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.

A computer-implemented method for effective agriculture and environment monitoring. The method may comprise measuring a desired variable over an area of interest using a remote inspection platform according to an inspection plan, predicting an occlusion of the remote inspection platform, and in response to the predicted occlusion, determining whether to invoke a local inspection platform to complete the inspection plan. The occlusion in some embodiments interrupts the inspection plan for the remote inspection platform.

A flying object 20 is provided with a rotor blade 200 that generates lift and thrust by rotating and a rotating electrical machine unit that rotates the rotor blade 200. The rotor blade 200 receive wind power and rotate when not flying. The rotating electrical machine unit generates electric power based on a power that rotates the rotor blades 200 when not flying. In addition, the flying object 20 may be provided with a power storage device 230 that stores electric power generated by the rotating electrical machine unit. In addition, the flying object 20 may be provided with a detachably connected cartridge 260 that has a desired function.

A worksite control system includes a communication system configured to receive weather data corresponding to a worksite, a weather model generation logic configured to generate a weather model based on the weather data, a worksite action identification logic configured to identify a worksite action based on the weather model, and a control signal generator configured to generate a machine control signal that controls a machine associated with the worksite based on the identified worksite action.

A computer receives a hotspot and a corresponding incentive, where the hotspot is a geolocation for collecting the weather data. The computer presents the received hotspot and the corresponding incentive to a user. The computer receives the weather data from the drone, transmits the weather data to a server, and updates a scorecard with the incentive corresponding to the hotspot based on determining that the drone reached the hotspot.

A method for performing an inspection of a utility asset includes obtaining current magnetic signature data for at least one electrical asset; comparing the current magnetic signature data to a model describing an expected change in the electrical asset's magnetic signature over time; and determining a current state-of-wear of the at least one electrical asset based on the comparison to the model.

An aircraft, system, and method for sensing and/or releasing chemical agents by an aircraft is disclosed. The aircraft, system, and method may employ a chemical sensor, a wind sensor, an imaging device for capturing environmental features, and/or a processor operably coupled therewith. The processor may be used for collecting data from the chemical sensor, the wind sensor, and the imaging device to identify a navigational waypoint and to provide commands to the chemical sensor or to the aircraft based at least in part on collected data.

A virtual security network system can be used to prevent, deter or cease intrusion of an unauthorized person, animal or object into a secured area. The virtual security network system can include sensor units, a drone and a wide area network. Sensor units can be placed throughout a secured area and include a multitude of sensors with different capabilities that can detect a breach of the secured area. The drone can be mobilized upon receipt of a signal from a sensor unit when the secured area is breached to track an intruder. The drone can be equipped with pulsing lasers or a strobe light. The virtual security network system can also include a satellite, unmanned aerial vehicle, a launching and charging station for drone release and/or a drone fleet.

Various embodiments may provide an airborne system for measuring meteorological parameters, including a high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formed completely or partially of closed-cell polyurethane foam. In various embodiments, the UAV may include extendable wings configured to extend and retract as the UAV climbs and descends to different altitude levels. In various embodiments, the UAV may include one or more infrasonic sensors and wind screening configured to measure one or more meteorological parameters, such as wind shear, seismic waves, magnetic storms, magnetohydrodynamic waves, severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, meteors, and lighting. The infrasonic sensors may be configured to determine wind shear at the local and regional level. In various embodiments, other meteorological sensors may also be included in/on the UAV in addition to the infrasonic sensors.

A system and method for monitoring the intensification and weakening of tropical cyclones, including tropical storms and hurricanes. The method includes flying a UAV above the tropical cyclone for an extended period of time and detecting transitions in structure. Intensification to hurricane stage is indicated by core structure transition of the tropical cyclone to include the presence of an eye within an eyewall. The UAV can be a Global Hawk aircraft and include a number of sensors and detectors, such as a camera for providing images of the tropical cyclone, an infrared detector for detecting temperature changes in the eye structure, a radar detector for detecting wind magnitude and direction in the tropical cyclone, dropsonde sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction in the tropical cyclone, etc. The UAV can relay the vortex parameter data in real time to a satellite for subsequent downlinking to receiving stations.