A system or method for an imaging system is provided for inspecting a heliostat. The imaging system includes a platform and a camera mounted on the platform and a heliostat having a plurality of mirrored facets. The camera is positioned to acquire a first image that serves as a reference image and a second image that is a reflected image from at least one facet. The camera stores image data associated with the first image and the second image, and wirelessly transmits the stored image data to a computing apparatus. The computing apparatus compares the first image with the second image and determines a performance parameter associated with the heliostat.

An optical fiber sensing system according to the present disclosure includes an optical fiber (10) that detects vibration, a detection unit (21) that detects occurrence of a predetermined event, based on an optical signal on which vibration detected by the optical fiber (10) is superimposed, an identification unit (22) that identifies an occurrence location of the predetermined event, based on the optical signal, and identifies a movement destination area serving as a moving destination of an unmanned aerial vehicle that monitors an occurrence location of the predetermined event, based on an occurrence location of the predetermined event, and a control unit (23) that controls the unmanned aerial vehicle to move to the movement destination area.

A method of tracking a movement of a target by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method includes receiving, from a mobile terminal collocating with the target, absolute location coordinate data of the target, acquiring, by a camera of the UAV, image data of the target, determining, based on the absolute location coordinate data and the image data of the target, 3D location coordinate data of the target with respect to the UAV, and controlling, based on the 3D location coordinate data of the target with respect to the UAV, at least one of a direction or a speed of the movement of the UAV, to maintain a constant relative 3D position of the UAV with respect to the target.

A method of tracking a movement of a target by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method includes receiving, from a mobile terminal collocating with the target, absolute location coordinate data of the target, acquiring, by a camera of the UAV, image data of the target, determining, based on the absolute location coordinate data and the image data of the target, 3D location coordinate data of the target with respect to the UAV, and controlling, based on the 3D location coordinate data of the target with respect to the UAV, at least one of a direction or a speed of the movement of the UAV, to maintain a constant relative 3D position of the UAV with respect to the target.

Apparatus, systems, processes, and computer-readable mediums for facilitating the use of drones are described. For one embodiment, such a system includes a user element having a user application computer program configured to instruct a user interface device to facilitate use of user data and use of mission parameter(s) for a proposed drone mission. An owner element includes an owner application computer program configured to facilitate use of owner data and use of at least one drone parameter. A fleet system element is communicatively coupled to the user element and to the owner element and includes a computer system processor configured to facilitate use of a fleet record and use of at least one fleet parameter.

Provided is an aircraft, a system, and a method whereby the visibility of the aircraft from a predetermined point can be improved. The aircraft includes at least one memory and at least one processor. Program code includes control code configured to cause the at least one processor to perform orientation change control for causing a first face to face a predetermined point, the first face being a face of the aircraft and having a predetermined color, or display control for causing an image of the predetermined color to be displayed on a second face, the second face being a display surface of a display device of the aircraft and a partial face or an entire face facing the predetermined point.

A robot detects, through a sensor, the location and movement direction of a user and an object near the user, sets a nearby ground area in front at the feet of the user according to the detected location and movement direction of the user, controls an illumination device in the robot to irradiate the nearby ground area with light while driving at least one pair of legs or wheels of the robot to cause the robot to accompany the user, specifies the type and the location of the detected object, and if the object is a dangerous object and is located ahead of the user, controls the illumination device to irradiate a danger area including at least a portion of the dangerous object with light in addition to irradiating the nearby ground area with light.

An autonomous ground vehicle for agricultural plant and soil management operations. According to some embodiments, autonomous ground vehicle includes: one or more camera units configured to generate images, an energy storage unit, a solar panel unit, a solar panel control mechanism, a first mechanical arm having a first end effector, an electronic memory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions; one or more processors in electronic communication with the electronic memory storage medium, configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in an electronic memory storage medium for implementing a method of for agricultural plant and soil management operations.

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 unmanned aerial vehicle is operated from a base station mounted on the boom assembly of a pivot irrigation system. The inventive system determines a position for the base station and uses that position to land the UAV.

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for mapping is provided. The present invention may include locating an asset using an unmanned vehicle (UV), where the asset include a sensor device that is not mapped to the asset. The present invention may also include recording, using the UV, a sensor identifier of the sensor device. The present invention may include recording a location of the sensor device based on determining a location of the UV when the sensor device is detected. The present invention may further include registering the recorded sensor identifier of the sensor device with the asset to map the sensor device to the asset.