Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first developing member that develops a first toner image on a first image carrier with a brilliant toner containing a flat pigment; a second developing member that develops a second toner image on a second image carrier with a non-brilliant toner containing no brilliant pigment; and a controller that controls the first developing member and the second developing member. The controller controls a development efficiency of the brilliant toner of the first developing member to be lower than a development efficiency of the non-brilliant toner of the second developing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an accommodating portion, a motor, and a development sensor. In the accommodating portion, a replacement developing component is fitted. The replacement developing component is fitted with a rotary member including an operating member, and stores toner. The motor rotates the rotary member on the replacement developing component fitted in the accommodating portion. When a new replacement developing component is fitted, the development sensor is not in contact with the operating member before the motor rotates the rotary member and is in contact with the operating member on the rotary member that has moved as the motor rotates. The development sensor outputs a first level when in contact with the operating member and outputs a second level when not in contact with the operating member.

Abstract: A pressurization device for a toner cartridge includes an inner cover, an airbag and a sliding member. The inner cover is arranged at a toner feeding port of the toner cartridge; the airbag is made of elastic material; the airbag includes a fixed end that is fixed to the inner cover and a free end that extends outward from the fixed end; the fixed end is provided with an airbag opening interconnected to an interior of the toner cartridge; a remaining portion of the airbag is arranged as closed except for the airbag opening; a first end of the sliding member is connected to the free end of the airbag and moves toward the fixed end of the airbag back and forth, so that the airbag ejects gas into the toner cartridge by means of being compressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a rotatable intermediary transfer belt, a plurality of stretching rollers, an outer roller, a moving mechanism, and a controller. In a case that a basis weight of a first recording material is a first basis weight and a basis weight of a second recording material is a second basis weight greater than the first basis weight, a position of the inner roller is a second position when the toner image is transferred onto the second recording material, and in a case that the basis weight of the first recording material and the basis weight of the second recording material are the second basis weight, the position of the inner roller is a first position when the toner image is transferred onto the second recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, first and second rotating members, and a discharge unit to discharge a recording material to an outside. The fixing unit fixes an image from the image forming unit onto the recording material. The first rotating member comes into contact with and guides the image bearing recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The second rotating member comes into contact with the image bearing recording material more on a downstream side than the first rotating member in a conveyance direction of the recording material, guides the recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The first rotating member does not perform swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material, and the second rotating member performs swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material.

Abstract: A heating device includes a cylindrical film a heater disposed inside the cylindrical film on an inner surface of the cylindrical film. The heater has a plurality of heating elements on a first surface that are spaced from each other at intervals along an axial direction. A heat transfer member contacts a second surface of the heater. The heat transfer member is arranged such that, in a first region of the heater that includes just a single one of the heating elements, contact between the heater and heat transfer member is greater than in a second region of the heater that includes an interval between a pair of adjacent heating elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a heater, a first temperature detection unit, a pair of second temperature detection units, a pair of first sheet-width detection units, a pair of second sheet-width detection units, and a control unit. The heater includes a first heat generating element, a second heat generating element having a length smaller than a length of the first heat generating element in a longitudinal direction, and a third heat generating element having a length smaller than the length of the second heat generating element in the longitudinal direction. The control unit controls a temperature of the heater based on a detection result of the pair of first sheet-width detection units, a detection result of the pair of second sheet-width detection units, and a detection result of the pair of second temperature detection units.

