System and associated methodology for adaptive aerial survey

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform a method comprising:

• capturing images of a target area, by at least one camera system disposed on an aerial vehicle, as the aerial vehicle travels along a flight map that includes a plurality of flight lines;
• determining, as the aerial vehicle continues to travel along the fight map, coverage of the target area based on the images captured by the at least one camera system;
• and
• adjusting, as the aerial vehicle continues to travel along the fight map, the flight map and an orientation of the at least one camera system based on the coverage of the target area determined based on the images captured by the at least one camera system,
• wherein determining coverage of the target area based on the images captured by the at least one camera system includes determining unacceptable images based on whether the images include an occlusion, are blurred, have incorrect exposure, or are erroneously directed, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• predicting coverage of the target area based on the images of the target area captured by the at least one camera system;
• and
• further adjusting at least one of the flight map and an orientation of the at least one camera system based on the coverage of the target area predicted.

A control system for controlling adaptive aerial surveys, comprising circuitry configured to:

• capture images of a target area, by at least one camera system disposed on an aerial vehicle, as the aerial vehicle travels along a flight map that includes a plurality of flight lines;
• determine, as the aerial vehicle continues to travel along the fight map, coverage of the target area based on the images captured by the at least one camera system;
• and
• adjust, as the aerial vehicle continues to travel along the fight map, the flight map and an orientation of the at least one camera system based on the coverage of the target area determined based on the images captured by the at least one camera system,
• wherein to determine coverage of the target area based on the images captured by the at least one camera system, the circuitry determines unacceptable images based on whether the images include an occlusion, are blurred, have incorrect exposure, or are erroneously directed, and
• wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
• predict coverage of the target area based on the images of the target area captured by the at least one camera system;
• and
• further adjust at least one of the flight map and an orientation of the at least one camera system based on the coverage of the target area predicted.