Programming language for execution by drone

• US 10,062,292 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Blomberg, Jeanette L., Butler, Eric K., Chandra, Anca A., Chowdhary, Pawan R., Griffin, Thomas D., Jadav, Divyesh, Jiang, Shun, Lee, Sunhwan, Moore, Robert J., Strong, Jr., Hovey R., Tan, Chung-hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAROSE, RENEE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US15/064,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20170263133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/10 with means for moving the UAV to a supply or launch location, e.g. robotic arms or carousels
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/80 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0004 Transmission of traffic-related information to or from an aircraft airborne radio transmission systems in general H04B7/185; airborne wireless networks H04W84/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

One embodiment provides a method comprising maintaining a weather model based on predicted weather conditions for an air traffic control zone. A hash table comprising multiple hash entries is maintained. Each hash entry comprises a timestamped predicted weather condition for a cell in the zone. A flight plan request for a drone is received. The request comprises a planned flight path for the drone. For at least one cell on the planned flight path, same latitude or same longitude cells, whichever is most closely orthogonal to a direction of the planned flight path, are heuristically probed. Weather conditions for the at least one cell are estimated based on predicted weather conditions for the same latitude or same longitude cells. An executable flight plan is generated if the planned flight path is feasible based on the estimated weather conditions; otherwise, a report including an explanation of infeasibility is generated instead.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining a weather model for an air traffic control zone, wherein the weather model is based on one or more predicted weather conditions for the air traffic control zone;

maintaining a hash table comprising multiple hash entries, wherein each hash entry corresponds to a cell in the air traffic control zone and has a corresponding unique hash key defined by spatial dimensions for the cell, and the hash entry comprises a timestamped predicted weather condition for the cell;

receiving a flight plan request for a drone, wherein the flight plan request comprises a planned flight path for the drone; and

for at least one cell on the planned flight path for the drone;

heuristically probing one or more neighboring cells that are on the same latitude or the same longitude as the at least one cell, whichever is most closely orthogonal to a direction of the planned flight path;

estimating weather conditions for the at least one cell based on one or more predicted weather conditions for the same latitude or the same longitude cells; and

determining whether the planned flight path is feasible based on the estimated weather conditions;

wherein, in response to determining the planned flight path is feasible, an executable flight plan based on the planned flight path is generated and flight of the drone to one or more locations included in the planned flight path is controlled in accordance with the executable flight plan; and

wherein, in response to determining that the planned flight path is not feasible, a report including an explanation of infeasibility is generated and the planned flight plan is rerouted by delaying take off of the drone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predicted weather conditions relate to predicted changes in wind velocity and gust intensity by change in elevation, latitude, longitude, daily time, and seasonal time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each unique hash key is defined by the following spatial dimensions:

an interval in latitude, an interval in longitude, and an interval in elevation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating design of the planned flight path using a high level programming language; and

compiling the planned flight path into the flight plan request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the planned flight path based on the one or more predicted weather conditions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the planned flight path is feasible based on useful battery life for the drone.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

extending the planned flight path to include one or more stops at one or more recharging stations to extend the useful battery life for the drone.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a report including an explanation of infeasibility is generated in response to determining the planned flight path is not feasible based on useful battery life for the drone.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adapting an executable flight plan including at least one high level command for a 4D cell into a command language compatible with an Application Programming Interface (API) for a drone without time sensitivity and position sensitivity by replacing the 4D cell with at least one of the following commands;

a set of commands to change a heading of the drone to a new heading computed by the onboard drone adaptor based on the location of a prior 4D cell and the location of the 4D cell; and

a command for the drone to proceed at full speed on the new heading.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining the current location and the ground velocity (i.e., speed and heading) of the drone by GPS in the onboard drone adaptor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining current location, velocity and estimated time to reach a subsequent 4D cell using the GPS.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of commands to change a heading of the drone to a new heading is preceded by a command to hover in place when a corresponding drone profile suggests that this will facilitate the execution of the set of commands.

13. A system comprising a computer processor, a computer-readable hardware storage medium, and program code embodied with the computer-readable hardware storage medium for execution by the computer processor to implement a method comprising:

maintaining a weather model for an air traffic control zone, wherein the weather model is based on one or more predicted weather conditions for the air traffic control zone;

maintaining a hash table comprising multiple hash entries, wherein each hash entry corresponds to a cell in the air traffic control zone and has a corresponding unique hash key defined by spatial dimensions for the cell, and the hash entry comprises a timestamped predicted weather condition for the cell;

receiving a flight plan request for a drone, wherein the flight plan request comprises a planned flight path for the drone; and

for at least one cell on the planned flight path for the drone;

heuristically probing one or more neighboring cells that are on the same latitude or the same longitude as the at least one cell, whichever is most closely orthogonal to a direction of the planned flight path;

estimating weather conditions for the at least one cell based on one or more predicted weather conditions for the same latitude or the same longitude cells; and

determining whether the planned flight path is feasible based on the estimated weather conditions;

wherein, in response to determining the planned flight path is feasible, an executable flight plan based on the planned flight path is generated and flight of the drone to one or more locations included in the planned flight path is controlled in accordance with the executable flight plan; and

wherein, in response to determining that the planned flight path is not feasible, a report including an explanation of infeasibility is generated and the planned flight plan is rerouted by delaying take off of the drone.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more predicted weather conditions relate to predicted changes in wind velocity and gust intensity by change in elevation, latitude, longitude, daily time, and seasonal time.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein each unique hash key is defined by the following spatial dimensions:

an interval in latitude, an interval in longitude, and an interval in elevation.

16. The system of claim 13, the method further comprising:

facilitating design of the planned flight path using a high level programming language; and

compiling the planned flight path into the flight plan request.

17. The system of claim 13, the method further comprising:

adjusting the planned flight path based on the one or more predicted weather conditions.

18. The system of claim 13, the method further comprising:

determining whether the planned flight path is feasible based on useful battery life for the drone.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a report including an explanation of infeasibility is generated in response to determining the planned flight path is not feasible based on useful battery life for the drone.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable hardware storage device having program code embodied therewith, the program code being executable by a computer to implement a method comprising:

maintaining a weather model for an air traffic control zone, wherein the weather model is based on one or more predicted weather conditions for the air traffic control zone;

maintaining a hash table comprising multiple hash entries, wherein each hash entry corresponds to a cell in the air traffic control zone and has a corresponding unique hash key defined by spatial dimensions for the cell, and the hash entry comprises a timestamped predicted weather condition for the cell;

receiving a flight plan request for a drone, wherein the flight plan request comprises a planned flight path for the drone; and

for at least one cell on the planned flight path for the drone;

heuristically probing one or more neighboring cells that are on the same latitude or the same longitude as the at least one cell, whichever is most closely orthogonal to a direction of the planned flight path;

estimating weather conditions for the at least one cell based on one or more predicted weather conditions for the same latitude or the same longitude cells; and

determining whether the planned flight path is feasible based on the estimated weather conditions;

wherein, in response to determining the planned flight path is feasible, an executable flight plan based on the planned flight path is generated and flight of the drone to one or more locations included in the planned flight path is controlled in accordance with the executable flight plan; and

wherein, in response to determining that the planned flight path is not feasible, a report including an explanation of infeasibility is generated and the planned flight plan is rerouted by delaying take off of the drone.