Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating a morphing sequence for an aerial show. The systems and methods may include: receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, first frame data defining a first location for each of a plurality of drones in a first image of the aerial show; receiving, at the computing device, second frame data defining a second location for each of the plurality of drones in a second image of the aerial show; and generating the morphing sequence, the morphing sequence defining a flightpath for each of the plurality of drones to transition from the first location associated with the first image to the second location associated with the second image.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes one or more magnetometers, configured to detect a magnetic field and to output magnetometer data corresponding to a magnitude of the detected magnetic field; a position sensor, configured to detect a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle relative to one or more reference points, and to output position sensor data representing the detected position; one or more processors, configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle to rotate about its z-axis; receive magnetometer data comprising a plurality of z-axis directional measurements taken during the rotation about the z-axis; receive position sensor data and determine from at least the position sensor data a magnetic field inclination of the detected position; and determine a z-axis magnetometer correction value as a difference between the received magnetometer data for the z-axis and the determined magnetic field inclination.

Abstract: Generating a morphing sequence for an aerial show may include: receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, first frame data defining a first location for each of a plurality of drones in a first image of the aerial show; receiving, at the computing device, second frame data defining a second location for each of the plurality of drones in a second image of the aerial show; and generating the morphing sequence, the morphing sequence defining a flightpath for each of the plurality of drones to transition from the first location associated with the first image to the second location associated with the second image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for distributing a plurality of drones to form an aerial image. The systems and methods may include: receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, location data and drone data; distributing, by the computing device, a plurality of drones based on the aspects of an aerial image such that, during flight, the plurality of drones form the aerial image; and exporting, by the computing device, coordinates for each of the plurality of drones. The location data may define aspects of the aerial image to be formed by the plurality of drones. The drone data may include a number of drones within the plurality of drones. The coordinate for each of the plurality of drones may define a location for a respective drone within the aerial image.

Abstract: A system for unmanned aerial vehicle alignment including: an image sensor, configured to obtain an image of unmanned aerial vehicles and provide to a processor image data corresponding to the obtained image, the processor, configured to determine from the image data image positions of the unmanned aerial vehicles, determine an average position of the unmanned aerial vehicles relative to a first axis based on the image positions, determine an average line that extends along a second axis through the average position, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other, determine a target position of one of the unmanned aerial vehicles based on a relationship between its respective image position and a target alignment, and determine an adjustment instruction to direct said one of the unmanned aerial vehicles toward the target position, and provide the adjustment instruction to said one of the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Abstract: A method for providing an air display comprising a multiplicity of unmanned aircraft comprising: automatic loading of mission data of a plurality of unmanned aircraft into the data store of an unmanned aircraft via the ground station by means of the first data connection, querying and storing identifiers, GPS data, and the system status from a plurality of the multiplicity of unmanned aircraft by the control unit by means of the first or second data connection, calculating the flight paths for the plurality of unmanned aircraft based on the GPS data and the first target positions of the respective unmanned aircraft by means of the control unit in real time, assigning flight path numbers to a plurality of the unmanned aircraft by the control unit by means of the first or second data connection, and independent and synchronized performance of the entire mission by the unmanned aircraft after the launch.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is described having a support frame, a sensor arrangement consisting of a sensor array including at least one sensor, the sensor array having a limited detection field of up to approximately 90 degrees. The at least one sensor is fixedly mounted to the support frame. The at least one sensor is arranged in a flight direction of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a holding structure having a camera holder. The holding structure is mounted to the support frame. The holding structure is configured to provide a continuous 360 degree movement of the camera holder. The unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a first circuit configured to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor. The first circuit is further configured to determine obstacle avoidance data based on the sensor data. The unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a second circuit configured to receive image data from a camera mounted in the camera holder.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle may include a flight control circuit configured to control flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle and to provide a flight path based at least on an actual position of the unmanned aerial vehicle and a desired target position for the unmanned aerial vehicle; and at least one sensor configured to monitor an environment of the unmanned aerial vehicle and to detect one or more obstacles in the environment; wherein the flight control circuit is further configured to determine a local flight path to avoid a collision with one or more detected obstacles, and to superimpose the flight path with the local flight path, thereby generating a flight path to the desired target position avoiding a collision with the one or more detected obstacles.

