A wind forecasting system configured to generate forecasted wind conditions for a time interval based on wind data derived from flight log data collected from a plurality of aerial vehicles operating in a first area. The forecasted wind conditions can be used by an aerial route management system to generate a flight plan for an aerial vehicle from a start location to an end location in the first area during the time interval.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a propulsion system, a camera system, a processor, and communications circuitry. The camera system includes an image channel with a band pass filter centered near a spectral line of a material associated with wildfires, and the camera system captures a spectral line emission image within a region of a potential wildfire. The processor uses the captured spectral line emission image to identify an emission event indicative of a wildfire. The communications circuitry transmits, to a dispatch system, data describing a location of an identified emission event. The dispatch system may dispatch firefighting resources to the location of the wildfire.

The present disclosure provides a system and related methods for adapting groundwater monitoring wells and providing specially adapted aerial drones, with the adapted drones interacting with the modified monitoring wells to allow remote and even automated collection of ground water samples and/or data. The drones can be adapted either by provision of a contamination sensor or by carrying a payload of sample storage containers, and the monitoring wells can be configured to detect the approach of a drone and open automatically, or to have an injection point or even a matching sensor.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a surveying system operable to receive a plurality of electromagnetic waves via a guided wave transceiver that include environmental data collected via a plurality of sensors at a plurality of remote sites. Weather pattern data is generated based on the environmental data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method for calibrating a target gas sensor inside a drone comprises receiving air flow at the target sensor due to least one of diverted propeller air flow or diverted air flow caused by drone flight, measuring a concentration of the target gas, receiving equivalent air flow at a sensor of at least one reference gas having known atmospheric concentration positioned in or on the drone, measuring a concentration of the at least one reference gas, and calibrating the measured concentration of the target gas based on the measured concentration of the at least one reference gas.

The technology relates to techniques for redundant power distribution and monitoring for lighter than air (LTA) vehicles. A power distribution and monitoring system for an LTA vehicle, can include two or more redundant controllers coupled to a multiplexer in a crossbar architecture. Each controller can control the multiplexer and inhibit the other controller in the case of a failure of the other controller. Each controller can control a power switch to direct power from a power source to an electronic component, and can monitor the power source. In some cases, a first controller receives a signal indicting a failure in a second controller, and the first controller inhibits the second controller and directs power from the power source to the electronic component.

An unmanned aerial vehicle is provided, including an airframe including a fuselage and at least one stowable wing. The unmanned aerial vehicle can further include a radar panel positioned on the fuselage such that the radar panel is angled downward and extends longitudinally along a ventral region of the fuselage. The unmanned aerial vehicle can further include a drop-away rocket engine that is configured to detachably mount to the airframe adjacent the radar panel.

The present disclosure relates to a radiation detection vehicle with a directional radiation detection system. The radiation detection vehicle may include a body, a motor supported by the body and configured to propel the vehicle, at least a first power source connectable to the body and configured to provide power to the vehicle, and a directional radiation detection system supported by the body. The directional radiation detection system may include a radiation detector configured to detect incident radiation and a directional shielding assembly configured to partially shield the radiation detector by preventing a portion of the incident radiation originating from a first incident direction from reaching the radiation detector, the directional shielding assembly including the first power source.

The present disclosure provides a system comprising a plurality of autonomous units within a geographical region, each configured with a sensor array and a cognitive emission and air pollutant mapping module that enables them to map their surrounding environment and sense and overlay pollutant and emissions data onto said map, including cameras and object detection algorithms for tracking and photographing pollutant sources. Each unit securely transmits the fused map and pollutant source data to one or more servers that compile a complete 3D map of the geographical area overlaid with pollution data which is updated in real time, and also notify relevant third parties to action pollutant sources within the area. The system can further comprise a plurality of smart light poles for displaying pollution data and advisory notices to citizens within sub-regions of the area.

A mobile irrigation system configured to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the mobile irrigation system comprising a number of irrigation spans, a control system, and a UAV support system. Each irrigation span includes a conduit section connected to conduit sections of adjacent irrigation spans for transporting an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to a field, a truss configured to support the conduit section, a number of fluid emitters, and a mobile tower connected to the truss for moving the truss, conduit section, and fluid emitters across the field. The UAV support system includes a docking station configured to receive the UAV and deploy the UAV to collect agricultural data or to carry out agricultural tasks and a data transfer module for transferring agricultural data from the UAV to a remote data storage system or edge processing devices.