A computer program product for maintaining a machine. The system includes an aerial vehicle configured to fly to a lubrication location proximate the machine. A supply of friction minimizing material is carried by the aerial vehicle. A controller is configured to deliver at least part of the supply of friction minimizing material to the machine when the aerial vehicle is at the lubrication location.

In some embodiments, methods and systems of dispensing an insecticide to defend a crop-containing area against crop-damaging pests include an unmanned vehicle having a sensor that detects a crop-damaging pest in the crop-containing area and captures pest detection data, and an insecticide output device including at least one insecticide directed at the pest. The unmanned vehicle transmits the captured pest detection data via the network to the computing device and, in response to receipt of the captured pest detection data via the network from the unmanned vehicle, the computing device accesses an electronic database to determine an identity of the at least one pest. Based on the determined identity of the crop-damaging pest, the computing device transmits a control signal to the unmanned vehicle to cause the insecticide output device of the unmanned vehicle to dispense one or more insecticides specific to the identified crop-damaging pest.

A dispensing device for connection to a drone is provided. The dispensing device has an outer housing and an inner housing interior of the outer housing. The inner housing has an inner cavity having an entrance opening and an opposing exhaust opening. The area between the outer housing and the inner housing defines an outer cavity adapted to hold a material. The dispensing device also has a fluid access opening to provide fluid access between outer cavity and the inner cavity to allow material in the outer cavity to be transferred to the inner cavity and mixed with air to create an air and material mixture. An air accelerator is provided adjacent the inner cavity to accelerate the air and material mixture out of the dispensing device.

A system for maintaining a machine. The system includes an aerial vehicle configured to fly to a lubrication location proximate the machine. A supply of friction minimizing material is carried by the aerial vehicle. A controller is configured to deliver at least part of the supply of friction minimizing material to the machine when the aerial vehicle is at the lubrication location.

A method and apparatus for undertaking remote non-destructive in-situ testing an elevated wind turbine blade includes the steps of providing a remotely controlled drone aircraft, applying a water soluble penetrant from the drone aircraft to a test surface area of the turbine blade, and then waiting for the water soluble penetrant to dry. Next, a dry powder developer is applied from the drone aircraft to the test surface area, and then awaiting for the dry powder developer to substantially set. The test surface area is then illuminated with an ultraviolet light source from the drone aircraft. Lastly, the test surface area is digitally photographed to effect an inspection for visible latent defects. Additionally, a solvent can be applied from the drone aircraft to rinse the test surface area of the wind turbine blade after waiting for the water soluble penetrant to dry and prior to applying the dry powder developer.

The present invention relates to the autonomous application of crop protection products by means of a drone. The present invention relates to a process and to an unmanned aerial vehicle for applying crop protection product taking into consideration drift phenomena. The present invention furthermore relates to a computer program product which can be employed for controlling the process according to the invention.

A system for configuring unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to a structure is disclosed. The structure may be a standing structure such as a tower. A movement system may be configured with the tower. The UASs may be tethered to the movement structure and the movement structure may move with respect to the tower.

A system for providing a flying craft is disclosed. The craft may include gyroscopes for stability, and rotor blades and/or chambers of lighter-than-air gasses for lift. The craft may be equipped with payloads such as lights, water delivery devices, speaker, wireless power systems and other payloads.

A method for setting a flight altitude and such an unmanned aerial vehicle system that efficiently set the flight altitude in a flight plan based on undulation and/or inclination of a ground surface or a ground object. The method includes: an undulation research step of making the unmanned aerial vehicle fly and measuring a height of a ground surface or a ground object; and an altitude setting step of, during preparation of a flight plan that is setting data including a specification of a path on which the unmanned aerial vehicle is made to fly autonomously, automatically setting the flight altitude on the path in the flight plan based on the height of the ground surface or the ground object measured in the undulation research step. An unmanned aerial vehicle system capable of performing the method.

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.