Abstract: Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing area with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a docking area i) with a first end adjacent to the landing area and a second opposite end and ii) a docking surface configured to contact the second surface of the landing gear of the drone; a fixed member i) with a third surface adjacent to the second end of the docking area and ii) configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member configured to i) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area onto the docking surface and ii) secure the landing gear of the drone in place between the docking surface of the docking area and the third surface of the fixed member.

Abstract: Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing area with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a docking area i) with a first end adjacent to the landing area and a second opposite end and ii) a docking surface configured to contact the second surface of the landing gear of the drone; a fixed member i) with a third surface adjacent to the second end of the docking area and ii) configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member configured to i) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area onto the docking surface and ii) secure the landing gear of the drone in place between the docking surface of the docking area and the third surface of the fixed member.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for performing privacy-aware surveillance with a security camera drone. The drone obtains image data using an imaging device and processes the image data to detect an object external to the drone. In response to processing the image data, the drone determines multiple viewing angles indicated in the image data with respect to the object. Based on the image data and the multiple viewing angles, a first section of the area for surveillance and a second, different section of the area to be excluded from surveillance are identified. The drone determines an adjustment to at least one of the multiple viewing angles to cause the second section to be excluded from surveillance. Based on the adjustment, the drone controls the imaging device to exclude the second section from surveillance imagery obtained by the drone.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for performing privacy-aware surveillance with a security camera drone. The drone obtains image data using an imaging device and processes the image data to detect an object external to the drone. In response to processing the image data, the drone determines multiple viewing angles indicated in the image data with respect to the object. Based on the image data and the multiple viewing angles, a first section of the area for surveillance and a second, different section of the area to be excluded from surveillance are identified. The drone determines an adjustment to at least one of the multiple viewing angles to cause the second section to be excluded from surveillance. Based on the adjustment, the drone controls the imaging device to exclude the second section from surveillance imagery obtained by the drone.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for surveillance with security camera drone. In some implementations, a determination is made to begin surveillance of an in-house service with a drone. A duration of the in-house service is determined. A location to land the drone during the in-house service is determined based on the duration of the in-house service. Landing of the drone is initiated at the determined location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for surveillance with security camera drone. In some implementations, a determination is made to begin surveillance of an in-house service with a drone. A duration of the in-house service is determined. A location to land the drone during the in-house service is determined based on the duration of the in-house service. Landing of the drone is initiated at the determined location.

Abstract: Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing area with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a docking area i) with a first end adjacent to the landing area and a second opposite end and ii) a docking surface configured to contact the second surface of the landing gear of the drone; a fixed member i) with a third surface adjacent to the second end of the docking area and ii) configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member configured to i) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area onto the docking surface and ii) secure the landing gear of the drone in place between the docking surface of the docking area and the third surface of the fixed member.

Abstract: Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing station configured to mount onto a non-horizontal surface; a landing area i) connected to the landing station and ii) with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a fixed member i) connected to the landing station and that ii) includes a third surface near an end of the landing area and iii) is configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member i) connected to the landing station and ii) that is configured to a) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area and b) secure the landing gear of the drone substantially in place between the first surface of the landing area and the third surface of the fixed member.

Abstract: Stations for a drone are described as well as a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property using one or more drones. The drone is launched from a docking station and configured to navigate the property to perform operations to monitor the property. The docking station is located at an area of the property. The docking station includes a landing surface that is parallel to a particular area of the property that supports the docking station. A positioning surface of the docking station slopes toward the landing surface. The positioning surface, including its slope, is configured to receive the drone and guide the drone toward the landing surface.

Abstract: A security monitoring system may implement a method for surveilling an outdoor area using a drone. The method involves receiving an input to initiate a pre-surveillance operation. The input indicates a type of pre-surveillance operation to be performed in the outdoor area. The drone may be configured according to the input and may then perform the pre-surveillance operation to obtain data indicative of environmental features in the outdoor area. A flight trajectory path for the drone is generated based on the data indicative of the environmental features in the outdoor area. The flight trajectory path includes a path for the drone to move within the outdoor area. The drone then performs a detailed surveillance of the outdoor area according to the flight trajectory path. A graphical representation of the outdoor area is generated based on data obtained from performing the surveillance of the outdoor area.

Abstract: A security monitoring system may implement a building space mapping process using a drone. The process involves generating a floor plan of the building space by performing pre-mapping and detailed mapping protocols, and allowing the user to specify particular areas of interest that may restrict or enhance the drone's ability to move through the building space. The drone may generate and travel along a trajectory path based on the floor plan and information collected during the mapping protocols.

