US Patent 10924654 Surface surveilance by unmanned aerial vehicles

Videography of surfaces and improved positional control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are disclosed. Embodiments include defining a plane relative a vertical or semi-vertical surface. Linearly scanning along a line parallel to the plane. The plane being defined by three non-colinear points. The linear scanning along the plane is defined by a defined distance from the plane to the surface. The scanning including distance sensor scanning. The distance sensor scanning creating a model of the surface. The distance sensor scanning can include sound-based or light-based distance measurement scanning. The surveillance scanning can further include capture of imagery of the surface along the linear scanning along the plane.