Systems and methods for powering and controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle are provided. The unmanned aerial vehicles can be used in a networked communication system. A tether management system can be used to facilitate both mobile and static tethered operation to provide power and/or voice and data communication.

Automatic swimming pool cleaners for swimming pools and spas may automatically schedule, defined, and/or plan a future cleaning cycle for the automatic swimming pool cleaner. The automatic swimming pool cleaner itself may plan the future cleaning cycle without receiving a cleaning order from a user and/or may allow for the pool system to keep the pool or spa clean by itself without relying on an order from the user as traditionally required.

Automatic swimming pool cleaners for swimming pools and spas may automatically schedule, defined, and/or plan a future cleaning cycle for the automatic swimming pool cleaner. The automatic swimming pool cleaner itself may plan the future cleaning cycle without receiving a cleaning order from a user and/or may allow for the pool system to keep the pool or spa clean by itself without relying on an order from the user as traditionally required.

Methods and apparatus to guide an unmanned aerial vehicle for recovery thereof are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a sensor at or proximate a tether line, the sensor to measure at least one parameter of an aircraft while the aircraft is in flight and provide sensor output corresponding to a position of the aircraft, and a transceiver to transmit data corresponding to the position to the aircraft for guiding the aircraft to engage the tether line for recovery of the aircraft or a payload carried by the aircraft.

A local server includes a controller configured to select a processing function for processing offload, and receive, from a traffic filter, target data that originates from a local network; and a processing platform comprising one or more processors and configured to apply the processing function to the target data to obtain processed data; and wherein the controller is further configured to send the processed data to a remote server for remote processing.

A method for controlling a flight-capable drone in an elevator shaft of an elevator system uses an elevator system inspection arrangement configured for carrying out the method. The method comprises the following steps: receiving elevator shaft segment information provided by the elevator system that indicates which volume segment of the elevator shaft is currently designated to be off-limits for the drone; and controlling the drone along a flight path automatically determined by the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path such that the drone travels exclusively outside of the volume segment designated as off-limits for the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path taking into account the received elevator shaft segment information. By exchanging the elevator shaft segment information with the elevator system, the drone is able to initiate evasive maneuvers in good time in order to prevent collisions with fast-moving components of the elevator system.

A method for controlling a flight-capable drone in an elevator shaft of an elevator system uses an elevator system inspection arrangement configured for carrying out the method. The method comprises the following steps: receiving elevator shaft segment information provided by the elevator system that indicates which volume segment of the elevator shaft is currently designated to be off-limits for the drone; and controlling the drone along a flight path automatically determined by the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path such that the drone travels exclusively outside of the volume segment designated as off-limits for the drone, wherein the drone determines the flight path taking into account the received elevator shaft segment information. By exchanging the elevator shaft segment information with the elevator system, the drone is able to initiate evasive maneuvers in good time in order to prevent collisions with fast-moving components of the elevator system.

Various arrangements are provided for using an unmanned aerial vehicle with a home automation system. The home automation host system may determine that a home automation event has occurred. The system may determine to perform unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance of the home in response to the home automation event. Deployment of a UAV may be triggered in response to determining to perform the UAV surveillance of the home. Video may then captured by the UAV of a portion of the home, possibly corresponding to the location of the home automation event. The video captured by the UAV of the portion of the home in association with an indication of the home automation event that triggered deployment of the UAV may be recorded.

The present disclosure relates to the field of underwater robots, and in particular to a controllable sinking and floating swimming pool robot and a sinking and floating control method for a swimming pool robot. The controllable sinking and floating swimming pool robot of the present disclosure includes a sinking and floating control unit configured to control a swimming pool robot to float and sink; a waterline detection unit configured to detect a positional relationship between the swimming pool robot and a waterline of a liquid surface of a swimming pool where the swimming pool robot is located; and a main control unit configured to control a working state of the sinking and floating control unit to enter a floating working state based on detection results to realize a floating of the swimming pool robot.

The present disclosure relates to the field of underwater robots, and in particular to a controllable sinking and floating swimming pool robot and a sinking and floating control method for a swimming pool robot. The controllable sinking and floating swimming pool robot of the present disclosure includes a sinking and floating control unit configured to control a swimming pool robot to float and sink; a waterline detection unit configured to detect a positional relationship between the swimming pool robot and a waterline of a liquid surface of a swimming pool where the swimming pool robot is located; and a main control unit configured to control a working state of the sinking and floating control unit to enter a floating working state based on detection results to realize a floating of the swimming pool robot.