Abstract: A fixing belt includes, in the following order: a resin base material layer; an elastic layer; and a release layer, in which the elastic layer contains an elastic material and an aggregate in which plural fibrous carbons are entangled with each other, and a maximum diameter of the aggregate is 15% or less of a film thickness of the elastic layer.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a first electronic device, a second electronic device, a bundled wire configured to supply at least one of an electric signal and electric power between the first and the second electronic devices, a frame member, a bundled wire guide, and a plurality of holding portions disposed at different positions on the wiring path. Each of the plurality of the holding portions includes a hinge portion connected to an upper portion of one of the pair of the side wall portions, a cover portion connected to the storage portion via the hinge portion, and an engagement portion to secure the cover portion in a closed position. The frame member includes a groove portion to which the bundled wire guide is fitted, and the bundled wire guide with the bundled wire stored is fitted into the groove portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a fixing device with a heating element to heat a sheet. A controller is configured to control electric power supplied to the heating element based on a prior use metric. The controller reduces the electric power supplied to the heating element during a startup period if an electric power level supplied from a power supply is equal to or greater than a threshold value and the prior use metric is equal to or greater than a reference value.

Abstract: A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image carrier unit includes an image carrier including a cylindrical main body portion and a pair of flange portions attached to both ends of the main body portion, a first cleaning member that rotates in contact under a prescribed pressure with an outer circumferential surface of the main body portion, a unit frame that rotatably supports the image carrier and the first cleaning member, and an image carrier protective cover that includes a cover main body extending in an axial direction of the image carrier and a side surface portion that is disposed on one end side of the cover main body. On the side surface portion, an image carrier holding portion is formed that performs positioning of the image carrier with respect to the unit frame and releases a pressure contact state between the image carrier and the first cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus housing, and an imaging module that is removably installed in the apparatus housing. The imaging module includes an image carrier unit that is capable of carrying an image, an image writer unit that writes an image on the image carrier unit, and a module housing that registers and removably holds the image carrier unit and the image writer unit. A fastening unit that registers the module housing with respect to the apparatus housing and that removably fastens the module housing is disposed between the apparatus housing and the module housing.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling member for transmitting a driving force to the photosensitive drum. A movable member is provided movable relative to a frame and a rotatable portion is supported by the movable member and rotatable relative to the movable member. A regulating member is movable between a regulating position for regulating movement of the movable member by contacting the rotatable portion and a non-regulating position where the regulating member does not regulate the movable member. A position of an end portion of the movable member in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum changes relative to the frame by movement of the movable member between a first position and a second position, and the end portion of the movable member is closer to the coupling member in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum when the movable member is in the second position than when the movable member is in the first position.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device includes a top plate that is part of a case of a body of the image forming device. An opening is formed on the top plate, and the opening is processed by burring.

Abstract: A video display system for providing vision correction for multiple users may include a display device having a holographic layer and a vision correction layer. The system may also include a processor coupled to the display device to receive a first prescription corresponding to a first user and a second prescription corresponding to a second user, and to modulate the display device so that the first user at a first angle and the second user at a second angle can view a non-distorted image from the display device.

Abstract: A balance for a horological movement, including rigid parts constituted by a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, at least one felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the at least one felloe sector to said hub, and including a slot for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, the slot opening into a housing delimited on the one hand by a rigid part of the balance, and on the other hand an elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of the balance, and a second free distal end. The elastic arm can have a body of a non-constant section, a part of the body having a greater thickness than the rest of the elastic arm so as to have a larger volume of material under stress and store a maximum of elastic energy.

Abstract: A horology component (1) for a timepiece, including a first portion (10) and a second portion (20), the first portion (10) comprising one part that is at least partially transparent and at least partially superposed on top of the second portion (20), this second portion (20) taking the form of a massive portion comprising a material capable of emitting at least one emission light wave if excited by at least one excitation light wave, and the at least partially transparent part of the first portion allowing an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20) to be transmitted at least partially toward the outside of the horology component so that the horology component exhibits at least a first appearance by day and at least one different second appearance by night where the first portion (10) is backlit by an emission light wave emitted by the second portion (20).

Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, and a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor having an impeller configured to rotate and drive a working fluid through a working fluid circuit of the HVAC system in an active operating mode. The HVAC system further includes a controller configured to, in response to receiving an input indicative of a transition to operate in an inactive operating mode, suspend the active operating mode by interrupting a supply of power to the compressor, adjust pre-rotation vanes of the compressor, a variable geometry diffuser of the compressor to a first position, or both to enable a backflow of the working fluid through the compressor for a first interval of time, and, after the first interval of time has elapsed, adjust the pre-rotation vanes, the variable geometry diffuser, or both to a second position to block the backflow of the working fluid through the compressor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training a surrogate model for predicting system states for a building management system based on generated data from a simulation model are disclosed herein. The simulation model is calibrated for a building of interest. The building of interest includes building equipment operable to control a variable state of the building. The simulated data of system states are generated using the calibrated simulation model. A surrogate model is trained based on the simulated data of system states from the calibrated simulation model. System state predictions are generated using the surrogate model. The surrogate model is re-trained based on updated operational data. An updated series of system state predictions is generated using the re-trained surrogate model.

Abstract: A control system for an operable system such as a flow control system or temperature control system. The system operates in a control loop to regularly update a model with respect at least one optimizable input variable based on the detected variables. The model provides prediction of use of the input variables in all possible operation points or paths of the system variables which achieve an output setpoint. In some example embodiments, the control loop is performed during initial setup and subsequent operation of the one or more operable elements in the operable system. The control system is self-learning in that at least some of the initial and subsequent parameters of the system are determined automatically during runtime.

Abstract: A model management system for a building, including one or more memory devices and one or more processors. The one or more memory devices are configured to store instructions to be executed on the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to determine whether chiller fault data exists in chiller data used to generate a plurality of chiller shutdown prediction models. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a first performance evaluation value for each of the plurality of chiller shutdown prediction models using a first evaluation technique in response to a determination that chiller fault data exists in the chiller data, and generate a second performance evaluation value for each of the plurality of chiller shutdown prediction models using a second evaluation technique in response to a determination that chiller fault data does not exist in the chiller data.

Abstract: A droplet range control system includes a first obtainer that obtains environment information indicating at least wind speed in a space, wind direction in the space, temperature in the space, humidity in the space, or spatial scale, a second obtainer that obtains target information indicating positions and directions of faces of a first target and a second target in the space, an estimator that estimates a range of droplets from the first target on a basis of the environment information and the target information, and a controller that, if a respiration area of the second target exists within the range, conditions an environment in the space such that the respiration area gets out of the range.

Abstract: A power supply control system includes a power generator for providing a signal to a load. The power generator includes a power controller controlling a power amplifier. The power generator includes an adaptive controller for varying the output signal controlling the power amplifier. The adaptive controller compares an error between a measured output and a predicted output to determine adaptive values applied to the power controller. The power generator also includes a sensor that generates an output signal that is digitized and processed. The sensor signal is mixed with a constant K. The constant K is varied to vary the processing of the sensor output signal. The value K may be commutated based on the phase, frequency, or both phase and frequency, and the bandwidth of K is determined by coupled power in the sensor output signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an STM32-based automatic control system for a broadcast transmitter, including an STM32 microcontroller, a host computer, a drive unit, a touch screen unit, a local network server unit, an image acquisition unit and a sampling unit, wherein the STM32 microcontroller is connected to the host computer. An output interface of the STM32 microcontroller is connected to the drive unit, wherein the touch screen unit is configured to display acquired information that is processed, and receive a control instruction of a touch operation. The local network server unit is configured to achieve remote network display of transmitter information and remote network control, the image acquisition unit is configured to timely acquire an image in a cabinet of the transmitter such that a maintainer can conduct remote observation, and the sampling unit is configured to control the drive unit to achieve automatic control of the transmitter.

