A control device includes a processor which: obtains first region information indicating a first region; obtains first position information indicating the position of an unmanned aerial vehicle tethered to a tethering device using a tether; and controls the tethering device using the first region information and the first position information to cause the tether to have tension corresponding to a specified distance which is at least one of the shortest distance between a boundary of the first region and the position of the unmanned aerial vehicle and a distance included in a predetermined range from the shortest distance.

A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle within a flight operating space. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes one or more sensor arrays on each spar. The method includes determining, using a plurality of sensor arrays, a flight path for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method also includes receiving, by at least one sensor array of the plurality of sensor arrays, sensor data identifying at least one object in the operating space. The sensor data is transmitted over a communications bus connecting components of the UAV. The method further includes determining, by one or more processors onboard the unmanned aerial vehicle, a flight path around the at least one object. The method also includes generating, by the one or more onboard processors, a first signal to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to navigate within the operating space around the at least one object.

An information processing method includes the following steps performed using a processor: obtaining first region information indicating a first region; obtaining first position information indicating the position of an unmanned aerial vehicle tethered to a mobile tethering body using a tether; determining, using the first region information and the first position information, a first destination which is a destination of the mobile tethering body; and moving the mobile tethering body to the first destination. The first destination is a position located at least a predetermined distance from a point which is on the boundary of the first region and located the shortest distance from the position of the unmanned aerial vehicle, in the direction from the point on the boundary of the first region to the position of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a drone using a tether. A drone is coupled to a distal end of the tether, and a force sensor measures one or more force parameters exerted on the drone by the tether. The force parameters are in turn used to generate control parameters, and the control parameters provided to a flight controller. The flight controller generates one or more propulsion parameters based on the control parameters, and provides the propulsion parameters to respective propulsion units of the drone. The drone can thereby be controlled by manipulating a proximate end of the tether, which changes the force parameters measured by the force sensor.

An apparatus for permitting a flying vehicle to land on or take off therefrom whilst the apparatus is airborne, the apparatus including: a surface for supporting the flying vehicle during landing or when taking off; at least one propulsion device for sustaining flight of the apparatus and for positioning the surface in a desired landing or taking off orientation; and a link which is connectable at one end to a land- or sea-going vehicle, for tethering the apparatus relative thereto.

A hydrodynamic intelligent robot and a control method thereof, the robot includes a moving platform, a hydrodynamic system and a dynamic intelligent system. The hydrodynamic system includes at least one nozzle mounted on the moving platform and a hydrodynamic device electrically connected to the dynamic intelligent system and connected to the at least one nozzle by a pipeline for spraying water so that the moving platform is rotated and moved by spraying water through the nozzle; the dynamic intelligent system is configured to control the hydrodynamic device according to input instructions, so as to indirectly realize vector control of the nozzle's water quantity and control the moving platform to move autonomously and intelligently. The present disclosure can monitor states of the moving platform by pre-inputting control instructions, and automatically determine numerical parameters needed to be adjusted by algorithm, so as to realize autonomous intelligent motion of the moving platform.

Systems and methods are provided for powering and controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicles can be used in a networked system under common control and operation and can be used for a variety of applications. Selected embodiments can operate while tethered to a portable control system. A high speed tether management system can be used to facilitate both mobile and static tethered operation. Modular components provide for both tethered and fully autonomous flight operations.

Systems and methods for automatically identifying and ascertaining an estimated amount of damage at a location by utilizing one or more autonomous vehicles, e.g., “drone” devices, to autonomously capture data of the location and utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) logic modules to analyze the captured data and construct a 3-D model of the location.

Systems and methods for automatically identifying and ascertaining an estimated amount of damage at a location by utilizing one or more autonomous vehicles, e.g., “drone” devices, to autonomously capture data of the location and utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) logic modules to analyze the captured data and construct a 3-D model of the location.

A control system includes a base device to be mounted on a mobile object, an aerial vehicle, a cable including a power supply cable for supplying electric power from the mobile object to the aerial vehicle and connecting the base device with the aerial vehicle, and a control device that controls flight of the aerial vehicle. The control device controls the aerial vehicle so that a relative altitude of the aerial vehicle with respect to the mobile object matches a target relative altitude. This control system optimizes an altitude of the aerial vehicle in accordance with the mobile object.