Unmanned aerial vehicle and methods for controlling same

摘要

One variation of a method for imaging an area of interest includes: within a user interface, receiving a selection for a set of interest points on a digital map of a physical area and receiving a selection for a resolution of a geospatial map; identifying a ground area corresponding to the set of interest points for imaging during a mission; generating a flight path over the ground area for execution by an unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; setting an altitude for the unmanned aerial vehicle along the flight path based on the selection for the resolution of the geospatial map and an optical system arranged within the unmanned aerial vehicle; setting a geospatial accuracy requirement for the mission based on the selection for the mission type; and assembling a set of images captured by the unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission into the geospatial map.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
within a user interface, receiving a selection for a set of interest points on a digital map of a physical area and a selection for a resolution of a geospatial map; selecting a ground area corresponding to the set of interest points for imaging during a mission; generating a first flight path over a first portion the ground area for execution by a first unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; generating a second flight path over a second portion of the ground area for execution by a second unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission, the second portion of the ground area different from the first portion of the ground area; based on a flight condition detected during the mission, assigning a segment of the first portion of the ground area to the second unmanned aerial vehicle; generating a third flight path over a third portion of the ground area for execution by the first unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission, the third portion of the ground area comprising the first portion the ground area less the segment of the first portion of the ground area and less a region of the ground area previously imaged by the first unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; generating a fourth flight path over a fourth portion of the ground area for execution by the second unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission, the fourth portion of the ground area comprising a union of the second portion of the ground area and the segment of the first portion of the ground area less a region of the ground area previously imaged by the second unmanned aerial vehicle during the mission; loading the third flight path to the first unmanned aerial vehicle in replacement of the first flight path prior to completion of the mission by the first unmanned aerial vehicle; and uploading the fourth flight path to the second unmanned aerial vehicle in replacement of the second flight path prior to completion of the mission by the second unmanned aerial vehicle.