Abstract:
Methods and apparatus to cooperatively lift a payload (110) are disclosed. An example method to control a lift vehicle (102) includes determining (704) a first positional state of the lift vehicle (102) with respect to a payload (110) controlled by a plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...) including the lift vehicle (102), determining (706) a second positional state of the lift vehicle (102) with respect to a goal location, detecting distances (708) to the other ones of the plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...), determining (710) a third positional state of the lift vehicle (102) based on the distances to the other ones of the plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...), and calculating (712-720) a control command to control the lift vehicle (102) based on the first positional state, the second positional state, and the third positional state.
Abstract:
A method is provided of replacing a first drone base station with a second drone base station, the first drone base station, the method comprising: sending by the first drone base station first pilot signals indicating a cell identifier; receiving by the first drone base station information that the second drone base station is in the vicinity of the first drone base station; sending by the second drone base station second pilot signals which indicate the same cell identifier as the first drone base station; receiving by the first drone base station from the second drone base station an indication to cease to send first pilot signals; and dependent upon receiving by the first drone base station from the second drone base station the indication to cease to send first pilot signals, ceasing by the first drone base station the sending of first pilot signals.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a system for automatically inspecting a surface of an object such as an aircraft (54), a transporting vehicle, a building or a work of art, said surface being liable to contain a defect. The system is characterized in that it comprises a fleet comprising at least one drone (14a, 14b, 14c), each drone comprising a module for acquiring images of at least one section of the surface to be inspected, and a module for processing the acquired images, which module is suitable for delivering a piece of information representative of the state of each inspected surface portion, which piece of information is called the result of the processing.
Abstract:
A flying drone (10) comprises a memory (16) for storing a forecasted flying trajectory, said trajectory being defined by a list (26) of 3D coordinates points, and a control and command computer (18) for driving drone directional and motorization means, said control and command computer (18) being connected to the memory (16) for reading the forecasted trajectory so that the flying drone (10) is able to move along said forecasted trajectory. The flying drone (10) further comprises: • a wireless receptor (20) able to receive a synchronization signal (28) emitted from a timecode (38); • the 3D coordinates points are associated to a timeline; and • the control and command computer (18) is adapted for synchronizing the flying drone timeline with the synchronization signal (28).
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus to cooperatively lift a payload (110) are disclosed. An example method to control a lift vehicle (102) includes determining (704) a first positional state of the lift vehicle (102) with respect to a payload (110) controlled by a plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...) including the lift vehicle (102), determining (706) a second positional state of the lift vehicle (102) with respect to a goal location, detecting distances (708) to the other ones of the plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...), determining (710) a third positional state of the lift vehicle (102) based on the distances to the other ones of the plurality of lift vehicles (102, 104, ...), and calculating (712-720) a control command to control the lift vehicle (102) based on the first positional state, the second positional state, and the third positional state.
Abstract:
An actual position of a load tethered with a tether to a vehicle is determined using a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle. A required tether tension and required tether angle of the tether is determined to move the load from the actual position to a commanded position. An actual tether tension and actual tether angle of the tether is determined using the plurality of sensors. A determination is made as to a thrust vector to be applied by the vehicle to change the actual tether tension and the actual tether angle of the tether to the required tether tension and the required tether angle. The thrust vector is applied with the vehicle to reposition the vehicle to achieve the required tether angle and to create the required tether tension of the tether to move the load to the commanded position.
Abstract:
Systems and/or methods for forming a multiple-articulated flying system (skybase) having a high aspect ratio wing platform, operable to loiter over an area of interest at a high altitude are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, autonomous modular flyers join together in a wingtip-to-wingtip manner. Such modular flyers may derive their power from insolation. The autonomous flyers may include sensors which operate individually, or collectively after a skybase is formed. The skybase preferably may be aggregated, disaggregated, and/or re-aggregated as called for by the prevailing conditions. Thus, it may be possible to provide a “forever-on-station” aircraft.