High accuracy remote coordinate machine

A system for calibrating a structure comprising:

• a device located at a fixed location on an external surface of the structure;
• a tether having first and second ends and secured at the first end to the fixed device;
• and
• an unmanned aerial vehicle attached to the second end of the tether, the unmanned aerial vehicle including a scanning device,
• wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is operative to move in a trajectory around the structure while tethered in tension to the fixed device and to scan the external surface of the structure over a course of the trajectory to obtain a mapping of the external surface of the structure,
• and wherein the structure is calibrated, using a control unit of the unmanned aerial vehicle, based on i) a known position of the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the fixed device, and ii) the mapping of external surface of the structure.