elements compatible with the first physical attachment elements of the carrier pod. The flight-enabled drone is controllable to approach the carrier pod from above, to align and engage the second physical attachment elements with the first physical attachment elements, to lift and carry the pod from one place to another, and to land and disengage the first and second physical attachment elements, leaving the carrier pod at a new place.

Abstract: A charging system for drones has a base structure connected to a power grid, a connector extendable from the base structure and ending in a charging interface compatible with a charging port of a drone, and a computerized controller at the base structure enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power. As a drone approaches the charging-system, the controller directs the drone into position for charging, manages connection of the charging interface to the charging port of the drone, initiates charging power, monitors progress of charging, and upon completion of charging, disconnects the charging interface from the charging port of the drone.

Abstract: A charging system for drones has a base structure connected to a power grid, a connector extendable from the base structure and ending in a charging interface compatible with a charging port of a drone, and a computerized controller at the base structure enabled to communicate with a drone and to initiate, control and stop charging power. As a drone approaches the charging-system, the controller directs the drone into position for charging, manages connection of the charging interface to the charging port of the drone, initiates charging power, monitors progress of charging, and upon completion of charging, disconnects the charging interface from the charging port of the drone.