This invention proposes a method which enables one to combine several autonomous areal vehicles into a larger areal vehicle.

In particular, the proposed method enables arranging areal vehicles in a joint formation whereby a number of winged sections is joined horizontally and the flapping of the wings between the sections is coordinated in such a manner as to increase the lift-to-drag ratio. Changing the angle between the sections during the flight is done to increase the maneuverability of the vehicle.

A system and method is described for controlling flight trajectories of at least two flying vehicles towards goal positions. The system includes at least two flying vehicles with onboard inertial measurement units for determining and updating orientation, angular velocities, position and linear velocities of the at least two flying vehicles, a motion capture system to detect current position and velocity of each of the at least two flying vehicles, and a base controller in communication with the motion capture system and in communication with the plurality of flying vehicles. The base controller calculates for each of the flying vehicles, at predetermined intervals of time, optimum trajectory paths using piece-wise smooth polynomial functions, applying weighting factors, and enforcing overlap constraints.

Launch-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A computer-implemented method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle in a representative embodiment includes detecting at least one parameter of a motion of the UAV as a user releases the UAV for flight. Based at least in part on the at least the one detected parameter, the method can further include establishing a flight path for the UAV, and directing the UAV to fly the flight path.

Grasping devices and mechanisms are provided capable of grasping onto flat or curved surfaces repeatably and releasably using synthetic dry adhesives. Applications of these devices can be found in a large variety of robotic applications.

Example embodiment provides an aircraft with improved agility. The aircraft includes a main body, at least two wing assemblies, at least two motors, and a controller. The wing assemblies are attached to the main body. Each motor tilts one wing assembly with a tilting angle. The controller is connected with the motors for controlling the tilting angle of the wing assembly. Each wing assembly further includes a wing, a power plant, and a propeller that is driven by the power plant for providing propulsion. Each wing assembly tilts with an individual tilting angle, so that the aircraft can fly with improved agility. The power plants and propellers on the wings can each be controlled independently in synchronism with the tilting wings.

The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural weed management. The UAV comprises a control and processing unit (20), and a camera (30). The control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the ground at the location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to analyse the at least one image to determine the presence of at least one weed and its location on the ground.

The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural weed management. The UAV comprises a control and processing unit (20), and a camera (30). The control and processing unit is configured to control the UAV to fly to a location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to control the camera to acquire at least one image relating to the ground at the location inside the canopy of a crop and below the vertical height of the crop and/or between a row of a plurality of crops and below the vertical height of the plurality of crops. The control and processing unit is configured to analyse the at least one image to determine the presence of at least one weed and its location on the ground.

There is provided a robot comprising an aerial unit, a passive leg mechanism operably coupled with the aerial unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to control operation of the aerial unit such that the robot is operable in, at least, a flight mode and a hopping mode.

Systems, devices, and methods for on-board sensing and control of robotic vehicles (e.g., MAVs) using commercial off-the-shelf hand-held electronic devices as a sensing and control system are provided. In one aspect, a system for controlling a micro aerial vehicle may include one or more sensors, a state estimation module in communication with the one or more sensors, the state estimation module being configured to generate an estimated pose of the micro aerial vehicle based on inputs from the one or more sensors, and a position controller in communication with the state estimation module and configured to communicate attitude commands to an attitude controller of the micro aerial vehicle. Each of the one or more sensors, the state estimation module, and the position controller may be contained in a commercial off-the-shelf hand-held electronic device that is configured to be coupled to the micro aerial vehicle.

One variation of a method for imaging an area of interest includes: within a user interface, receiving a selection for a set of interest points on a digital map of a physical area and receiving a selection for a resolution of a geospatial map; identifying a ground area corresponding to the set of interest points for imaging during a mission; generating a flight path over the ground area for execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; setting an altitude for the unmanned aerial vehicle along the flight path based on the selection for the resolution of the geospatial map and an optical system arranged within the unmanned aerial vehicle; setting a geospatial accuracy requirement for the mission based on the selection for the mission type; and assembling a set of images captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission into the geospatial map.