Abstract: Described herein are drone designs, and methods for making same, wherein drones are constructed from interlocking modular nacelles of different types allowing nacelles to be added as needed to increase payload capacity, flight time, and mission capability as the application requires. The modular nacelles can be attached together into an aggregate structure, called a collective, as desired to yield an infinitely expandable and extensible drone. Since each nacelle includes its own battery, nacelles can be added as needed to achieve whatever capability is needed for the application at hand without having to customize the design of the drone.

Abstract: An apparatus for an autonomous vehicle may include a plurality of sensors and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive a trip plan via including a pick-up location, a drop-off location, an identity of the passenger, and control parameters, execute the trip plan according to the pick-up location, the drop-off location, the identity of the passenger, and the control parameters, receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors, and analyze the sensor data in relation to a criteria profile to determine whether compliance boundaries of the criteria profile have been violated. The criteria profile may be generated based on the trip plan and may indicate compliance boundaries for the trip plan. The processing circuitry may be further configured to send an alert in response to determining that the sensor data indicates that a violation of a compliance boundary of the criteria profile has occurred.

Abstract: Presently disclosed subject matter integrates a method of using thousands of semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles, herein called drones, to deliver vastly superior amounts of fire retardant over substantially larger and variably-shaped drop patterns. Each drone is able to swap its own batteries with freshly charged batteries and each drone is able to refill its container with water or fire retardant. Once launched, a swarm of drones can perform repeated trips from the water/retardant source to the fire without human involvement other than the high-level tasking of where to drop the retardant. Once a general drop destination and drop pattern shape is designated, the swarm can transport retardant to that location, form itself into the desired drop shape, and deploy retardant. The drone body is designed to be modular so different components can be attached with ease and no special training or knowledge required.

Abstract: Described herein is an improved bottle and lid design that eliminates the need for lids on bottles that require unscrewing, snapping, or other exertion to remove and/or replace the lid.

Abstract: An apparatus for an autonomous vehicle may include a plurality of sensors and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive a trip plan via including a pick-up location, a drop-off location, an identity of the passenger, and control parameters, execute the trip plan according to the pick-up location, the drop-off location, the identity of the passenger, and the control parameters, receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors, and analyze the sensor data in relation to a criteria profile to determine whether compliance boundaries of the criteria profile have been violated. The criteria profile may be generated based on the trip plan and may indicate compliance boundaries for the trip plan. The processing circuitry may be further configured to send an alert in response to determining that the sensor data indicates that a violation of a compliance boundary of the criteria profile has occurred.

Abstract: Presently disclosed subject matter integrates a method of using thousands of semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles, herein called drones, to deliver vastly superior amounts of fire retardant over substantially larger and variably-shaped drop patterns. Each drone is able to swap its own batteries with freshly charged batteries and each drone is able to refill its container with water or fire retardant. Once launched, a swarm of drones can perform repeated trips from the water/retardant source to the fire without human involvement other than the high-level tasking of where to drop the retardant. Once a general drop destination and drop pattern shape is designated, the swarm can transport retardant to that location, form itself into the desired drop shape, and deploy retardant. The drone body is designed to be modular so different components can be attached with ease and no special training or knowledge required.