Abstract: A method for tracking a maximum temperature point includes acquiring a first pair of coordinates of a maximum temperature point in a current frame of image sensed by an infrared camera, determining a rotation angle of a gimbal equipped with the infrared camera according to the first pair of coordinates of the maximum temperature point in the current frame of image and a pair of coordinates of a target position of the maximum temperature point in a subsequent frame of image, and controlling the gimbal to rotate according to the rotation angle, so as to adjust the maximum temperature point in the subsequent frame of image captured by the infrared camera to be located at the target position.

Abstract: A method for tracking includes obtaining an infrared image and a visible image from an imaging device supported by a carrier of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), combining the infrared image and the visible image to obtain a combined image, identifying a target in the combined image, and controlling at least one of the UAV, the carrier, or the imaging device to track the identified target. Combing the infrared image and the visible image includes matching the infrared image and the visible image based on matching results of different matching methods.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base station includes a housing and a UAV fixation system. The housing includes a top-plate configured for a UAV to land on the top-plate. The UAV fixation system is configured to direct the UAV present on the top-plate to a battery-exchange zone of the top-plate.

Abstract: A method for supporting aerial operation over a surface includes obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the surface; converting the 3D representation of the surface to a two-dimensional (2D) representation of the surface; obtaining a 2D flight path of the aircraft based on the 2D representation of the surface; converting the 2D flight path to a 3D flight path including location coordinates; and controlling the aircraft to conduct a flight mission following the 3D flight path.

Abstract: A control device includes a touchscreen and one or more processors. The touchscreen is configured to display an image captured by an imaging device supported by a movable object or a carrier coupled to the movable object, and receive a user input indicative of selection of a position on the touchscreen to display a selected target of the image and selection of a zoom factor for zooming in or out of the selected target. The one or more processors are configured to generate control data based on information about the user input. The control data includes instructions for the imaging device, the carrier, or the movable object to automatically control an attitude of the imaging device for positioning the selected target at or near the selected position on the touchscreen and a zoom level of the imaging device according to the user selected zoom factor.

Abstract: A method for tracking includes obtaining an infrared image and a visible image from an imaging device supported by a carrier of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), combining the infrared image and the visible image to obtain a combined image, identifying a target in the combined image, and controlling at least one of the UAV, the carrier, or the imaging device to track the identified target. Combing the infrared image and the visible image includes matching the infrared image and the visible image based on matching results of different matching methods.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for tracking includes obtaining an infrared image and a visible image from an imaging device supported by a carrier of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), obtaining a combined image based on the infrared image and the visible image, identifying a target in the combined image, and generating control signals for tracking the identified target using the imaging device.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism includes a base including a landing area and a guide member movably arranged at the landing area and configured to guide a moving object. The landing area includes a positioning portion. The guide member is configured to be in a non-operating state or an operating state relative to the base. A form of the guide member in the non-operating state is different from the form of the guide member in the operating state.

Abstract: A system for landing a mobile platform, such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (“UAV”) and methods for making and using the same. The system can land the UAV by applying a magnetic levitation force upon the UAV and adjusting the applied magnetic levitation force. The system can initiate a landing process to a designated docking station and can guide the UAV to an adjacency of the designated docking station. Once the UAV has entered the adjacency, the magnetic levitation forces can take control of the landing process. During the landing process, certain magnetic sensitive devices installed on the UAV and/or on the designated docking station can be protected by turning them off or by shielding them. The system overcomes disadvantages of currently-available landing systems by restricting a size and weight of the landing arrangements, as well as, avoiding potential damage to the UAV and the designated docking station.

Abstract: A system for landing a mobile platform, such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (“UAV”) and methods for making and using the same. The system can land the UAV by applying a magnetic levitation force upon the UAV and adjusting the applied magnetic levitation force. The system can initiate a landing process to a designated docking station and can guide the UAV to an adjacency of the designated docking station. Once the UAV has entered the adjacency, the magnetic levitation forces can take control of the landing process. During the landing process, certain magnetic sensitive devices installed on the UAV and/or on the designated docking station can be protected by turning them off or by shielding them. The system overcomes disadvantages of currently-available landing systems by restricting a size and weight of the landing arrangements, as well as, avoiding potential damage to the UAV and the designated docking station.

