Patent ID: 11970287
Assignee: SKYDIO, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 17:
18. An aerial vehicle comprising:
a plurality of upward-facing image capture devices;
a plurality of downward-facing image capture devices;
a plurality of protective structural elements, each of the plurality of protective structural elements arranged proximate to one of the plurality of upward-facing image capture devices and/or the plurality of downward-facing image capture devices, the plurality of protective structural elements configured to protect the plurality of upward-facing image capture devices and/or the plurality of downward-facing image capture devices from contact with physical objects while the aerial vehicle is in use; and
a computer system communicatively coupled to the plurality of upward-facing image capture devices and the plurality of downward-facing image capture devices, the computer system configured to:
process images captured by any one or more of the plurality of upward-facing image capture devices or the plurality of downward-facing image capture devices to estimate a position and/or orientation of the aerial vehicle;
generate a planned trajectory for the aerial vehicle through a physical environment based on the processing of the images; and
control a propulsion system and/or flight surface of the aerial vehicle to cause the aerial vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the planned trajectory.