Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically routing robots based on exploratory on-board mapping are disclosed. A control system of a robot includes an image manager to command a depth camera to capture depth images of an environment. The depth camera has a field of view. The control system further includes a map generator to generate a map of the environment based on the depth images. The map includes a representation of unoccupied space within the environment, and a path extending through the unoccupied space from a reference location of the robot to a target location of the robot. The control system further includes a field of view evaluator to determine whether the field of view associated with the reference location satisfies a threshold. The control system further includes a route generator to generate, in response to the field of view associated with the reference location satisfying the threshold, a route to be followed by the robot within the environment.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for an architecture for contextual memories in map representation for 3D reconstruction and navigation are described herein. In an example, a system for contextual memory mapping is adapted to receive a data set of physical world sensor readings. The system may be further adapted to generate voxel data from the data set, the voxel data includes voxel coordinates and a physical world occupancy indicator. The system may be further adapted to select a block of addresses in the memory to store the voxel data. The system may be further adapted to generate a hash map to map voxel coordinates to memory locations in the block of addresses, the voxel coordinates having a contextual relationship that is maintained by the hash map. The system may be further adapted to store the voxel data at memory addresses based on the hash map.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing collisions between drones based on drone-to-drone acoustic communications are disclosed. A control system of a first drone includes a route manager to command the first drone to track a first route. The control system further includes a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on the first drone to detect acoustic signals. The control system further includes a collision prevention engine to determine a second route based on acoustic signals detected by the acoustic sensors, the acoustic signals being received from a second drone while the first drone is tracking the first route. The second route differs from the first route to prevent a drone-to-drone collision between the first drone and the second drone. The collision prevention engine is to cause the route manager to command the first drone to track the second route instead of the first route.

Abstract: A drone controller comprises processing circuitry to, at a first time when the drone is in flight, to determine a drone state comprising a position and a velocity of the drone and determine a relative obstacle state comprising a relative position and a relative velocity of the drone with respect to an obstacle. The processor then determines a reaction to avoid the obstacle based on the relative obstacle state and applies a signal related to the reaction to one or more actuator control inputs of the drone that modifies a drone path existing at the first time to avoid the obstacle.

Abstract: System and techniques for drone obstacle avoidance using real-time wind estimation are described herein. A wind metric is measures at a first drone and communicated to a second drone. In response to receiving the wind metric, a flight plan of the second drone is modified based on the wind metric.

Abstract: In one example, notice of a priority vehicle is obtained. A first protective field is generated around a current vehicle and a second protective field is generated around the priority vehicle. A priority lane is created by moving the first protective field of the current vehicle away from the second protective field of the priority vehicle.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for drone path planning are described herein. A system for drone path planning for a drone, the system to perform the operations: storing a current location of the drone as a current waypoint in a set of waypoints, the set of waypoints to include the current waypoint and a previous waypoint; detecting a current set of frontiers from the current location; storing the current set of frontiers in a list of active goals, the current set of frontiers associated with the current location; determining whether a target is discovered in the current set of frontiers; exploring the current set of frontiers to attempt to find the target; and exploring a previous set of frontiers from the list of active goals, when exploring the current set of frontiers does not, discover the target, the previous set of frontiers associated with the previous waypoint.

