Systems and methods for automatically generating a 3D model of a roof of a building are provided. In a described embodiment, the method includes receiving point cloud data comprising a plurality of data points corresponding to height measurements at a given location; processing the point cloud data to identify roof surfaces; generating a 3D model of the roof using the identified surfaces; receiving aerial imagery of the roof; registering the aerial imagery with the point cloud data; and refining the 3D model using the aerial imagery. A corresponding computing system and non-transitory computer readable medium for carrying out the methods are also provided.

The present invention provides an on-line real-time diagnosis system and method for wind turbine blade (WTB) damage. The system includes a four-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a cloud database, and a computer system. The four-rotor UAV captures images of WTBs in real time, and transmits the images to the computer system. The cloud database stores an image library used for a Visual Geometry Group (VGG)-19 net image classification method, where an image in the image library stored in the cloud database is dynamically captured from a network. The computer system is used to perform training by using the image library to obtain an improved VGG-19 net image classification method, and classify, by using the improved VGG-19 net image classification method, the images of the WTBs received from the four-rotor UAV, to obtain a WTB damage diagnosis and classification result and a damage grading result.

In various embodiments, three-dimensional models of terrestrial structures are developed and scaled utilizing images acquired during the flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle.

An apparatus for visual navigation of a UAV includes a geo-fiducial mat and a plurality of geo-fiducials. The geo-fiducial mat includes a landing pad region that provides a location for aligning with a landing pad of a UAV and a survey point. The geo-fiducials are each specified for a unique directional and offset position in or about the landing pad region relative to the survey point. The geo-fiducials each includes a two-dimensional (2D) pattern that visually conveys an alphanumerical code. The 2D pattern has a shape from which a visual navigation system of the UAV can visually triangulate a position of the UAV.

The monitoring system includes a support device which is displaceable, a mast which is supported by the support device, and a stabilization device configured to vertically stabilize the mast during displacements of the support device, the stabilization device including a plurality of support arms which are fastened to the mast and which are angularly offset from each other, and a plurality of air flow generation devices that are fastened to the support arms.

Method and device for assisting with landing an aircraft under poor visibility conditions are provided. The method allows sensor data to be received during a phase of approach toward a runway when the runway and/or an approach lighting system are not visible to the pilot from the cockpit; then, in the received sensor data, data of interest characteristic of the runway and/or the approach lighting system to be determined; then, on the basis of the data of interest, the coordinates of a target area to be computed; and, on a head-up display, a guiding symbol representative of the target area to be displayed, the guiding symbol being displayed before the aircraft reaches the decision height, in order to provide the pilot with a visual cue in which to search for the runway and/or approach lighting system.

A visual localization method and apparatus are provided. The method includes obtaining a captured first image, determining a first pose based on the first image and an aerial model, determining whether a ground model corresponding to the first pose exists in an aerial-ground model, and when the ground model corresponding to the first pose exists, determining a second pose based on the ground model. The aerial-ground model includes the aerial model and the ground model mapped to the aerial model, a coordinate system of the ground model is the same as a coordinate system of the aerial model, and localization accuracy of the second pose is higher than localization accuracy of the first pose. Performing fine visual localization based on the ground model can improve accuracy and a success rate of localization.

A method of tracking 3D position and orientation of an entity in a moving platform is described. The method comprises receiving data sensed by an inertial measurement unit mounted on the entity. Visual tracking data is also received, computed from images depicting the moving platform or the entity in the moving platform. The method computes the 3D position and orientation of the entity by estimating a plurality of states using the visual tracking data and the data sensed by the inertial measurement unit, where the states comprise both states of the moving platform and states of the entity.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for predicting connections in electric grid models are disclosed. A method includes obtaining geospatial data representing a geographic area that includes an electrical distribution system; and generating, from the geospatial data, asset data that represents characteristics of electrical distribution system assets. The asset data includes: load data representing electrical loads of the electrical distribution system; and node data representing nodes of the electrical distribution system. The method includes processing the asset data using a connection model that is configured to predict electrical connections between assets of the electrical distribution system; and obtaining, from the connection model; output data indicating predicted electrical connections between assets of the electrical distribution system. The geospatial data includes at least one of overhead imagery or street level imagery of the geographic area.

Methods, apparatus and computer program for identifying canopy structures are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first calculated offset between a start point of a shadow cast by a building and a proximate first vertex of a building footprint of the building, and receiving a second calculated offset between an end point of the shadow cast by the building and a proximate second vertex of the building footprint, the shadow identified from an overhead image of the building, and wherein the building footprint comprises a shadowed side and a non-shadowed side, each running between the start point and the end point of the shadow on a different respective side of the building. The method also includes comparing the offsets to an offset threshold, and in response to both the first and second received offsets exceeding the offset threshold, determining that the building footprint represents a canopy.