A pothole monitoring and repair system for a road surface includes at least one UAV which includes a video camera, a video processor, a computing unit and a global positioning receiver. The UAV generates video streams of road surfaces using the video camera which are processed by the video processor to extract road frames. The computing unit generates a geo-fenced area of the road surface, and determines whether there is at least one pothole in each of the road frames within the geo-fenced area. The cloud server generates a map of the geo-fenced area, labels location coordinates of each pothole on the map, identifies and labels geographical features in the road frames within the geo-fenced area, extracts pothole features in the road frames, and uses a classifier to predict repair actions based on pothole features and geographical features, which are presented on a front end interface.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a flight-only mode with a motor only rotating propellers and not rotating on-board wheels to configure the UAV to fly away from a surface of a structure, and a crawling-only mode in which the UAV is configured to crawl on the surface due to the motor only rotating the wheels while not rotating the propellers. In the flight-only mode, a clutch disengages a motor from the wheels so that the motor only engages the propellers to fly to lift from the surface. In the crawling-only mode, the clutch disengages the motor from the propellers so that the motor only engages the wheels to move the UAV on the surface.

Embodiments relate to methods, systems, and devices for performing an inspection on a telecommunication structure and/or one or more objects that are attached on the telecommunication structure. The system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle that includes one or more of the following: an image capturing subsystem, an object identifying subsystem, a distance measuring subsystem, a navigation subsystem, an electromagnetic interference subsystem, and an onboard processor that is in communication with the image capturing subsystem, the object identifying subsystem, the distance measuring subsystem, the navigation subsystem, the electromagnetic interference subsystem. The system also includes a control processor that is in communication with the onboard processor. Further, the control processor may also be the onboard processor on the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method includes configuring an unmanned aerial vehicle, receiving information pertaining to the telecommunication structure, generating a first flight path, communicating a command to control movements of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the first flight path, receiving information including a first electromagnetic interference signal, processing information including comparing the first electromagnetic interference signals with a threshold signal level, and generating a second flight path in response to a determination that the first electromagnetic interference signal is greater than or equal to the threshold signal level.

A method for performing one or more tasks on a surface via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or aerial robotics system (ARS) includes tethering a first UAV to a ceiling, a vertical wall, or a second UAV via a tethering cord with an extendible and retractable length, performing at least one task via the first UAV to an object during flight of the first UAV, sensing at least one parameter of the surface of the object via a task sensor, and resiliently adjusting an adjustable sensor arm of the first UAV to facilitate performance of the task(s). The adjustable sensor arm may support the task sensor and be resilient to impact forces caused by direct contact of the task sensor or the adjustable sensor arm with the surface. The tethering cord may be extended or retracted via at least one motor while the first UAV performs the task(s).

A dimming device for a switchable glass includes a third wireless communications component and a third controller. The third wireless communications component is configured to establish a communications connection to a master computer and a second unmanned aerial vehicle, and to receive a target transmittance sent by the master computer and a transmittance of a switchable glass to be detected sent by the second unmanned aerial vehicle. The third controller is configured to adjust a voltage applied to the switchable glass to be detected when the transmittance of the switchable glass to be detected is inconsistent with the target transmittance, so that the transmittance of the switchable glass to be detected is consistent with the target transmittance.

In some implementations, a UAV flight system can dynamically adjust UAV flight operations based on thermal sensor data. For example, the flight system can determine an initial flight plan for inspecting a flare stack and configure a UAV to perform an aerial inspection of the flare stack. Once airborne, the UAV can collect thermal sensor data and the flight system can automatically adjust the flight plan to avoid thermal damage to the UAV based on the thermal sensor data.

A method for teletransmitting to a processing site a captured video stream of a remote intervention scene comprises modifying the captured video stream so as to erase defined zones, then transmitting this stream thus modified to the processing site. The teletransmitting method is employed to remotely assist a field operator with an intervention on a site that is sensitive in terms of confidentiality. The video stream may be captured directly by the operator or from a drone, for example.

Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight operations. In an embodiment, a flight planning system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can identify handoff zones along a UAV flight corridor for transferring control of the UAV between ground control stations. The start of the handoff zones can be determined prior to a flight or while the UAV is in flight. For handoff zones determined prior to flight, the flight planning system can identify suitable locations to place a ground control station (GCS). The handoff zone can be based on a threshold visual line of sight range between a controlling GCS and the UAV. For determining handoff zones while in flight, the UAV can monitor RF signals from each GCS participating in the handoff to determine the start of a handoff period.

The drone shade tarp is easy to install by easily moving a large ad balloon frame into the air, and the shade tarp can be quickly removed depending on weather and wind, thereby solving safety problems, and moving the shade tarp according to the direction of sunlight can provide an efficient shade tarp. Also, the drone shade tarp can couple the cover drone to the advertising balloon frame in the air, even if air is used without using a gas such as expensive helium, a heavy large shade can be easily installed. It forms a groove in the ad balloon frame and increases the strength of the frame by a rigid frame support inserted there, helping the stable movement of the drone shade and fixing of the drone. Cover drones can be easily combined in the air using electromagnets or the like to form a shade tarp effectively.

The present disclosure relates to an automatic patrol inspection and intelligent erosion defect detection method and apparatus for a flood discharge tunnel, and belongs to the technical field of patrol inspection and defect detection. The method includes: constructing a flood discharge tunnel erosion defect database; constructing a flood discharge tunnel erosion defect analysis and evaluation standard and early warning threshold; performing automatic patrol inspection; and performing image analysis processing and intelligent recognition model training. According to the present disclosure, a condition of the flood discharge tunnel can undergo automatic patrol inspection, an erosion impact degree can be rapidly recognized and determined, the downstream life safety are not in danger during flood discharge, and a patrol inspection efficiency and a detection efficiency can be noticeably improved.