A drone system is configured to capture an audio stream that includes voice commands from an operator, to process the audio stream for identification of the voice commands, and to perform operations based on the identified voice commands. The drone system can identify a particular voice stream in the audio stream as an operator voice, and perform the command recognition with respect to the operator voice to the exclusion of other voice streams present in the audio stream. The drone can include a directional camera that is automatically and continuously focused on the operator to capture a video stream usable in disambiguation of different voice streams captured by the drone.

A method for transportation includes providing a vehicle with a cab and having a moveable actuator coupled to a propulsion unit to move the propulsion unit between a first position above the cab during lift-off and a second position during lateral flight. The system can receive hand control gestures as captured by cameras/sensors. A flight computer determines vehicle control options based on the model, a current state of the vehicle and the environment of the vehicle.

An example method includes identifying a degraded visual environment corresponding to a phase of a route followed by the vehicle. The method includes determining, based on the phase of the route, a first segment of a trajectory of the vehicle along which to search for a location with an improved navigation environment. The method includes causing the vehicle to follow the first segment until: (i) identifying the improved navigation environment, or (ii) reaching an end of the first segment without identifying the improved navigation environment. The method includes determining a second segment of the trajectory based on whether the improved navigation environment has been identified. The method includes causing the vehicle to follow the second segment.

An example method includes identifying a degraded visual environment corresponding to a phase of a route followed by the vehicle. The method includes determining, based on the phase of the route, a first segment of a trajectory of the vehicle along which to search for a location with an improved navigation environment. The method includes causing the vehicle to follow the first segment until: (i) identifying the improved navigation environment, or (ii) reaching an end of the first segment without identifying the improved navigation environment. The method includes determining a second segment of the trajectory based on whether the improved navigation environment has been identified. The method includes causing the vehicle to follow the second segment.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for drone-based systems and methods for capturing a multi-media representation of an entity. In some embodiments, the multi-media representation is digital, or multi-view, or interactive, and/or the combinations thereof. According to particular embodiments, a drone having a camera is controlled or operated to obtain a plurality of images having location information. The plurality of images, including at least a portion of overlapping subject matter, are fused to form multi-view interactive digital media representations.

A multicopter with angled rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.

A request for transport services that identifies a rider, an origin, and a destination is received from a client device. Eligibility of the request to be serviced by a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is determined based on the origin and the destination. The client device is sent an itinerary for servicing the transport request including a leg serviced by the VTOL aircraft. Confirmation is received that the rider has boarded the VTOL aircraft and determination made as to whether the VTOL aircraft should wait for additional riders. Instruction are sent to the VTOL aircraft to take-off if one or more conditions are met.

Systems and methods for controlling a movable object within an environment are provided. In one aspect, a method may comprise: determining, using at least one of a plurality of sensors carried by the movable object, an initial location of the movable object; generating a first signal to cause the movable object to navigate within the environment; receiving, using the at least one of the plurality of sensors, sensing data pertaining to the environment; generating, based on the sensing data, an environmental map representative of at least a portion of the environment; receiving an instruction to return to the initial location; and generating a second signal to cause the movable object to return to the initial location, based on the environmental map.

A forward velocity associated with an aircraft is received. The aircraft includes a multicopter with a plurality of rotors which rotate in a substantially horizontal plane. A pitch offset is determined based at least in part on the forward velocity, where the pitch offset changes monotonically with the forward velocity. A desired pitch is determined based at least in part on the pitch offset and a pitch angle specified via a hand control. A plurality of control signals for the plurality of rotors is determined based at least in part on the desired pitch.

In one embodiment, a remote controller for a vehicle includes at least one control element for controlling operation of at least one aspect of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a remote-control mode; an actuator connected the at least one control element for controlling a position of the at least one control element when the vehicle is in an autonomous operations mode; and a processing system for receiving a first control signal from the vehicle indicative of a state of operation of the vehicle. In operation, the processing system generates a second control signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to control a position of the control element such that it corresponds to and indicates the state of operation of the vehicle.