A fixed wing drone comprises an air channel embedded therein. The air channel has an upstream an air inlet. A microcontroller mounted within the drone is configured to control navigation of the drone. An air scoop having a section positioned adjacent the inlet to the air channel is adjustable between a first position to capture and divert air into the inlet and thereby to air channel and a second position to block air flow into the air inlet. The air scoop is positioned to divert air flow into the air channel and to the gas sensor during forward flight of the drone. In one embodiment, the fixed wing drone comprises an aircraft having a fuselage and at least two wings. In another embodiment, the fixed wing drone has a flying wing construction, that is, is a tailless design.

The embodiments disclose a method including providing an aerial drone coupled wirelessly to a social distancing application on a user digital device, wherein the drone is coupled to solar cell panels for recharging its batteries, providing a strobe light coupled to the drone for signaling an S.O.S. automatically in emergency situations, cellular communication device coupled to the drone for transmitting and receiving messages from the social distancing application, wherein the drone includes a cellular signal strength sensor to automatically move to a location to boost cellular signal strength, and providing at least one camera for capturing images and videos during user directed reconnaissance, drone sensors to detect and measure aerosols including biologics and DNA in an area, electromagnetic fields, barometric pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, wind speed and direction, detection and identification devices to detect unnatural sounds, to analyze and identify manmade, animal and environmental objects and conditions using computer vision.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may include a communication interface and a pressure sensor configured to measure barometric pressure. The UAV may also include a processor configured to generate a request for elevation data and barometric pressure data and transmit, via the communication interface, the request to the at least one other device. The processor may also be configured to receive, from each of the at least one other device, elevation data and barometric pressure data, and estimate the elevation of the UAV based on the measured barometric pressure, the received elevation data and the received barometric pressure data.

An aerial vehicle system for mapping an object buried in a subterranean surface, the aerial vehicle system including an aerial vehicle, an electronic sensor, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the system to receive a first input data set by the electronic sensor, the first input data set based on an electromagnetic signal and geographic location data, generate a raw image based on the first input data set, and compare the raw image to a calibration data set, the calibration data set based on material calibration data. The material calibration data is based on unique spectral reflection patterns of an object in a controlled environment at predefined heights and subterranean conditions.

It is desirable to provide an aerial vehicle such as a drone for maintenance and management of overhead power lines that is capable of flying for a long period of time without landing by receiving a supply of electric energy from overhead power lines or towers. A magnetic field power generation unit is attached to an aerial vehicle which generates energy using a magnetic field generated by overhead power lines, and the generated energy is used as a power source of the aerial vehicle, by which the aerial vehicle can continue flying for a long period of time. Additionally, by providing a power supply port on a tower supporting overhead power lines, the aerial vehicle can continue flying by charging a battery without landing. Further, by straddling or hanging from overhead power lines during flight, power consumption of the battery can be reduced, and long-term flight can be enabled.

Provided is a posture changing device for changing a posture of an aerosol container mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle, the posture changing device including: a posture selecting unit for selecting a posture of the aerosol container from a plurality of candidate postures; and a posture changing unit for changing a posture of the aerosol container to the posture selected from the plurality of candidate postures. Also provided is a posture changing method for changing a posture of an aerosol container mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle, the posture changing method including: selecting a posture of the aerosol container from a plurality of candidate postures; and changing a posture of the aerosol container to the posture selected from the plurality of candidate postures.

Described herein are mobile sensing units for capturing raw data corresponding to certain characteristics of plants and their growing environment. Also described are computer devices and related methods for collecting user inputs, generating information relating to the plants and/or growing environment based on the raw data and user inputs, and displaying same.

A planting system includes a seed flow controller coupled to a hopper and a spreader. The seed flow controller, hopper, and spreader are transported by an unmanned aerial vehicle to spread the seeds over a geography. The seed flow controller includes several rollers having apposed outer surfaces. The rollers also include fins that extend about respective roller axes such that the fins cross at discrete contact points as the rollers rotate. The interfacing rollers break up clumps of seed material stored in the hopper and controllably convey the seed material from the hopper to the spreader. The spreader has a spinning spreader plate that flings the seed material laterally outward to spread the seed material over the ground.

Embodiments of the present invention is an inertial measurement module, including a mount, a circuit board, a thermally conductive member and a cover plate mounted to the mount. The circuit board is mounted to an end surface of the mount, and is configured to mount an inertial measurement assembly and the thermally conductive member. The inertial measurement assembly includes a thermal resistor and an inertial measurement unit. The thermally conductive member is configured to abut against the thermal resistor and the inertial measurement unit. A surface of the cover plate is provided with a first groove. A receiving space is formed by the first groove and the surface of the mount. The circuit board and the thermally conductive member are both received in the receiving space. The thermally conductive member is arranged at a preset distance from a bottom of the first groove.

The present invention relates to the autonomous application of crop protection products by means of a drone. The present invention relates to a process and to an unmanned aerial vehicle for applying crop protection product taking into consideration drift phenomena. The present invention furthermore relates to a computer program product which can be employed for controlling the process according to the invention.