Patent Document ID: 9873442
Application ID: 14624069
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A system, comprising: a first aerial device configured to be disposed onboard a non-aerial vehicle as the non-aerial vehicle moves along a route, the first aerial device also configured to fly above the route during movement of the non-aerial vehicle along the route; a first camera unit configured to be disposed onboard the first aerial device and to generate first image data during flight of the first aerial device; one or more image analysis processors configured to examine the first image data and to identify a hazard disposed ahead of the non-aerial vehicle along a direction of travel of the non-aerial vehicle based on the first image data; and a control unit configured to control the flight of the first aerial device, wherein the control unit is configured to autonomously prevent the first aerial device from flying outside of a three dimensional movement envelope disposed ahead of the non-aerial vehicle during the movement of the non-aerial vehicle.