A UAV-carried surveillance and remote sensing platform is launched from a high altitude and flies over a target area, collecting remote sensing imagery before returning to earth. The UAV may be towed to a desired altitude by a powered aircraft or a balloon and then launched for cruising over a target area while capturing data. Instead of being piloted remotely, the UAV employs an autonomous flight control system.

A system for airborne remote sensing comprises an array of remote imaging sensors and supporting equipment configured for a combined larger field of view and provided by any of the array of remote imaging sensors alone. The array is mounted in a housing for attachment to a wing or elsewhere on an aircraft. Data collected by the array may be stitched together to provide an image of a larger area than can be acquired by any one of the remote imaging sensors. The data may be stored onboard the aircraft or transmitted to a ground receiver for analysis. The array of remote imaging sensors thus allows for more effective use of an aircraft for activities such as hydrocarbon leak detection and pipeline right-of-way monitoring.

[Object] To provide a control device which enables a flight vehicle device to obtain a highly precise image. [Solution] Provided is the control device including an illuminating control unit configured to adjust a light amount of an illuminating device according to an inclination of a body of a flight vehicle device that has an imaging device configured to photograph a photographing target and the illuminating device configured to illuminate the photographing target.

[Object] To provide a control device which enables a flight vehicle device to obtain a highly precise image. [Solution] Provided is the control device including an illuminating control unit configured to adjust a light amount of an illuminating device according to an inclination of a body of a flight vehicle device that has an imaging device configured to photograph a photographing target and the illuminating device configured to illuminate the photographing target.

An unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a housing, a plurality of first arms, a plurality of second arms, and a landing gear. The housing includes a gimbal attachment to couple a gimbal with a camera. Each of the plurality of first arms and the plurality of second arms rotatably couple with the housing at one end and has a motor coupled with a propeller on the other end. The landing gear includes a plurality of foldable legs and releasably couples with an underside of the housing. The aerial vehicle may be programmed with aerial flight path data that corresponds with a prior traced route.

A method for detecting a payload on a carrier configured to support the payload includes obtaining a obtaining at least one motion characteristic of the carrier. The at least one motion characteristic is indicative of a coupling state between the carrier and the payload. The method further includes assessing the coupling state between the carrier and the payload based on the at least one motion characteristic. Assessing the coupling state between the carrier and the payload includes at least one of assessing whether the payload is coupled to the carrier or assessing whether the payload is correctly mounted at the carrier.

A method for detecting a payload on a carrier configured to support the payload includes obtaining a obtaining at least one motion characteristic of the carrier. The at least one motion characteristic is indicative of a coupling state between the carrier and the payload. The method further includes assessing the coupling state between the carrier and the payload based on the at least one motion characteristic. Assessing the coupling state between the carrier and the payload includes at least one of assessing whether the payload is coupled to the carrier or assessing whether the payload is correctly mounted at the carrier.

The present disclosure provides a flying body for detecting a living body. The flying body includes a sensor unit, that detects living body information related to the living body; a support component, that supports the sensor unit and is retractable; a gimbal, that rotatably supports the support component; a processing unit, that performs processing related to detection of the living body information; and a camera unit, that captures images. The processing unit makes the camera unit capture an image of an investigation area, controls the flight of the flying body such that the flying body approaches the investigation area, makes the support component extend to an investigation target located in the investigation area, and makes the sensor unit, which is supported by the gimbal supported by the extended support component, detect the living body information.

The present disclosure provides a flying body for detecting a living body. The flying body includes a sensor unit, that detects living body information related to the living body; a support component, that supports the sensor unit and is retractable; a gimbal, that rotatably supports the support component; a processing unit, that performs processing related to detection of the living body information; and a camera unit, that captures images. The processing unit makes the camera unit capture an image of an investigation area, controls the flight of the flying body such that the flying body approaches the investigation area, makes the support component extend to an investigation target located in the investigation area, and makes the sensor unit, which is supported by the gimbal supported by the extended support component, detect the living body information.

A drone for replacing a removeable device can include a drone body with at least three lift-generating rotors spaced apart from the drone body and operating in concert that provide lift sufficient to propel the drone in at least six directions. The drone can include a first bay attached to the drone body, the first bay comprising a first mounting mechanism to dismount a first removeable device from a device receptacle and to securely stow the first removeable device. The drone can also include a second bay attached to the drone body comprising a second mounting mechanism to stow a second removeable device and to mount the second removeable device on the device receptacle.