Abstract: A ground station device for a plurality of unmanned aircraft, comprising an upper face, which comprises a plurality of receptacles for positioning a plurality of unmanned aircraft, a data interface for connecting the ground station device to a control unit, and a power supply device for charging the unmanned aircraft. The ground station device is designed to be stackable so as to form a stack with at least one other ground station device.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle-based systems and related methods for aerial vehicle-based systems and methods for generating landscape models are disclosed herein. An example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a communicator to receive an instruction for the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly over an area of interest. The example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a camera to generate sensor data for the area of interest. The example unmanned aerial vehicle includes data generator to generate a three-dimensional model of the area of interest based on the sensor data. The communicator is to communicate the three-dimensional model to a vehicle.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle-based systems and methods for agricultural landscape modeling are disclosed herein. An example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a communicator to receive an instruction to request the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly over an area of interest. The instruction is from a vehicle in the area of interest. The unmanned aerial vehicle is to fly over the area of interest. The example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a camera to generate image data for the area of interest. The example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a data generator to generate a vegetation landscape model of the area of interest based on the image data. The communicator is to communicate the vegetation landscape model to the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to create drone displays are disclosed. An example drone display design system includes an audience configuration definer to receive an input representing a configuration of an audience from a user, and a drone display designer to, by executing an instruction with a processor, design a drone display to present content to the audience based on the input.

Abstract: A controller comprises a communication interface to receive an anchor localization dataset comprising a plurality of anchor range measurements and a processing circuitry to identify a qualified subset of anchor range measurements from the anchor localization dataset, wherein the anchor range measurements in the qualified subset are consistent, select a first anchor range measurement in the anchor localization dataset from outside the qualified subset of anchor range measurements, and add the first anchor range measurement to the qualified subset of anchor range measurements when the first anchor range measurement is consistent with the anchor range measurements in the qualified subset of anchor range measurements.

Abstract: A system for unmanned aerial vehicle alignment including: an image sensor, configured to obtain an image of unmanned aerial vehicles and provide to a processor image data corresponding to the obtained image, the processor, configured to determine from the image data image positions of the unmanned aerial vehicles, determine an average position of the unmanned aerial vehicles relative to a first axis based on the image positions, determine an average line that extends along a second axis through the average position, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other, determine a target position of one of the unmanned aerial vehicles based on a relationship between its respective image position and a target alignment, and determine an adjustment instruction to direct said one of the unmanned aerial vehicles toward the target position, and provide the adjustment instruction to said one of the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle may include a flight control circuit configured to control flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle and to provide a flight path based at least on an actual position of the unmanned aerial vehicle and a desired target position for the unmanned aerial vehicle; and at least one sensor configured to monitor an environment of the unmanned aerial vehicle and to detect one or more obstacles in the environment; wherein the flight control circuit is further configured to determine a local flight path to avoid a collision with one or more detected obstacles, and to superimpose the flight path with the local flight path, thereby generating a flight path to the desired target position avoiding a collision with the one or more detected obstacles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for distributing a plurality of drones to form an aerial image. The systems and methods may include: receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, location data and drone data; distributing, by the computing device, a plurality of drones based on the aspects of an aerial image such that, during flight, the plurality of drones form the aerial image; and exporting, by the computing device, coordinates for each of the plurality of drones. The location data may define aspects of the aerial image to be formed by the plurality of drones. The drone data may include a number of drones within the plurality of drones. The coordinate for each of the plurality of drones may define a location for a respective drone within the aerial image.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle comprises an image sensor, configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and to generate image sensor data representing the detected electromagnetic radiation; a filter, configured to pass image sensor data representing one or more first wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation and to block image sensor data representing one or more second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation; and one or more processors configured to determine from the passed image sensor data an origin of the detected electromagnetic radiation; and control the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel toward the determined origin.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed an unmanned aerial vehicle alignment system comprising one or more image sensors, configured to obtain an image of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles and provide to one or more processors image data corresponding to the obtained image; one or more processors, configured to detect from the image data image positions of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles; derive a target position based on a relationship between an image position and a target alignment; and determine an adjustment instruction to direct an unmanned aerial vehicle toward the target position.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle is described having a support frame, a sensor arrangement consisting of a sensor array including at least one sensor, the sensor array having a limited detection field of up to approximately 90 degrees. The at least one sensor is fixedly mounted to the support frame. The at least one sensor is arranged in a flight direction of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a holding structure having a camera holder. The holding structure is mounted to the support frame. The holding structure is configured to provide a continuous 360 degree movement of the camera holder. The unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a first circuit configured to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor. The first circuit is further configured to determine obstacle avoidance data based on the sensor data. The unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a second circuit configured to receive image data from a camera mounted in the camera holder.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising one or more magnetometers, configured to detect a magnetic field and to output magnetometer data corresponding to a magnitude of the detected magnetic field; a position sensor, configured to detect a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle relative to one or more reference points, and to output position sensor data representing the detected position; one or more processors, configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle to rotate about its z-axis; receive magnetometer data comprising a plurality of z-axis directional measurements taken during the rotation about the z-axis; receive position sensor data and determine from at least the position sensor data a magnetic field inclination of the detected position; and determine a z-axis magnetometer correction value as a difference between the received magnetometer data for the z-axis and the determined magnetic field inclination.