An object identification and collection method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a pick-up path that identifies a route in which to guide an object-collection system over a target geographical area to pick up objects, determining a current location of the object-collection system relative to the pick-up path, and guiding the object-collection system along the pick-up path over the target geographical area based on the current location. The method further includes capturing images in a direction of movement of the object-collection system along the pick-up path, identifying a target object in the images; tracking movement of the target object through the images, determining that the target object is within range of an object picker assembly on the object-collection system based on the tracked movement of the target object, and instructing the object picker assembly to pick up the target object.

The present invention provides a fruit harvesting, dilution and/or pruning system comprising: (a) a computerized system for mapping an orchard or a map of trees position and their contour in a plantation; (b) a management system for autonomous unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) fleet management for harvesting, diluting or pruning fruits; and a method for UAV autonomous harvesting, dilution and/or pruning of an orchard.

A system and method for obtaining real-time data regarding the condition of a crop and planning and executing an irrigation cycle in response to the data. The invention uses an unmanned aerial vehicle to survey the conditions within an irrigated area. The irrigation system includes components to vary the amount of water dispensed within particular areas. The data obtained is used to create an irrigation schedule that the irrigation system then carries out. For example, surveyed areas that contain more moisture may be given relatively less water during the next irrigation cycle. The data obtained may also be used to alter a scheduled delivery of fertilizer, pesticide, or some other substance.

Systems and methods are provided for imposing physical actions, by endpoints, based on activities by users. One such method includes imposing a physical actions via a drone, by an endpoint associated with the drone, based on an activity undertaken by a user. The method includes receiving, by a computing device, an activity message including data indicative of an activity of a user and retrieving at least on rule from a data structure based on the data indicative of the activity where the at least one rule includes a physical action for said activity of the user. The method then includes identifying, by the computing device, the physical action from the at least one rule and transmitting, by the computing device, an order for the physical action to an endpoint, whereby the endpoint commands a drone to perform the physical action.

An aircraft control device and a remote controller aircraft are disclosed. The aircraft control device includes a first channel configured to receive first control information outputted by a remote controller and transmit the first control information to an aircraft; a second channel configured to receive second control information outputted by the remote controller and transmit the second control information to a camera and/or a gimbal; and a switch unit configured to switch that the first control information is received by the second channel and transmitted to the aircraft when the first channel is disturbed or a distance between the remote controller and the aircraft is larger than a distance threshold. The present invention is able to switch the transmission route of the first control information between the first channel and the second channel in accordance with situations of the first channel and the second channel.

Systems and methods for towing, hitching, and connecting devices are described. An autonomous guided vehicle includes an automated hitch capable of connecting to a variety of types of containers.

Example implementations relate to a method of dynamically updating a transport task of a UAV. The method includes receiving, at a transport-provider computing system, an item provider request for transportation of a plurality of packages from a loading location at a given future time. The method also includes assigning, by the transport-provider computing system, a respective transport task to each of a plurality of UAVs, where the respective transport task comprises an instruction to deploy to the loading location to pick up one or more of the plurality of packages. Further, the method includes identifying, by the transport-provider system, a first package while or after a first UAV picks up the first package. Yet further, the method includes based on the identifying of the first package, providing, by the transport-provider system, a task update to the first UAV to update the respective transport task of the first UAV.

In some implementations, a UAV flight system can dynamically adjust UAV flight operations based on radio frequency (RF) signal data. For example, the flight system can determine an initial flight plan for inspecting a RF transmitter and configure a UAV to perform an aerial inspection of the RF transmitter. Once airborne, the UAV can collect RF signal data and the flight system can automatically adjust the flight plan to avoid RF signal interference and/or damage to the UAV based on the collected RF signal data. In some implementations, the UAV can collect RF signal data and generate a three-dimensional received signal strength map that describes the received signal strength at various locations within a volumetric area around the RF transmitter. In some implementations, the UAV can collect RF signal data and determine whether a RF signal transmitter is properly aligned.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a drone to pre-surveil a portion of a property. In one aspect, a system may include a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may include a network interface, a processor, and a storage device that includes instructions to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include obtaining data that is indicative of one or more acts of an occupant of the property, applying the obtained data that is indicative of one or more acts of the occupant of the property to a pre-surveillance rule, determining that the pre-surveillance rule is satisfied, determining a drone navigation path that is associated with the pre-surveillance rule, transmitting, to a drone, an instruction to perform pre-surveillance of the portion of the one or more properties using the drone navigation path.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of taking a measurement using a sensor mounted on an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle having one or more propellers and one or more motors which are selectively operable to drive the one or more propellers to rotate to cause the vehicle to fly, and a sensor mounted on the aerial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of, operating the one or more motors to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly; at a first time instant, slowing down or turning off said one or more motors; while the one or more motors are slowed down or turned off, taking a measurement using said sensor; at a second time instant, which is after the measurement has been taken using the sensor, operating the one or more motors again to drive the one or more propellers to cause the vehicle to fly. There is further provided a corresponding aerial vehicle.