An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a camera, one or more sensors, memory storing first instructions that define an overall mission, and memory storing one or more mission cues. The vehicle further includes one or more processors configured to execute a first part of the first instructions to perform a first part of the overall mission. The processors are configured to process at least one of the image data and the sensor data to detect a presence of at least one of the mission cues. The processors are configured to, in response to detecting a mission cue, interrupting execution of the first instructions and executing second instructions to control the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a first sub-mission of the overall mission. The processors are configured to after executing the second instructions, performing a second part of the overall mission by executing a second part of the first instructions.

A method for measuring and registering 3D coordinates has a 3D scanner measure a first collection of 3D coordinates of points from a first registration position. A 2D scanner collects horizontal 2D scan sets as 3D measuring device moves from first to second registration positions. A processor determines first and second translation values and a first rotation value based on collected 2D scan sets. 3D scanner measures a second collection of 3D coordinates of points from second registration position. Processor adjusts second collection of points relative to first collection of points based at least in part on first and second translation values and first rotation value. Processor identifies a correspondence among registration targets in first and second collection of 3D coordinates, and uses this correspondence to further adjust the relative position and orientation of first and second collection of 3D coordinates.

A method for measuring and registering 3D coordinates has a 3D scanner measure a first collection of 3D coordinates of points from a first registration position. A 2D scanner collects horizontal 2D scan sets as 3D measuring device moves from first to second registration positions. A processor determines first and second translation values and a first rotation value based on collected 2D scan sets. 3D scanner measures a second collection of 3D coordinates of points from second registration position. Processor adjusts second collection of points relative to first collection of points based at least in part on first and second translation values and first rotation value. Processor identifies a correspondence among registration targets in first and second collection of 3D coordinates, and uses this correspondence to further adjust the relative position and orientation of first and second collection of 3D coordinates.

A method for determining a target geometry of a track for correcting the geometry of the track. An actual geometry of the track is detected first on a track section by a measuring system and the target geometry is calculated on the basis of the actual track geometry afterwards by way of a computing unit. Actual position points of the track are detected along the track section by a position detection system, with at least one actual position point being given to the computing unit as a point of restraint, and with the target geometry being calculated by the computing unit such that the target geometry is adapted to the actual geometry as a sequence of geometric track alignment design elements and is placed through the preset point of restraint. The method achieves a significant increase in quality compared to the known compensation method using pre-measurement.

A method for determining a target geometry of a track for correcting the geometry of the track. An actual geometry of the track is detected first on a track section by a measuring system and the target geometry is calculated on the basis of the actual track geometry afterwards by way of a computing unit. Actual position points of the track are detected along the track section by a position detection system, with at least one actual position point being given to the computing unit as a point of restraint, and with the target geometry being calculated by the computing unit such that the target geometry is adapted to the actual geometry as a sequence of geometric track alignment design elements and is placed through the preset point of restraint. The method achieves a significant increase in quality compared to the known compensation method using pre-measurement.

The invention relates to a method for localizing and enhancing a digital map through a motor vehicle. The method includes receiving a digital partial map representing an environment of the motor vehicle and capturing an image of the environment of the motor vehicle by a sensor arrangement of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is localized in the environment by comparing the received digital partial map with the image of the environment of the motor vehicle. The digital partial map is enhanced on the basis of the image of the environment, and the enhanced digital partial map and/or the image of the environment (U) is transmitted to a database for enhancing the digital map.

Systems and methods for configuring a robot for inspecting an inspection surface are disclosed. An example system may include an inspection robot having a payload coupled to at least two inspection sensors and a controller. The controller may include a route profile processing circuit to interpret route profile data for the inspection robot, a configuration determining circuit to determine one or more configurations for the inspection robot in response to the route profile data; and a configuration processing circuit to provide configuration data in response to the determined one or more configurations, the configuration data defining, at least in part, one or more inspection characteristics for the inspection robot.

Systems, apparatus and methods for providing an interactive inspection map are disclosed. An example apparatus for providing an interactive inspection map of an inspection surface may include an inspection visualization circuit to provide an inspection map to a user device in response to inspection data provided by a plurality of sensors operationally coupled to an inspection robot traversing the inspection surface, wherein the inspection map corresponds to at least a portion of the inspection surface. The apparatus may further include a user interaction circuit to interpret a user focus value from the user device, and an action request circuit to determine an action in response to the user focus value. The inspection visualization circuit may further update the inspection map in response to the determined action.

System and methods for traversing an obstacle with an inspection robot are disclosed. An example system may include an inspection robot including an obstacle sensor to interrogate an inspection surface. The example may further include an obstacle sensory data circuit to interpret obstacle sensory data provided by the obstacle sensor, an obstacle processing circuit to determine refined obstacle data, and an obstacle notification circuit to generate and provide obstacle notification data to a user interface device. The example system may further include a user interface circuit to interpret a user request value from the user interface device, and to determine an obstacle response command value in response to the user request value; and an obstacle configuration circuit to provide the obstacle response command value to the inspection robot during the interrogating of the inspection surface.

Systems, methods and apparatus for rapid development of an inspection scheme for an inspection robot are disclosed. An apparatus may include an inspection definition circuit to interpret an inspection description value, and a robot configuration circuit to determine an inspection robot configuration description in response to the inspection description value. The apparatus may further include a configuration implementation circuit, communicatively coupled to a configuration interface of an inspection robot, to provide at least a portion of the inspection robot configuration description to the configuration interface.