Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging method for imaging terrain using a sensor on an unmanned aircraft. The method comprises: acquiring a range of motion of the sensor; acquiring positional information of the terrain; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft maneuverability; using the acquired information, determining a procedure; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure and simultaneously capturing, by the sensor, a set of images of only parts of the terrain. The procedure comprises the aircraft moving with respect to the area of terrain and the sensor moving with respect to the aircraft such that each point in the area of terrain is coincident with a footprint of the sensor on the ground for at least some time. Also, every point in the area of terrain is present within at least one of the captured images.

Abstract: An imaging method for capturing images using a sensor mounted on an unmanned aircraft comprises: acquiring a range of motion of the sensor relative to the aircraft; acquiring a specification of a linear path along the ground; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft maneuverability; using the acquired information determining a procedure; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure and simultaneously capturing, by the sensor, a set of images. The procedure comprises the aircraft moving with respect to the path and the sensor moving with respect to the aircraft such that at some time each point along the path is coincident with a footprint of the sensor. Also, each point along the path is present within at least one of the captured images.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for delivering a load on-board an aircraft to a target. The method comprises: acquiring a position of the target; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft maneuverability; acquiring load properties; acquiring parameter values relating to environmental conditions; using the acquired information, determining a position and a velocity value; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure; and, at a point in the procedure that the aircraft has the determined position and its travelling at a velocity equal to the determined velocity value, releasing the load. The determined position and velocity value are such that, were the aircraft to release the load while having the determined position and velocity, the load would travel to be within a predetermined distance of the target. The procedure is such that the aircraft would have the determined position and velocity at some time-step.

Abstract: A camera array and method are disclosed for capturing and processing images of an area of terrain. For each of a plurality of time-steps within a time period, using each of a plurality of cameras in a camera array, an exemplary method includes: generating an image of a respective portion of terrain, wherein the cameras in the camera array have substantially fixed positions relative to each other, and the portions of terrain are such that the whole of the area of terrain has been imaged by the end of the time period; selecting a subset of the images such that the whole of the terrain is covered by the portions of the terrain in the images in the subset; and for an image not in the subset, if an object of interest is in that image, extracting a sub-image containing the object from that image.

Abstract: A camera assembly is disclosed for mounting on a vehicle (e.g. an aircraft). An exemplary camera assembly can include: a fixture (e.g. a rotatable drum); a camera; and a mirror; wherein the fixture is arranged to be rotated relative to the vehicle about an axis; the camera is mounted on the fixture such that the camera has a substantially fixed position relative to the fixture; the mirror is mounted on the fixture such that, if the fixture rotates, the mirror rotates; the mirror is rotatable relative to the fixture about a further axis, the further axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis; and the camera is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the mirror. The axis and the further axis may intersect.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for delivering a load on-board an aircraft to a target. The method comprises: acquiring a position of the target; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft manoeuvrability; acquiring load properties; acquiring parameter values relating to environmental conditions; using the acquired information, determining a position and a velocity value; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure; and, at a point in the procedure that the aircraft has the determined position and its travelling at a velocity equal to the determined velocity value, releasing the load. The determined position and velocity value are such that, were the aircraft to release the load whilst having the determined position and velocity, the load would travel to be within a predetermined distance of the target. The procedure is such that the aircraft would have the determined position and velocity at some time-step.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging method for imaging terrain using a sensor on an unmanned aircraft. The method comprises: acquiring a range of motion of the sensor; acquiring positional information of the terrain; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft maneuverability; using the acquired information, determining a procedure; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure and simultaneously capturing, by the sensor, a set of images of only parts of the terrain. The procedure comprises the aircraft moving with respect to the area of terrain and the sensor moving with respect to the aircraft such that each point in the area of terrain is coincident with a footprint of the sensor on the ground for at least some time. Also, every point in the area of terrain is present within at least one of the captured images.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging method for capturing images using a sensor mounted on an unmanned aircraft. The method comprises: acquiring a range of motion of the sensor relative to the aircraft; acquiring a specification of a linear path along the ground; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft manoeuvrability; using the acquired information determining a procedure; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure and simultaneously capturing, by the sensor, a set of images. The procedure comprises the aircraft moving with respect to the path and the sensor (20) moving with respect to the aircraft such that at some time each point along the path is coincident with a footprint of the sensor. Also, each point along the path is present within at least one of the captured images.

Abstract: A data transfer system is disclosed for an unmanned vehicle on a mission. The data transfer system can include a first sensor associated with the unmanned vehicle for collecting a first data set, and a second sensor associated with the unmanned vehicle and for collecting a second data set, wherein the second data set is associated with the first data set by a predetermined association. A transceiver can transmit data from the unmanned vehicle to a remote data storage system. A mass data storage computer located on the unmanned vehicle can store the first and second data sets based on the predetermined association, and execute requests from the remote data storage system to transmit the first data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system, and to transmit selected ones of the second data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system.

Abstract: A camera array and method are disclosed for capturing and processing images of an area of terrain. For each of a plurality of time-steps within a time period, using each of a plurality of cameras in a camera array, an exemplary method includes: generating an image of a respective portion of terrain, wherein the cameras in the camera array have substantially fixed positions relative to each other, and the portions of terrain are such that the whole of the area of terrain has been imaged by the end of the time period; selecting a subset of the images such that the whole of the terrain is covered by the portions of the terrain in the images in the subset; and for an image not in the subset, if an object of interest is in that image, extracting a sub-image containing the object from that image.

Abstract: A camera assembly is disclosed for mounting on a vehicle (e.g. an aircraft). An exemplary camera assembly can include: a fixture (e.g. a rotatable drum); a camera; and a mirror; wherein the fixture is arranged to be rotated relative to the vehicle about an axis; the camera is mounted on the fixture such that the camera has a substantially fixed position relative to the fixture; the mirror is mounted on the fixture such that, if the fixture rotates, the mirror rotates; the mirror is rotatable relative to the fixture about a further axis, the further axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis; and the camera is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the mirror. The axis and the further axis may intersect.

Abstract: A data transfer system is disclosed for an unmanned vehicle on a mission. The data transfer system can include a first sensor associated with the unmanned vehicle for collecting a first data set, and a second sensor associated with the unmanned vehicle and for collecting a second data set, wherein the second data set is associated with the first data set by a predetermined association. A transceiver can transmit data from the unmanned vehicle to a remote data storage system. A mass data storage computer located on the unmanned vehicle can store the first and second data sets based on the predetermined association, and execute requests from the remote data storage system to transmit the first data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system, and to transmit selected ones of the second data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system.