Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solar irradiation assessment system may automate several design parameters of solar panel design, cost and payoff estimations, and installation. The system models a structure and surrounding obstacles in a three-dimensional space. The system maps ray paths between each of a plurality of locations on a roof of a structure and modeled locations of the sun at various time intervals during a selected time period to determine the solar irradiance at various locations. Obstacles modeled in three-dimensional space that block the ray-paths during some or all of the various time intervals result in decreased solar irradiance values for the affected locations on the roof. A visual model of the roof may be shown with a heatmap of irradiance values and/or a graphical placement of solar panels.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described herein to model divergent beam ray paths between locations on a roof (e.g., of a structure) and modeled locations of the sun at different times of the day and different days during a week, month, year, or another time period. Obstructed and unobstructed divergent beam ray paths are identified. Unobstructed divergent beam ray paths contribute to the calculation of a solar irradiance value for each location on the roof. Divergent beam ray paths, such as cones or pyramid ray paths, allow for sparse or lower-resolution spatial and/or temporal sampling without sacrificing obstacle detection.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solar irradiation assessment system may automate several design parameters of solar panel design, cost and payoff estimations, and installation. The system determines the irradiance at various locations on a roof during various time periods. The system accounts for the effects of various existing, potential, or future obstacles proximate the structure. In some embodiments, a visual model of the roof may be shown with a heatmap of irradiance values and/or graphical placement of solar panels. In other embodiments, the data may be analyzed and reported without visual presentation.

Abstract: An unmanned autonomous vehicle assessment and reporting system may implement a boustrophedonic flight pattern for capturing images of a structure to develop a three-dimensional model of the same. A crisscross boustrophedonic flight pattern may include two or more boustrophedonic flight patterns that are at angles relative to one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein relating to the annotation of microscan data/images and the generation of context-rich electronic reports. Microscan images are imported and displayed in a context-rich environment to provide contextual information for an operator to annotate microscan images. Markers are used to identify the relative location of a microscan image on a full-subject image. Reports are generated that include a full-subject image with one or more markers identifying the relative locations of annotated image data in one or more locations on the full-subject image. Hyperlinked data elements allow for quick navigation to detailed report information in location selection sections of the report for each marked location on the full-subject image in the report.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may conduct micro scans of a wide variety of property types. Scan data from any of a wide variety of sensor types may be compared with profile data using computer vision techniques to identify characteristics, defects, damage, construction materials, and the like. A hierarchal structure of the scan data may reduce the size of data sets used for property identification. For example, identifying a material type of a property may reduce or eliminate the need to compare scan data with specific data profiles for defects not related to the identified material type. Similarly, identifying a particular characteristic of a property may narrow down the data sets of possible material types. A rule set evaluator may evaluate matched profile data to determine adaptive actions to modify the navigation or scanning process of the UAV.

Abstract: An assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine-tune each subsequent scan. The system may receive or determine a pitch of a surface of a structure or otherwise orthogonally align an optical axis of a camera with respect to a planar surface. An imaging system may capture perpendicular images of sample regions that have a defined area-squared.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solar irradiation assessment system may automate several design parameters of solar panel design, cost and payoff estimations, and installation. The system determines the irradiance at various locations on a roof during various time periods. The system accounts for the effects of various existing or potential or future obstacles proximate the structure (e.g., on the structure). In some embodiments, a visual model (e.g., two-dimensional or three-dimensional) of the roof may be shown with a heatmap of irradiance values and/or graphical placement of solar panels. In other embodiments, the data may be analyzed and reported without visual presentation.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine-tune each subsequent scan. The system may include shadow elimination, annotation, and/or reduction for the UAV itself and/or other objects. A UAV may receive or determine a pitch of roof of a structure or otherwise orthogonally align an optical axis of a camera with respect to a planar roof surface. An imaging system may capture perpendicular images of sample regions that have a defined area-squared.

