Systems and methods for providing a series of multiuse UAV docking stations are disclosed. The docking stations can be networked with a central control and a plurality of UAVs. The docking stations can include a number of services to facilitate both UAV guidance and maintenance and community acceptance and benefits. The docking stations can include package handling facilities and can act as a final destination or as a delivery hub. The docking stations can extend the range of UAVs by providing recharging/refueling stations for the UAVs. The docking stations can also include navigational aid to guide the UAVs to the docking stations and to provide routing information from the central control. The docking stations can be incorporated into existing structures such as cell towers, light and power poles, and buildings. The docking stations can also comprise standalone structures to provide additional services to underserved areas.

A self-righting aeronautical vehicle comprising a hollowed frame and a lift mechanism. The exterior of the frame and center of gravity are adapted to self-right the vehicle. The frame can include sealed, hollowed sections for use in bodies of water. The frame can be spherical in shape enabling inspection of internal surface of partially or fully enclosed structures. Inspection equipment can be integrated into the vehicle and acquired data can be stored or wirelessly communicated to a server. A controlled or other mass can be pivotally assembled to a pivot axle spanning across the interior of the frame. The pivot axis can rotate about a vertical axis (an axis perpendicular to the elongated axis). The propulsion mechanisms can be adapted for use as a terrestrial vehicle when enclosed in a sealed spherical shell.

A self-stabilizing spherical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) camera assembly, including: a stabilizer assembly; a plurality of motors coupled to the stabilizer assembly; a spherical camera mounting cage assembly disposed about and coupled to the stabilizer assembly; and a plurality of cameras coupled to the spherical camera mounting cage assembly. Preferably, the plurality of cameras include a plurality of stereoscopic cameras coupled to an exterior of the spherical camera mounting cage assembly. The self-stabilizing spherical UAV camera assembly is capable of taking/recording 360 degree?180 degree stereoscopic photo/video content. The self-stabilizing spherical UAV camera assembly can also be used with various real-time visualization and control technologies.

An aerial vehicle system includes a flight system configured to generate propulsive force and lift, a protective framework, and an attachment mechanism secured to the protective framework and configured to selectively attach to a structure to provide stable perching of the aerial vehicle system. The attachment mechanism is an electro-permanent magnet device or a talon-like grip. The flight system is at least partially enclosed by the protective framework.

A system and a method for vision-based self-stabilization by deep gated recurrent Q-networks (DGRQNs) for unmanned arial vehicles (UAVs) are provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of raw images captured by a camera installed on a UAV; receiving an initial reference image for stabilization and obtaining an initial camera pose from the initial reference image; extracting a fundamental matrix between consecutive images and estimating a current camera pose relative to the initial camera pose, wherein the camera pose includes an orientation and a location of the camera; based on the estimated current camera pose, predicting an action to counteract a lateral disturbance of the UAV based on the DGRQNs; and based on the predicted action to counteract the lateral disturbance of the UAV, driving the UAV back to the initial camera pose.

A flying device configured to communicate with a controller device operated by a user, the flying device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: determine whether the flying device is in contact with an object based on a signal from a contact detector; and move the flying device in a direction corresponding to an operation command transmitted from the controller device while causing a thrust force to be produced so that a contact between the object and the flying device is maintained when it is determined that the flying device is in contact with the object.

A self-righting aeronautical vehicle comprising a hollowed frame and a lift mechanism. The exterior of the frame and center of gravity are adapted to self-right the vehicle. The frame can include sealed, hollowed sections for use in bodies of water. The frame can be spherical in shape enabling inspection of internal surface of partially or fully enclosed structures. Inspection equipment can be integrated into the vehicle and acquired data can be stored or wireles sly communicated to a server. A controlled or other mass can be pivotally assembled to a pivot axle spanning across the interior of the frame. The pivot axis can rotate about a vertical axis (an axis perpendicular to the elongated axis). The propulsion mechanisms can be adapted for use as a terrestrial vehicle when enclosed in a sealed spherical shell.

A UAV includes a body and rotor coupled to the body. The UAV may include a boom coupled to the body, and a nozzle coupled to a distal end of the boom, wherein an operational configuration of the nozzle is responsive to a second control signal. The rotor, boom, and nozzle are arranged such that the nozzle is disposed further away from the body than the rotor. The UAV may further include a sensor disposed on either the body or the boom, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a detection signal associated with a distance between the sensor and a surface disposed proximate to the sensor.

A self-stabilizing spherical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) camera assembly, including: a stabilizer assembly; a plurality of motors coupled to the stabilizer assembly; a spherical camera mounting cage assembly disposed about and coupled to the stabilizer assembly; and a plurality of cameras coupled to the spherical camera mounting cage assembly. Preferably, the plurality of cameras include a plurality of stereoscopic cameras coupled to an exterior of the spherical camera mounting cage assembly. The self-stabilizing spherical UAV camera assembly is capable of taking/recording 360 degree180 degree stereoscopic photo/video content. The self-stabilizing spherical UAV camera assembly can also be used with various real-time visualization and control technologies.

Systems and methods are provided for a wall rolling unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method is provided for rolling the UAV along a path on the surface of the wall. The method includes determining a trajectory for the UAV, determining motor inputs for the UAV, and operating the motors to roll and translate the UAV according to the trajectory along the path. A cage can be provided around the UAV to support contact between the UAV and the wall.