Unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV comprises at least ten cameras. The at least ten cameras comprise at least two upwards-facing cameras, at least two downward-facing cameras, at least two forward-facing cameras, at least two backward-facing cameras, and at least two sideways-facing cameras. The UAV also comprises at least two upwards-facing lights.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, comprising:
 at least ten cameras, the at least ten cameras comprising at least two upwards-facing cameras, at least two downward-facing cameras, at least two forward-facing cameras, at least two backward-facing cameras, and at least two sideways-facing cameras; and   at least two upwards-facing lights.   
     
     
         2 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two sideways-facing cameras comprise at least four sideways-facing cameras, whereby the UAV comprises at least twelve cameras. 
     
     
         3 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV further comprises:
 at least ten infrared sensors, the at least ten infrared sensors comprising at least two upwards-facing infrared sensors, at least two downward-facing infrared sensors, at least two forward-facing infrared sensors, at least two backward-facing infrared sensors, and at least two sideways-facing infrared sensors.   
     
     
         4 . The UAV of  claim 3 , wherein said at least two sideways-facing infrared sensors comprise at least four sideways-facing infrared sensors, whereby the UAV comprises at least twelve infrared sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two upwards-facing lights comprise at least three upwards-facing lights. 
     
     
         6 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least two upwards-facing cameras are configured as a stereo pair of upwards-facing cameras;   the at least two downward-facing cameras are configured as a stereo pair of downward-facing cameras;   the at least two forward-facing cameras are configured as a stereo pair of forward-facing cameras;   the at least two backward-facing cameras are configured as a stereo pair of backward-facing cameras; and/or   the at least two sideways-facing cameras are configured as a stereo pair of sideways-facing cameras.   
     
     
         7 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV comprises a body, and wherein the at least ten cameras have fixed orientations with respect to the body of the UAV. 
     
     
         8 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV comprises a body, wherein the body comprises at least two openings, and wherein the at least two upwards-facing cameras are configured to capture image data through the at least two openings in the body of the UAV. 
     
     
         9 . The UAV of  claim 8 , wherein the at least two openings are in an upper surface of the body of the UAV. 
     
     
         10 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV comprises at least one controller, the at least one controller being configured to control the at least two upwards-facing lights to illuminate airspace directly above the UAV. 
     
     
         11 . The UAV of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the at least two upwards-facing lights to illuminate airspace directly above the UAV during take-off. 
     
     
         12 . The UAV of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the at least two upwards-facing lights to illuminate airspace directly above the UAV during landing. 
     
     
         13 . The UAV of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the at least two upwards-facing lights to illuminate airspace directly above the UAV during both take-off and landing. 
     
     
         14 . The UAV of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the at least two upwards-facing lights to illuminate airspace directly above the UAV during a flight procedure in which the UAV comes into physical contact with another object. 
     
     
         15 . The UAV of  claim 1 , wherein the UAV comprises at least one rotor and wherein at least one of the at least ten cameras has a field of view including at least part of the at least one rotor. 
     
     
         16 . An unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, comprising:
 at least twenty-four sensors, the at least twenty-four sensors comprising:
 at least two upwards-facing cameras, at least two downward-facing cameras, at least two forward-facing cameras, at least two backward-facing cameras, and at least four sideways-facing cameras; and 
 at least two upwards-facing infrared sensors, at least two downward-facing infrared sensors, at least two forward-facing infrared sensors, at least two backward-facing infrared sensors, and at least four sideways-facing infrared sensors; and 
   at least three upwards-facing lights.   
     
     
         17 . The UAV of  claim 16 , wherein the UAV further comprises at least five lights. 
     
     
         18 . An unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, comprising at least five sensors, the at least five sensors comprising at least one upwards-facing sensor and at least four forward-facing sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The UAV of  claim 18 , wherein said at least five sensors comprise at least one downwards-facing sensor, at least one backward-facing sensor, and at least one sideways-facing sensor, and wherein the UAV comprises:
 at least one loudspeaker; and   at least one alert controller operable to cause an alert to be generated using the at least one loudspeaker to alert an entity to presence of the UAV.   
     
     
         20 . The UAV of  claim 18 , wherein said at least four forward-facing sensors comprise at least six forward-facing sensors, whereby the UAV comprises at least seven sensors.