Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose an aerial vehicle (AV). The AV comprises a body and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes at least one primary rotor placed at a center of the AV and one or more auxiliary rotors mounted at a distance from the center of the AV. The distance of the one or more auxiliary rotors from the center of the AV can vary. Each of the auxiliary rotor are mounted to the AV at an adjustable angle from the center rotor of the vehicle. By adjusting the angles, the amount of lateral force that each auxiliary rotor exerts in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is changed. In this way, the AV can be caused to move about in the horizontal direction without changing the attitude or vertical position of the AV.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for optical scanning, including an optical probe capable of motion for optical scanning with respect to both the interior and the exterior of a scanned object, the optical probe also including light conducting apparatus disposed so as to conduct scan illumination from a source of scan illumination through the probe; light reflecting apparatus disposed so as to project scan illumination radially away from a longitudinal axis of the probe with at least some of the scan illumination projected onto the scanned object; optical line forming apparatus disposed so as to project scan illumination as a line of scan illumination with at least some of the scan illumination projected onto the scanned object; and a lens disposed so as to conduct, through the probe to an optical sensor, scan illumination reflected from the scanned object.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for optical scanning, including an optical probe capable of motion for optical scanning with respect to both the interior and the exterior of a scanned object, the optical probe also including light conducting apparatus disposed so as to conduct scan illumination from a source of scan illumination through the probe; light reflecting apparatus disposed so as to project scan illumination radially away from a longitudinal axis of the probe with at least some of the scan illumination projected onto the scanned object; optical line forming apparatus disposed so as to project scan illumination as a line of scan illumination with at least some of the scan illumination projected onto the scanned object; and a lens disposed so as to conduct, through the probe to an optical sensor, scan illumination reflected from the scanned object.

Abstract: Profiling a manufactured part during its service life, including capturing by an optical scanner images of the part, the part characterized by an expected service life and by attributes with specifications of design values, including capturing the images at more than one time during an actual service life of the part; measuring by a data processor operatively coupled to the scanner, based upon the captured images, actual values of one or more of the attributes when the images are captured; storing, in a database by the data processor operatively coupled to the scanner, the measurements of the actual values of the attributes; and making a determination, from the stored actual values by a data processor operatively coupled to the database, whether the part continues to comply with its specification during the actual service life of the part.

Abstract: Identifying a damaged tool, including capturing, by an optical scanner, images of a manufactured part machined by the damaged tool; determining, from the captured images by a data processor operatively coupled to the scanner, measurements of the part; and determining, by the data processor based upon the measurements, that the tool is damaged.

Abstract: Optical scanning with an optical probe composed of an elongated cylinder of transparent material mounted upon an optical scanner body; one or more sources of scan illumination mounted in the probe distally or proximally with respect to the scanner body and projecting scan illumination longitudinally through the probe; a radially-reflecting optical element mounted in the probe having a conical mirror on a surface of the radially-reflecting optical element, the mirror oriented so as to project scan illumination radially away from a longitudinal axis of the probe with at least some of the scan illumination projected onto a scanned object; a lens mounted in the probe between the radially-reflecting optical element and the scanner body and disposed so as to conduct to an optical sensor scan illumination reflected from the scanned object.

Abstract: Optical scanning with an optical probe composed of an elongated cylinder of transparent material mounted upon an optical scanner body; one or more sources of scan illumination mounted in the probe distally or proximally with respect to the scanner body and projecting scan illumination longitudinally through the probe; a radially-reflecting optical element mounted in the probe having a conical mirror on a surface of the radially-reflecting optical element, the mirror oriented so as to project scan illumination radially away from a longitudinal axis of the probe with at least some of the scan illumination projected onto a scanned object; a lens mounted in the probe between the radially-reflecting optical element and the scanner body and disposed so as to conduct to an optical sensor scan illumination reflected from the scanned object.