Abstract: Systems and methods may include a lift drone and a carrier drone to convey a payload. The lift drone may vertically lift the payload, alone or with the carrier drone, to a transfer location. The carrier drone may receive control of the payload at the transfer location, such as by receiving physical transfer of the payload, taking over conveyance of the payload from the lift drone, or the like. The lift drone may remain coupled with the payload or the carrier drone or may decouple after transfer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for drone collision avoidance. Processing circuitry of a drone extracts information from an encoded image captured by a detection device with a field view overlapping the encoded image. Based on the extracted information a determination is made whether a collision will occur on the flight trajectory of the drone with an external source. The flight trajectory of the drone is then altered to avoid a collision.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for audio noise reduction from a drone are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an acoustic sensor to gather acoustic data and at least one rotational motion sensor to gather rotational motion data of a first rotor and second rotational motion data of a second rotor. The example apparatus also includes an analyzer to identify a first filter that matches the first rotational motion data and identify a second filter that matches the second rotational motion data. The analyzer also is to filter the acoustic data into filtered acoustic data with the first identified filter and the second identified filter and generate an audio signal based on the filtered acoustic data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for drone collision avoidance that includes extracting first feature information from an image. The image is captured from a first camera oriented in a direction. Second feature information is received from an external source. The second feature information is extracted from a second image of the environment captured by a second camera oriented in the direction. The first feature information and the second feature information are matched. A second local frame of reference of the second feature information is transformed to a first local frame of reference of the first feature information to determine a location of the external source. If a collision with the external source will occur is determined based on the location of the external source and a current flight trajectory.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for an architecture for contextual memories in map representation for 3D reconstruction and navigation are described herein. In an example, a system for contextual memory mapping is adapted to receive a data set of physical world sensor readings. The system may be further adapted to generate voxel data from the data set, the voxel data includes voxel coordinates and a physical world occupancy indicator. The system may be further adapted to select a block of addresses in the memory to store the voxel data. The system may be further adapted to generate a hash map to map voxel coordinates to memory locations in the block of addresses, the voxel coordinates having a contextual relationship that is maintained by the hash map. The system may be further adapted to store the voxel data at memory addresses based on the hash map.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for audio noise reduction from a drone are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an acoustic sensor to gather acoustic data and at least one rotational motion sensor to gather rotational motion data of a first rotor and second rotational motion data of a second rotor. The example apparatus also includes an analyzer to identify a first filter that matches the first rotational motion data and identify a second filter that matches the second rotational motion data. The analyzer also is to filter the acoustic data into filtered acoustic data with the first identified filter and the second identified filter and generate an audio signal based on the filtered acoustic data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically routing robots based on exploratory on-board mapping are disclosed. A control system of a robot includes an image manager to command a depth camera to capture depth images of an environment. The depth camera has a field of view. The control system further includes a map generator to generate a map of the environment based on the depth images. The map includes a representation of unoccupied space within the environment, and a path extending through the unoccupied space from a reference location of the robot to a target location of the robot. The control system further includes a field of view evaluator to determine whether the field of view associated with the reference location satisfies a threshold. The control system further includes a route generator to generate, in response to the field of view associated with the reference location satisfying the threshold, a route to be followed by the robot within the environment.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for drone path planning are described herein. A system for drone path planning for a drone, the system to perform the operations: storing a current location of the drone as a current waypoint in a set of waypoints, the set of waypoints to include the current waypoint and a previous waypoint; detecting a current set of frontiers from the current location; storing the current set of frontiers in a list of active goals, the current set of frontiers associated with the current location; determining whether a target is discovered in the current set of frontiers; exploring the current set of frontiers to attempt to find the target; and exploring a previous set of frontiers from the active list of goals, when exploring the current set of frontiers does not discover the target, the previous set of frontiers associated with the previous waypoint.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for audio noise reduction from a drone are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first sensor to gather acoustic data and a second sensor to gather rotational motion data of a rotor. The example apparatus also includes an analyzer to match the rotational motion data to a filter and filter the acoustic data using the filter. The analyzer also is to generate an audio signal based on the filtered acoustic data.

Abstract: Systems and methods may include a lift drone and a carrier drone to convey a payload. The lift drone may vertically lift the payload, alone or with the carrier drone, to a transfer location. The carrier drone may receive control of the payload at the transfer location, such as by receiving physical transfer of the payload, taking over conveyance of the payload from the lift drone, or the like. The lift drone may remain coupled with the payload or the carrier drone or may decouple after transfer.

Abstract: In one example, notice of a priority vehicle is obtained. A first protective field is generated around a current vehicle and a second protective field is generated around the priority vehicle. A priority lane is created by moving the first protective field of the current vehicle away from the second protective field of the priority vehicle.

Abstract: System and techniques for drone obstacle avoidance using real-time wind estimation are described herein. A wind metric is measures at a first drone and communicated to a second drone. In response to receiving the wind metric, a flight plan of the second drone is modified based on the wind metric.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for drone collision avoidance. Processing circuitry of a drone extracts information from an encoded image captured by a detection device with a field view overlapping the encoded image. Based on the extracted information a determination is made whether a collision will occur on the flight trajectory of the drone with an external source. The flight trajectory of the drone is then altered to avoid a collision.