Systems and methods are described for using data collected by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to generate insurance claim estimates that an insured individual may quickly review, approve, or modify. When an insurance-related event occurs, such as a vehicle collision, crash, or disaster, one or more UAVs are dispatched to the scene of the event to collect various data, including data related to vehicle or real property (insured asset) damage. With the insured's permission or consent, the data collected by the UAVs may then be analyzed to generate an estimated insurance claim for the insured. The estimated insurance claim may be sent to the insured individual, such as to their mobile device via wireless communication or data transmission, for subsequent review and approval. As a result, insurance claim handling and/or the online customer experience may be enhanced.

The present invention provides an apparatus for self-aligning pruning of trees. The apparatus includes a frame and a cutting tool that is attached to the frame. A power supply is connected to the cutting tool and there is a means for controlling the power supply. A support apparatus such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is attached to the frame. The support apparatus can be controlled remotely such that it can position the frame horizontally and vertically. The frame includes at least one guide leg that is angled down and away from the cutting tool and the frame is connected to the support apparatus such that the frame can rotate relative to the support structure in the horizontal plane.

A facility for testing location determination for emergency calls is described. Software on a mobile device collects a GPS location from the mobile device, and places an emergency call that encloses information usable by the emergency call processing system to calculate mobile device location. After the system performs this calculation, the call is detected to be a testing call and routed to a computer rather than an emergency dispatcher. The computer sends an SMS or other non-telephony message to the mobile device containing the calculated location. The mobile device stores the collected GPS location and the calculated location received in the non-telephony message together for comparison.

A multi-modular aerial firefighting control method and apparatus for use by firefighters to control fire. The multi-modular aerial firefighting control method and apparatus generally includes multi-modular units that are held together to form an aerial firefighting system. The modular units may work together or independently. The multi-modular system comprises more than one modular unit, fluid, fluid conduit, reservoir, air flow generator, multi-modular unit support structure, aerial suspension system and aerial lift system.

We describe an aircraft design, which is capable of vertical takeoff and landing and also high-speed cruise on a fixed wing. The aircraft comprises a fuselage with a probe-deployment mechanism, which deploys a sample-gathering probe, located at a front end of the fuselage. A main wing is coupled to a middle section of the fuselage, wherein a right motor and right propeller are coupled to a right side of the main wing, and a left motor and left propeller are coupled to a left side of the main wing. The right and left propellers are angled with respect to the fuselage enabling the aircraft to pitch up to a vertical-takeoff mode and pitch down a horizontal-cruising mode. A pitch motor and pitch propeller are located at the rear end of the fuselage, wherein the pitch propeller is angled to provide substantially vertical thrust to control a pitch of the fuselage.

An inspection device control device for an inspection device of a wind turbine having a device interface arranged for communication with a wind turbine control of the wind turbine, and a device interface arranged for communication with the inspection device. Automated resource planning is possible if a processor produces control information for the inspection device depending on turbine parameters of the wind turbine received via the device interface and outputs the control information via the device interface. Further improved resource planning and control is made possible if a processor generates control information for the wind turbine and outputs the control information via the turbine interface, depending on the device parameters of the inspection device received via the device interface.

A method for determining a flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes: acquiring an initial flight path configured by a management platform; determining, based on the initial flight path, a first group of accessible base stations of the UAV on the initial flight path capable to be accessed when the UAV flies based on the initial flight path; if the first group cannot provide continuous cellular network services for the UAV, acquiring a second group of accessible base stations capable of providing continuous cellular network services for the UAV; and determining the flight path corresponding to the second group as a target flight path. As such, the initial flight path of the UAV can be reasonably adjusted upon that the core network device cannot provide satisfactory network services for the UAV flying according to the initial flight path, to enable the cellular network to provide satisfactory network services for the UAV.

A pitot probe assembly that is formed from modular, replaceable components, and is flexible. The configuration of the pitot probe assembly allows the pitot probe assembly to absorb and/or dissipate impact energy, and the modular, replaceable components allow for quick and easy repair of the pitot probe assembly. The pitot probe assembly can be configured as a total pressure pitot probe assembly or as a pitot static probe assembly.

Techniques are described for configuring a monitoring system to assist users during a detected emergency condition at a property. In some implementations, sensor data from one or more sensors that are located at the property are obtained by a monitoring system that is configured to monitor the property. A determination that there is an emergency condition at the property is made by the monitoring system based on the sensor data, determining. A location of a person inside the property is determined by the monitoring system based on the sensor data. A first path to the person and a second path to guide the person away from the emergency condition are determined by the monitoring system. The first path to the person and the second path to guide the person away from the emergency condition are navigated by a computing device of the monitoring system.

A method for transporting a rescue device from an aerial vehicle to a person to be rescued includes launching an unmanned aerial vehicle from the aerial vehicle having an end portion releasable attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a first connection and a second connection. The method further includes enabling the person to be rescued to reach the end portion of the rescue device. and determining whether the end portion of the rescue device is released from the first connection. If the rescue device is released determining at the unmanned aerial vehicle whether the person to be rescued is safely attached to the rescue device. If so, the method comprises either releasing the rescue device from the second connection, or deactivating the unmanned aerial vehicle such that the unmanned aerial vehicle remains attached to the rescue device via the second connection.