Indoor mapping and modular control for uavs and other autonomous vehicles, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Indoor mapping and modular control for UAVs and other autonomous vehicles, and associated systems and methods. A representative unmanned aerial vehicle system includes a body, a propulsion system carried by the body, a sensor system carried by the body, and a controller carried at least in part by the body and operatively coupled to the propulsion system and the sensor system. The controller is programmed with instructions that, when executed, operate in a first autonomous mode and a second autonomous mode. In the first autonomous mode, the instructions autonomously direct the propulsion system to convey the body along a first route within an indoor environment. While the body travels along the first route, the instructions receive inputs from the sensor system corresponding to features of the indoor environment. The features are stored as part of a 3-D map. In the second autonomous mode, the instructions direct the propulsion system to convey the body along a second route within the indoor environment, based at least in part on the 3-D map, and direct performance of an operation on the second route.

1 . A unmanned aerial vehicle system, comprising:
 a body;   a propulsion system carried by the body;   a sensor system carried by the body; and   a controller carried at least in part by the body, and operatively coupled to the propulsion system and the sensor system, the controller being programmed with instructions that, when executed:
 operate in a first autonomous mode, during which the instructions:
 autonomously direct the propulsion system to convey the body along a first route within an indoor environment; 
 while the body travels along the first route, receive inputs from the sensor system corresponding to features of the indoor environment; and 
 store the features of the indoor environment as part of a 3-D map; and 
 
 operate in a second autonomous mode during which the instructions:
 direct the propulsion system to convey the body along a second route within the indoor environment, based at least in part on the 3-D map; and 
 direct performance of an operation on the second route. 
 
   
     
     
         2 - 29 . (canceled)