Disclosed are various embodiments related to coordinated monitoring and responding to an emergency situation at a building structure as a supplement to a traditional emergency response. In some embodiments, a system comprises a computing device that is configured to receive sensor data from a sensor network. The sensor network includes monitoring units that monitor various locations of an infrastructure. The computing device determines an occurrence of an emergency event at a location in the infrastructure using an anomaly detector model based at least in part on the sensor data. A hybrid mobile unit is instructed by the computing device to navigate to the location of the emergency event. The hybrid mobile unit is configured to provide mobile sensor data associated with the location to confirm the emergency event.

An apparatus comprising a body defining a first vertical axis, two or more frame members each having a longitudinal axis and having an inner-end and an outer-end connected to the body at the inner-end and where a first horizontal geometrical plane is generally coincident with the longitudinal axis of each of the two or more frame members and where the first horizontal geometrical plane is generally orthogonal to the first vertical axis, two or more rotary-wings each comprising one or more blades whose rotation defines a first rotational axis which is configurable to be nearly parallel with the first vertical axis and comprising a second rotational axis which is configurable to be approximately parallel first horizontal geometrical plane where a first of the two or more rotary-wings having a blade-inner-end and a first blade-outer-end rotatably connected by its blade-inner-end to a first transmission is disposed substantially on the outer-end of a first of the two or more frame members, a second of the two or more rotary-wings having a blade-inner-end and a blade-outer-end rotatably connected by its blade-inner-end to a second transmission is disposed substantially on the outer-end of a second of the two or more frame members, where each of the first rotational axes is disposed on the opposite side of plane which is coincident with the first vertical axis, where the direction of rotation of a first of the two or more rotary-wings about its first rotational axis is opposite of that of the second of the two or more rotary-wings about its first rotational axis, and, where the rotational disk defined by the rotation of the blade-outer-end of the first of the two or more rotary-wings is at least partially coincident with rotational disk defined by the rotation of the blade-outer-end of the second of the two or more rotary-wings.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to implement computer aided dispatch of drones are disclosed. Example drone dispatching methods include transmitting a flight plan for a drone to a flight control platform associated with first operator for piloting the drone. The flight plan is based on a first location associated with a service request. In response to receiving a message from the flight control platform, a first communication session between the flight control platform and a flight control unit of the drone is initiated to permit remote piloting of the drone. A drone observation platform associated with a second operator is selected based on a subject matter qualification associated with the second operator and descriptive information included in the service request. A second communication session between the flight control platform and the drone observation platform is initiated for remote piloting of the drone.

A method, system, and/or computer program product controls operations of an aerial drone within a predetermined airspace. One or more processors detects that the aerial drone has entered a predetermined airspace, and also determines a physical size of the aerial drone. In response to detecting that the aerial drone has entered the predetermined airspace, one or more processors directs the aerial drone to alter a velocity of the aerial drone based on its physical size.

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise systems for providing a lifesaving apparatus to a distressed individual. Such systems may comprise an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to selectably support a lifesaving apparatus. The UAV may comprise a release mechanism configured to release the lifesaving apparatus when proximate a distressed person. The system may additionally comprise a control device configured to wirelessly communicate with the UAV such that a user can pilot the UAV from a distance and deliver the lifesaving apparatus to a distressed person. Methods of using the same may comprise piloting the UAV proximate a distressed person, providing a signal to the UAV to release the lifesaving apparatus by operating the release mechanism, and then pulling the lifesaving apparatus and the distressed person to safety via a control line secured to the lifesaving apparatus.

Apparatus for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that includes an imaging device is described. The apparatus includes a touch screen and a processor, configured to (i) receive a gesture that is performed, on the touch screen, with respect to a first image acquired by the imaging device, the gesture indicating a requested change with respect to the first image, (ii) communicate, to the UAV, a first control signal that causes the UAV to begin executing a flying maneuver that is suggested by the gesture, (iii) identify a plurality of features in a subsequent image acquired by the imaging device, (iv) ascertain that respective positions of the features indicate that the flying maneuver has effected the requested change, and (v) in response to the ascertaining, communicate, to the UAV, a subsequent control signal that causes the UAV to stop execution of the flying maneuver. Other embodiments are also described.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to manage deployed drones are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include detecting, by a first drone, whether the first drone is in communication with a command center via a first communication network to determine a configuration parameter of a first message to broadcast discovery information associated with the first drone. Disclosed example methods also include, in response to the first drone being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, broadcasting, from the first drone, the first message configured with a first value for the configuration parameter. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to the first drone not being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, broadcasting, from the first drone, the first message configured with a second value for the configuration parameter different from the first value.

Example methods, apparatus, systems, and machine-readable mediums for an artificial intelligence platform for mobile charging of rechargeable vehicles and robotic devices are disclosed. An example method may include determining that a mobile vehicle is operating within a region and determining that the mobile vehicle requires charging of a battery for the mobile device while operating within the region. The method may further comprise identifying a charging station available within the region for charging of the battery at a time and a location within the region and navigating at least one of the mobile vehicle or the charging station to the location at the time for charging the battery of the mobile vehicle.

This disclosure describes systems and methods for visually tracking a position of an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) using reflected light. A light source at an origin location, such as the location of an operator of the UAV, is aligned and emitted toward the position of the UAV. The emitted light source reflects off a reflector coupled to the UAV toward a location of the operator or a visual observer working with the operator. The reflected light increases the visibility of the UAV, thereby extending the distance from an operator at which the UAV can be operated while maintaining visible contact between the operator and/or a visual observer working with the operator and the UAV.

A gimbal-assisted continuous-wave (CW) Doppler radar detection system mountable to an unmanned aircraft system may be rotated in three degrees of freedom relative to the UAS to provide targeted multidirectional obstacle detection by transmitting CW signals throughout a field of view and analyzing reflected signals from obstacles within the field of view. The radar assembly may be articulated to provide track-ahead detection in anticipation of a heading or altitude change of the UAS, to center on a detected obstacle in order to classify or identify it more clearly. The radar assembly may be rotated below the UAS and its field of view changed to increase breadth and accuracy at a shorter effective range, in order to determine real-time altitude or terrain data while the UAS executes a landing.