Abstract: A valve driver system for driving a plurality of valves of a valve manifold. The system includes a plurality of valve drivers, wherein each valve driver is configured to drive a zone of one or more valves of the manifold; and, a power board that separately powers the respective valve drivers such that the valve drivers are powered separately with a separate power source that can individually power the valve driver. A multiple safety zone valve driver system for driving a plurality of valves of a valve manifold. The system includes a plurality of valve drivers; a first safe PM output; and a second safe PM output. The first and second safe PM outputs are configured such that in response to a first type of safety event the first PM output shuts off power to the first one or more valve drivers and the second PM output maintains power to the second one or more valve drivers. A zoning adapter for adapting logical addresses of valve drivers to physical addresses of valves of a valve manifold.

Abstract: A distributed control system includes: a plurality of control devices; a process IO master device shared by the control devices and including an output authority table and an output data memory having areas for storing data outputted from the control devices; and a plurality of process IO modules connected to the process IO master device and each connected to a sensor/actuator, wherein the output authority table provides an authority that determines the control device of which output data is to be adopted, for each of addresses corresponding to the actuators.

Abstract: A motor controller includes: a command unit which outputs a command value for controlling a motor that drives a driven unit; a motor control unit which controls the motor based on the command value; a compensation filter which compensates for the command value; and a preprocessing unit which is provided in a stage preceding the compensation filter, the compensation filter has a frequency region in which a gain is greater than 1 and the preprocessing unit executes, when a variation in the command value before being compensated for with the compensation filter is equal to or less than a predetermined value, preprocessing in which a past command value is used as a current command value.

Abstract: Intelligence guided system and method for fruits and vegetables processing includes a conveyor for carrying produces, various image acquiring and processing hardware and software, water and air jets for cutting and controlling the position and orientation of the produces, and a networking hardware and software, operating in synchronism in an efficient manner to attain speed and accuracy of the produce cutting and high yield and low waste produces processing. The 2nd generation strawberry decalyxing system (AVID2) uniquely utilizes a convolutional neural network (AVIDnet) supporting a discrimination network decision, specifically, on whether a strawberry is to be cut or rejected, and computing a multi-point cutline curvature to be cut along by rapid robotic cutting tool.

Abstract: Embodiments of welding work cells are disclosed. One embodiment includes a workpiece positioning system, a welding power source, and a welding job sequencer. The workpiece positioning system powers an elevating motion and a rotational motion of a workpiece mounted between a headstock and a tailstock to re-position the workpiece for a next weld to be performed. The welding power source generates welding output power based on a set of welding parameters of the power source. The welding job sequencer commands the workpiece positioning system to re-position the workpiece from a current position to a next position in accordance with a next step of a welding sequence of a welding schedule. The welding job sequencer also commands the welding power source to adjust a current set of welding parameters to a next set of welding parameters in accordance with the next step of the welding sequence of the welding schedule.

Abstract: A failure prediction device is provided with a machine learning device configured to learn the state of a brake of a motor with respect to data on the brake. The machine learning device observes brake operating state data indicative of an operating state of the brake when the brake is in a normal state, as state variables representative of a current environmental state, and uses the observed state variables to learn a distribution of the state variables with the brake in the normal state.

Abstract: A numerical controller that collects data from an industrial machine and writes data into a storage medium includes: an interval setting unit that sets a time interval between cycles in which one cycle involves collection of operation information indicating an operating state of the industrial machine and writing of the collected operation information to the storage medium; a reduced service life calculation unit that calculates a service life of the number of writes of the storage medium reduced by the writing on the basis of the set time interval as a reduced service life; a determining unit that determines whether the calculated reduced service life exceeds a prescribed threshold; and a signal output unit that outputs a signal indicating that the reduced service life exceeds the prescribed threshold when it is determined that the reduced service life exceeds the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: Automatic system management is provided by controlling/managing part or all of the system operation through the predefined properties embedded in the components of the management system itself. The creation of Quanta with properties allow the programming of the rules for the system management in a way that any user, client, provider or any other type of participant can interact with the system without the need of an intermediary or approver.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for producing 3D-appearing self-illuminating high definition photoluminescent lithophane of a digitized picture in which the photoluminescent lithophane provides a glow-in-the-dark quality of the digitized picture, and an authenticity chip lithophane is produced. The processes for producing 3D-appearing self-illuminating high definition photoluminescent lithophane of a digitized picture include a monochrome process for producing 3D-appearing self-illuminating high definition photoluminescent lithophane that results in 3D-appearing high definition monochrome glow in the dark prints of digitized pictures and a full color process for producing 3D-appearing self-illuminating high definition photoluminescent lithophane that results in 3D-appearing high definition full color glow in the dark prints of digitized pictures.

