Leading drone system

• US 10,133,281 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shandong Dingfeng Aviation Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pinnacle Vista, LLC
• Inventors: Tu, Haofeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramesh, Krishnan
• Application Number:
  US15/588,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20180321693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for least one leading drone configured to move to a leading drone future location based on a future location of a base station. A set of base station future locations may form a base station path for the base station to traverse. Also, a set of leading drone future locations may form a leading drone path for the leading drone to traverse. The base station'"'"'s future location may be anticipated from a prediction or a predetermination. The leading drone, navigating along the leading drone path, may collect sensor data and/or perform tasks. Accordingly, the leading drone may move ahead of the base station in motion, as opposed to following or remaining with the base station.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a leading drone configured to;

identify a base station configured to move from a current location, wherein the base station is on a ground or on a water surface;

wherein the base station automatically sends an information of the base station path;

receive a control signal from the base station comprising a future location of the base station;

receive the information of the base station path which is a path that the base station will traverse between the current location and the future location, wherein the base station path is non-linear;

move along a drone path relative to the base station path such that the leading drone and the base station are deliberately spaced apart in a relative position along the base station path in real time;

wherein the drone path is non-linear.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the drone location is at the future location while the base station is deliberately lagging behind in time and space.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the leading drone is configured to determine the future location along a base station path that includes the current location.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the leading drone is configured to determine a drone path relative to the base station path.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the drone path is parallel to the base station path and is not directly attitudinally above the base station path.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the drone path crisscrosses the base station path.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the drone path circles the base station as the base station traverses the base station path.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the leading drone comprises a sensor, the leading drone configured to:

collect sensor data along the base station path using the sensor;

identify a trigger based on the sensor data; and

move to a trigger location based on the trigger.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the leading drone is configured to return to the drone path.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a directional radar.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the leading drone is configured to scan for sensory data across the base station path.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the leading drone is configured to travel along the drone path ahead of the base station.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the leading drone is configured to travel along the drone path alongside the base station.

14. The system of claim 4, wherein the leading drone is configured to travel along the drone path behind the base station.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the leading drone comprises a sensor, the leading drone configured to:

collect sensor data along the drone path using the sensor;

retrieve geographical data from a data store; and

cross reference the sensor data with the geographical data to produce updated geographical data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the leading drone is configured to send the updated geographical data to the base station.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein the leading drone is configured to receive a control signal from the base station that comprises the base station path.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is a land vehicle and the leading drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the leading drone is configured to determine the future location relative to received geographical data.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the leading drone is configured to receive a control signal from the base station for control of the leading drone.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the leading drone is configured to receive a first override signal that overrides the control signal and controls the leading drone.

22. The system of claim 21, comprising a second leading drone, the second leading drone configured to receive a second override signal that controls the second leading drone.