Abstract: A method for locating a faulty photovoltaic (PV) panel includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to fly and perform image capturing, obtaining image information of the PV panel captured by a camera carried by the UAV, obtaining global positioning (GPS) information of the UAV and attitude information of the camera at a shooting time when the camera captures the image information, and, in response to determining that the image information includes fault information of the PV panel, determining a position of the PV panel according to the GPS information of the UAV and the attitude information of the camera at the shooting time.

Abstract: A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) battery changing station includes a UAV landing area configured to support a UAV coupled to a first battery when the UAV is resting on the battery changing station, a movable battery storage unit including a holding station configured to store a second battery, and a battery replacement member configured to retrieve the second battery from the holding station and couple the second battery to the UAV. The movable battery storage unit is configured to permit the holding station to rotate about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are provided for determining a video cover image. The method includes: obtaining a candidate image set containing a plurality of image frames to be processed by determining the plurality of image frames to be processed from a video to be processed, each of the plurality of image frames to be processed containing at least one target object; obtaining a target score of each of the plurality of image frames to be processed by inputting the plurality of image frames to be processed in the candidate image set into a scoring network; and sorting the target scores of the plurality of image frames to be processed according to a set order to obtain a sorting result, and determining a video cover image of the video to be processed from the plurality of image frames to be processed according to the sorting result.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle chassis includes providing the vehicle chassis including a main body and at least one compartment arranged on the vehicle chassis, selectively receiving one or more components in the compartment, and effecting an operational state of a vehicle comprising the vehicle chassis based on a type of at least one of the one or more components that are selectively received in the compartment. The one or more components is selected from a plurality of components of different types.

Abstract: A method for tracking a maximum temperature point includes acquiring a first pair of coordinates of a maximum temperature point in a current frame of image sensed by an infrared camera, determining a rotation angle of a gimbal equipped with the infrared camera according to the first pair of coordinates of the maximum temperature point in the current frame of image and a pair of coordinates of a target position of the maximum temperature point in a subsequent frame of image, and controlling the gimbal to rotate according to the rotation angle, so as to adjust the maximum temperature point in the subsequent frame of image captured by the infrared camera to be located at the target position.

Abstract: A method includes showing a plurality of regions on a display each associated with a respective gimbal of a plurality of gimbals carried by a movable object and configured to depict data captured by a payload carried by the respective gimbal. The plurality of regions include a first region and a second region, and the plurality of gimbals include a first gimbal associated with the first region and a second gimbal associated with the second region. The method further includes, in response to a user interaction with the first region, controlling operation of the first gimbal and not operation of the second gimbal based on the user interaction with the first region when the movable object is operating in an independent mode, and simultaneously controlling the operation of the first gimbal and at least the operation of the second gimbal in a synchronized manner based on the user interaction with the first region when the movable object is operating in a simultaneous mode.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, and a first arm and a second arm extendable from the central body and respectively disposed on the first side and the second side. Each arm of the first arm and the second arm includes a plurality of sections and holds a set of rotor blades via a rotor shaft, and the plurality of sections includes a first section and a second section rotatably connected to the first section. The each arm of the first arm and the second arm is configured to transform between a flight configuration in which the second section of the each arm is extended away from the central body and a compact configuration in which the plurality of sections of the each arm are located at a corresponding side of the central body.

Abstract: A method for supporting aerial operation over a surface includes obtaining a representation of the surface that comprises a plurality of flight sections, and identifying a flight path based on the representation of the surface. The flight path allows an aircraft, when following the flight path, to conduct an operation over the flight sections.

Abstract: In the method, a first pair of coordinates of a maximum temperature point in an image sensed by an infrared camera is acquired, where the image is an image captured by the infrared camera. A rotation angle of a gimbal equipped with the infrared camera is then determined according to the first pair of coordinates of the maximum temperature point and a pair of coordinates of a target position in the image. The gimbal is then controlled to rotate according to the determined rotation angle, so as to adjust the maximum temperature point in the image captured by the infrared camera to be located at the target position.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a central body and a plurality of landing gears that are extendable from and movable relative to the central body. The plurality of landing gears are configured to transform between a flight configuration and a surface configuration. In the flight configuration, the landing gears are extending laterally away from the central body and not in contact with a surface below the central body. In the surface configuration, the landing gears are extending towards the surface below the central body. When the landing gears are in the surface configuration, the landing gears are configured to support a weight of the central body on the surface and transport the UAV over the surface by moving one or more of the landing gears relative to the surface.