Low-light and no-light aerial navigation

A method comprising:

• inducing motion on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prior to takeoff;
• determining, by one or more processors, a first acceleration of the UAV based at least on information from an accelerometer onboard the UAV;
• determining a second acceleration of the UAV based at least on location information received via a satellite positioning system receiver;
• determining a relative heading of the UAV based at least in part on the first acceleration and the second acceleration;
• and
• directing the UAV to navigate an environment based at least on the relative heading.

A method comprising:

• configuring an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to takeoff at a specified trajectory and a specified acceleration;
• determining, by one or more processors, a first acceleration of the UAV during takeoff based at least on information from an accelerometer onboard the UAV;
• determining a second acceleration of the UAV based at least on location information received via a satellite positioning system receiver;
• determining a relative heading of the UAV based at least in part on the first acceleration and the second acceleration;
• and
• directing the UAV to navigate an environment based at least on the relative heading.