Abstract: Provided is a numerical control system of an industrial machine that makes it possible to eliminate overshoot occurred at the time of stopping, thereby preventing interference of the machine, for example, in a case in which the torque of a motor such as a servomotor used in a feed axis of a machine tool is limited by a command unit of a CNC. A numerical control system of an industrial machine includes a command unit and a control unit configured to control driving of a motor of the industrial machine in accordance with a command from the command unit, and to perform position control by receiving a command of an end point position from the command unit or without receiving a command of the end point position from the command unit, and the control unit includes an in-deceleration torque limit release unit that, in a case of performing torque limitation of the motor, releases the torque limitation only during deceleration.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described below include methods, systems and computer readable media for cross discipline data validation checking in a multidisciplinary system. One or more multidisciplinary validation rules are used to perform cross discipline data validation checking to determine whether multidisciplinary data is consistent across engineering disciplines. The multidisciplinary validation rules define the scope of the validation checking within the engineering application (307) associated each engineering discipline. The results of the validation check are provided to the user.

Abstract: A nodal communication network of a process control or factory automation system includes nodes that are highly versatile (HV) field devices storing respective tag identifications. A DHCP server assigns respective endpoint identifications to nodes that connect to the network. A network node manager manages a mapping database that stores associations of tag identifications of network nodes with the assigned endpoint identifications, and a state database that stores updated states of the network nodes. A DNS server responds, in conjunction with the network node manager, to requests for endpoint identifications to allow nodes to be discovered within the network. An HV device node is a data source that establishes and maintains (sometimes simultaneously) respective communication sessions over the network with one or more other nodes that are consumers of the data generated by the HV devices, and data delivered via the communication sessions may be used to control an industrial process.

Abstract: A plant management system includes: a control device; and a management device. The control device includes: a manipulation parameter setting unit that sets values of manipulation parameters; a state parameter acquisition unit that acquires values of state parameters indicating an operating condition of the plant; and a transmitter that transmits these values to the management device. The management device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires these values; a database that stores set values of manipulation parameters and actually measured values or predicted values of state parameters when the plant is operated based on the set values, corresponding to each other; and a determination unit that determines a set value of a manipulation parameter capable of improving a value of a predetermined state parameter of the plant by referring to these values and the database.

Abstract: An abnormality determination device acquires observation data observed during an operation of an industrial machine, extracts partial time-series data, including a portion representative of a feature of an operating state at a specified timing, from the observation data, calculates a statistical amount from the extracted partial time-series data, and performs processing for machine learning related to determination of operation abnormality of the industrial machine, based on the calculated statistical amount.

Abstract: In some implementations, a control system may obtain historical data associated with usage of a distillation column during a historical time period. The control system may configure a prediction model to monitor the distillation column for a hazardous condition. The prediction model may be trained based on training data that is associated with occurrences of the hazardous condition. The control system may monitor, using the prediction model, the distillation column to determine a probability that the distillation column experiences the hazardous condition within a threshold time period. The prediction model may be configured to determine the probability based on measurements from a set of sensors of the distillation column. The control system may perform, based on the probability satisfying a probability threshold, an action associated with the distillation column to reduce a likelihood that the distillation column experiences the hazardous condition within the threshold time period.

