Abstract: An aerial vehicle and system for automatically detecting an object (e.g., human, pet, or other animal) approaching the aerial vehicle is described. When an approaching object is detected by an object detection component, a safety profile may be executed to reduce or avoid any potential harm to the object and/or the aerial vehicle. For example, if the object is detected entering a safety perimeter of the aerial vehicle, the rotation of a propeller closest to the object may be stopped to avoid harming the object and rotations of remaining propellers may be modified to maintain control and flight of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) configured to autonomously deliver items of inventory to various destinations. The UAV may receive inventory information and a destination location and autonomously retrieve the inventory from a location within a materials handling facility, compute a route from the materials handling facility to a destination and travel to the destination to deliver the inventory.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move independently in any of six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw).

Abstract: The disclosure describes an automated aerial vehicle (AAV) and system for automatically detecting a contact or an imminent contact between a propeller of the AAV and an object (e.g., human, pet, or other animal). When a contact or an imminent contact is detected, a safety profile may be executed to reduce or avoid any potential harm to the object and/or the AAV. For example, if a contact with a propeller of the AAV by an object is detected, the rotation of the propeller may be stopped to avoid harming the object. Likewise, an object detection component may be used to detect an object that is nearing a propeller, stop the rotation of the propeller, and/or navigate the AAV away from the detected object.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

Abstract: Recent location and control information received from “lead” vehicles that traveled over a segment of land, sea, or air is captured to inform, via aggregated data, subsequent “trailing” vehicles that travel over that same segment of land, sea, or air. The aggregated data may provide the trailing vehicles with annotated road information that identifies obstacles. In some embodiments, at least some sensor control data may be provided to the subsequent vehicles to assist those vehicles in identifying the obstacles and/or performing other tasks. Besides, obstacles, the location and control information may enable determining areas traveled by vehicles that are not included in conventional maps, as well as vehicle actions associated with particular locations, such as places where vehicles park or make other maneuvers.

Abstract: Aspects relate to observing various activities, interactions, behaviors, and other factors associated with a data exchange and creating one or more markers based on significant details associated with the observance. The one or more markers are retained and selectively rendered as a function of one or more conditions that should be satisfied before the marker is presented to the user. Some markers can contain parameters that should be satisfied in order for the marker to be considered complete. If a parameter is not satisfied, subsequent markers can be created as a function of the rendered marker. The subsequent markers can be rendered when a condition associated with the subsequent marker is satisfied.

Abstract: Described are example systems and methods that utilize simulated and/or actual flight data to determine an aerial delivery time estimate between a source location and a delivery destination, based on current flight conditions. For example, multiple flight simulations along a flight path between a source location and a delivery destination may be performed based on various different flight conditions and the flight time determined from the simulations may be maintained in a data store, associated with the flight path and simulated flight conditions. When a request for item information is received, current flight conditions may be determined and used to determine an estimated flight time based on stored simulated flight data having similar flight conditions to the current flight conditions.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that can operate in either a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) orientation or a horizontal flight orientation. The aerial vehicle includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll) when in the VTOL orientation. The aerial vehicle also includes a ring wing that surrounds the propulsion mechanisms and provides lift to the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is operating in the horizontal flight orientation.

Abstract: Described is a system and apparatus that provides redundant flight control for an aerial vehicle without the use of independent and dedicated redundant flight control boards and processors. Additional compute resources available on processors of other device boards of an aerial vehicle may be used to execute redundant flight control programs. The device boards and/or those redundant flight control programs monitor the operability of the various flight controllers. If any of the flight controllers is determined to be inoperable, one of the redundant flight control programs assumes the role of the inoperable controller.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) configured to autonomously deliver items of inventory to various destinations. The UAV may receive inventory information and a destination location and autonomously retrieve the inventory from a location within a materials handling facility, compute a route from the materials handling facility to a destination and travel to the destination to deliver the inventory.

Abstract: Aspects relate to observing various activities, interactions, behaviors, and other factors associated with a data exchange and creating one or more markers based on significant details associated with the observance. The one or more markers are retained and selectively rendered as a function of one or more conditions that should be satisfied before the marker is presented to the user. Some markers can contain parameters that should be satisfied in order for the marker to be considered complete. If a parameter is not satisfied, subsequent markers can be created as a function of the rendered marker. The subsequent markers can be rendered when a condition associated with the subsequent marker is satisfied.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) that can operate in either a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) orientation or a horizontal flight orientation. The aerial vehicle includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll) when in the VTOL orientation. The aerial vehicle also includes a ring wing that surrounds the propulsion mechanisms and provides lift to the aerial vehicle when the aerial vehicle is operating in the horizontal flight orientation.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to designation, design, and service of replaceable components of aerial vehicles may include designating a component as a replaceable component based on a determined service frequency, designing the replaceable component for incorporation into an aerial vehicle based on the service frequency, and servicing the replaceable component according to the service frequency. In this manner, a replaceable component having a relatively high service frequency may be incorporated into an aerial vehicle at a relatively more accessible location, and a replaceable component having a relatively low service frequency may be incorporated into an aerial vehicle at a relatively less accessible location, thereby facilitating efficient and reliable maintenance of replaceable components.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle that may be configured during flight to optimize for agility or efficiency.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of maneuverability propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move in any of the six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, pitch, yaw, and roll). The aerial vehicle may also include a lifting propulsion mechanism that operates to generate a force sufficient to maintain the aerial vehicle at an altitude.

Abstract: Systems and methods to reduce aerodynamic drag and/or affect flight characteristics of an aerial vehicle may include adjustable fairings associated with one or more components of the aerial vehicle. The adjustable fairings may be coupled to and at least partially surround a motor, propulsion mechanism, motor arm, strut, or other component of an aerial vehicle. In addition, the adjustable fairings may be passively movable between two or more positions responsive to airflow around the fairings, and/or the adjustable fairings may be actively moved between two more positions to affect flight characteristics. Further, the adjustable fairings may include actuatable elements to alter a portion of an outer surface of the fairings to thereby affect flight characteristics. In this manner, adjustable fairings associated with various components of an aerial vehicle may reduce aerodynamic drag and/or may improve control and safety of an aerial vehicle.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods to utilize an objective function of an aerial vehicle in constructing and/or updating an occupancy map. The described systems and methods can determine whether to include, add, and/or remove an object from an occupancy map based on one or more confidence score(s) that can be determined for the presence (or absence) of an object at a given location. The confidence score for an object at a given location can be determined, for example, based on various sources of information, which can each be provided different weights, parameters, thresholds, etc. based on the objective function of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.