Abstract: An unmanned autonomous vehicle assessment and reporting system may implement a crisscross boustrophedonic flight pattern for capturing images of a structure to develop a three-dimensional model of the same. Patch scan analysis of predefined sample sizes of the roof may be captured in a separate scan and/or as part of the crisscross boustrophedonic flight pattern. The crisscross boustrophedonic flight pattern may include integrated oblique image captures via structure-facing camera angles during approach portions of each pass of a boustrophedonic flight pattern, via structure-facing end passes, and/or via rounded structure-facing end passes. A crisscross boustrophedonic flight pattern may include two or more boustrophedonic flight patterns that are at angles relative to one another.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solar irradiation assessment system may automate several design parameters of solar panel design, cost and payoff estimations, and installation. The system determines the irradiance at various locations on a roof during various time periods. The system accounts for the effects of various existing or potential obstacles on the roof of a structure and/or proximate the structure. In some embodiments, a visual model (e.g., two-dimensional or three-dimensional) of the roof may be shown with a heatmap of irradiance values and/or graphical placement of solar panels. In other embodiments, the data may be analyzed and reported without visual presentation.

Abstract: An unmanned autonomous vehicle assessment and reporting system may conduct patch scan analyses of a roof. Damage points on the roof may be evaluated for severity and assigned a severity value. A remediation status may be objectively developed for one or more faces of the roof based on the number of damage points within a patch region of a defined size and the severity value of each of the damage points within the patch region. A visualization system may overlay markings, such as color-coded markings, to display a representation of a roof, patch regions, damage points, and/or severity values.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine tune each subsequent scan. The system may include shadow elimination, annotation, and/or reduction for the UAV itself and/or other objects. A UAV may be used to determine a pitch of roof of a structure. The pitch of the roof may be used to fine tune subsequent scanning and data capture.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine tune each subsequent scan. The system may include shadow elimination, annotation, and/or reduction for the UAV itself and/or other objects. A UAV may receive or determine a pitch of roof of a structure. The pitch of the roof may be used to capture perpendicular images of sample regions that have a defined area-squared.

Abstract: An unmanned autonomous vehicle (aerial or ground) assessment and reporting system may conduct micro scans of interior portions of a structure, such as walls, windows, doorways, stairs, and the like. Scan data from one or more sensor types may be compared with stored profile data from a library of profiles using computer vision or other matching techniques to identify characteristics, defects, damage, construction materials, etc. An adaptive response system may modify the types of sensors used for scanning and/or the scanning pattern itself based on matched profile data. Modifications to the scanning process are implemented in real-time based on identified characteristics of the interior portions of the structure.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may conduct micro scans of a wide variety of property types. A site identification system may allow for identification of a point or points of interest to be scanned via the micro scans. A coordinate offset system may calculate a coordinate offset of location coordinates from a satellite-based mapping system relative to real-time coordinate readings from an on-site UAV. Satellite-based location coordinates for the identified point(s) of interest may be adjusted based on the calculated coordinate offset to enhance the scanning itself, data association, visualization of scan data, and/or reporting of scan data.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine tune each subsequent scan. The system may include shadow elimination, annotation, and/or reduction for the UAV itself and/or other objects. A UAV may be used to determine a pitch of roof of a structure. The pitch of the roof may be used to fine tune subsequent scanning and data capture to capture perpendicular images of target field of views and/or target distances.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may conduct micro scans of a wide variety of property types. A risk zone within which the UAV may navigate during the micro scan may include a plurality of virtual tags that identify navigational hazards relevant to the navigation of the UAV at a specific location or specify scan actions to be implemented while the UAV is at the specific location. Scan data from any of a wide variety of sensor types may be compared with profile data using computer vision techniques to identify characteristics, defects, damage, construction materials, and the like. A rule set evaluator may evaluate tags and/or matched profile data to determine adaptive actions to modify the navigation or scanning process of the UAV.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine tune each subsequent scan. The system may include shadow elimination, annotation, and/or reduction for the UAV itself and/or other objects. A UAV may be used to determine a pitch of roof of a structure. The pitch of the roof may be used to fine tune subsequent scanning and data capture.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine tune each subsequent scan. A first image may be a nadir image in some embodiments. A boustrophedonic scan of the area may include images captured during a boustrophedonic flight pattern within a first altitude range. Distances to an underlying surface (e.g., ground or structure) may also be determined. A loop scan of the structure may be performed at a second flight pattern in which the UAV travels around the perimeter of the structure. A micro scan of the structure in a third flight pattern may include vertical approaches proximate the structure to capture detail images of the structure.