Abstract: A method of monitoring one or more manufacturing components includes clustering vibration data associated with the one or more manufacturing components to generate a plurality of clusters, determining a vibration characteristic of the one or more manufacturing components based on the plurality of clusters, comparing auxiliary data associated with the one or more manufacturing components and an auxiliary data prediction model associated with the one or more manufacturing components, and determining an auxiliary characteristic of the one or more manufacturing components based on a comparison of the auxiliary data associated and the auxiliary data prediction model. The method includes determining a state of the one or more manufacturing components based on the vibration characteristic and the auxiliary characteristic and broadcasting a notification based on the state.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media configured to leverage blockchain technologies to provide failsafe action and fault mitigation processing for autonomous systems. Such autonomous systems may include self-driving cars, logistics or manufacturing robots, or control processes in chemical manufacturing and processing facilities, or construction machinery or sites, and may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML) algorithms to control operations. These algorithms may be imperfect and subject to error. The disclosed blockchain-based techniques perform data analysis in a parallel and distributed manner (e.g., locally at the autonomous system and remotely at a node of a blockchain platform) to validate the information provided to the AI and/or ML algorithms, as well as the outputs of the algorithms.

Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a vehicle to execute a maneuver. The instructions include instructions to determine one of that a human operator is in the vehicle or that a human operator is not in the vehicle. The instructions include instructions to select one, and only one, of an in-vehicle human machine interface physically connected to the vehicle or a mobile user device wirelessly connected for providing commands to the vehicle based on whether a human operator is in the vehicle or is not in the vehicle. The instructions include instructions to actuate the vehicle based on commands from, and only based on commands from, the selected one of the in-vehicle human machine interface and the mobile user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of remote-control technology, and provides a remote control for remotely controlling a motorized device, the remote control including a first rocking lever device, a second rocking lever device, a processor and a signal transmitting device. A rod of the first rocking lever device is configured to perform a linear movement along a first direction and a second direction, so as to trigger the remote control to generate a first remote control instruction and a second remote control instruction, and is further configured to rotate along a third rotation direction and a fourth rotation direction, so as to trigger the remote control to generate a third direction and a fourth direction. The first direction is opposite to the second direction, and the third direction is opposite to the fourth direction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to facilitate information sharing between vehicles. A relay vehicle may be provided which is in communication with a first group of remote vehicles over a first network and a second group of remote vehicles over a second network.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling agriculture equipment which combines geographical coordinates, machine settings, machine position, path plans, user input, and equipment parameters to generate executable commands based of a variety of different in-field agricultural operation objectives for a vehicle equipped with an automatic or electronically controlled locomotion systems capable of reading and executing the commands.

Abstract: An electronic vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) multicopter which includes a communications interface configured to establish a communication channel between a site local server and the eVTOL multicopter and send a vehicle identifier and vehicle state information from the eVTOL multicopter to the site local server. The eVTOL multicopter also includes a processor configured to perform a management operation received from the site local server, wherein the site local server is configured to determine the management operation based at least in part on the vehicle identifier and the vehicle state information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for automatically customizing operation of a robotic vehicle are described. The method may include identifying an operator, retrieving an operator profile and associated metadata for the operator from a database, where the metadata includes operator habit information, and configuring the robotic vehicle based on existing preference-based and performance-based settings, where the existing preference-based and performance-based settings are based on the metadata. The methods may include identifying operator habit information during operation of the robotic vehicle, deriving updated preference-based and performance-based settings for the operator based on the identified operator habit information, and providing, to the database, modifications to the metadata associated with the operator profile of the operator.

Abstract: An example system for flying to a target location is provided, comprising a parent aerial vehicle and at least one child vehicle releasably coupled to the parent vehicle. The parent vehicle is configured to transport the at least one child aerial vehicle to a region containing a target location, uncouple from the at least one child aerial vehicle, and transmit information to the at least one child aerial vehicle relevant to operation of the child aerial vehicle. The child aerial vehicle comprises at least one sensor for surveillance at the target location.