Abstract: Techniques, devices, and systems are described for determining and adjusting a perspective angle of a drone sensor such as a camera. A described drone system can include an aerial drone; a ground station; an actuator to adjust the drone camera's field of view; and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive an event associated with one or more spatial coordinates or zones, determine the camera's current perspective angle, determine a target perspective angle based on the event such that the target perspective angle will cause the camera to capture imagery from the one or more spatial coordinates or zones, and cause the actuator to adjust the camera from the current perspective angle to the target perspective angle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for drone base station detection. In some implementations, a drone including a camera that is configured to generate image data and one or more processors and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable. The instructions include receiving the image data from the camera, identifying at least four objects in the image data, determining a first distance between a first object and a second object, determining a second distance between a third object and a fourth object, determining a third distance between the second object and the third object, and based on the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance, determining a location of the drone.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for drone base station detection. In some implementations, a drone including a camera that is configured to generate image data and one or more processors and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable. The instructions include receiving the image data from the camera, identifying at least four objects in the image data, determining a first distance between a first object and a second object, determining a second distance between a third object and a fourth object, determining a third distance between the second object and the third object, and based on the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance, determining a location of the drone.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for security camera drone communication coupling to control and computing station. In some implementations, a first drone and a second drone are configured to monitor a property. A base station is configured to communicate with the first drone and the second drone. The first drone is configured to determine the first drone is unable to communicate with the base station and able to communicate with the second drone. Based on determining the first drone is unable to communicate with the base station and able to communicate with the second drone, the first drone is configured to determine the first drone is able to communicate with the second drone, transmit, to the second drone, a data packet and instructions to transmit the data packet to the base station.

Abstract: A drone is used to map difficult transition spaces within buildings such as staircases between different levels of a multi-level building. The mapping technique used may vary based on the type of building space. For instance, for linear staircases, an orthogonal trajectory path or a smooth trajectory path may be used to map the transition space. The orthogonal trajectory path and the smooth trajectory path may be derived, at least in part, on initial and terminating points provided by a user. For circular staircases, a user may move the drone from the initial point to the terminating point, and the drone may determine a trajectory path based on the user's movement of the drone from the initial point to the terminating point.

Abstract: A drone is used to map difficult transition spaces within buildings such as staircases between different levels of a multi-level building. The mapping technique used may vary based on the type of building space. For instance, for linear staircases, an orthogonal trajectory path or a smooth trajectory path may be used to map the transition space. The orthogonal trajectory path and the smooth trajectory path may be derived, at least in part, on initial and terminating points provided by a user. For circular staircases, a user may move the drone from the initial point to the terminating point, and the drone may determine a trajectory path based on the user's movement of the drone from the initial point to the terminating point.

Abstract: A method for an autonomous vehicle to follow a target may include obtaining a three dimensional virtual cable for an autonomous vehicle and obtaining a position and a velocity of a target. Additionally, the method may include obtaining a position of an autonomous vehicle and determining a calculated position of the autonomous vehicle based on the position and velocity of the target and based on the three dimensional virtual cable. The method may also include determining a velocity vector magnitude for the autonomous vehicle based on the calculated position, the position of the autonomous vehicle, and the three dimensional virtual cable. The method may further include determining a velocity vector for the autonomous vehicle based on the velocity vector magnitude and a line gravity vector. The method may also include adjusting a velocity and a direction of the autonomous vehicle based on the velocity vector.

Abstract: A method for an autonomous vehicle to follow a target is provided. The method may include obtaining a position and a velocity of a target and obtaining a position of an autonomous vehicle. The method may also include obtaining a path that encloses the position of the target and determining a path rate for the autonomous vehicle to move along the path based on the velocity of the target. The method may also include determining a path position along the path based on the position of the autonomous vehicle and determining a change in the position of the autonomous vehicle based on the path position, the path rate, and the velocity of the target. The method may also include adjusting a velocity and a direction of the autonomous vehicle to achieve the change in the position of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A method for an autonomous vehicle to follow a target is provided. The method may include obtaining a position and a velocity of a target and obtaining a position of an autonomous vehicle. The method may also include obtaining a path that encloses the position of the target and determining a path rate for the autonomous vehicle to move along the path based on the velocity of the target. The method may also include determining a path position along the path based on the position of the autonomous vehicle and determining a change in the position of the autonomous vehicle based on the path position, the path rate, and the velocity of the target. The method may also include adjusting a velocity and a direction of the autonomous vehicle to achieve the change in the position of the autonomous vehicle.