System and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft

• US 10,134,291 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Cheatham, III, Jesse R., Duncan, William David, Hwang, Eun Young, Hyde, Roderick A., Pan, Tony S., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frejd, Russell
• Application Number:
  US15/643,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20170323572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/299 Rotor guards ducted or shrouded rotors B64U30/26; guards used as ground propulsion B64U60/60
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.

Claims

1. A method of operating an unmanned aircraft to perform a mission in an airspace comprising zones managed by a management system for the airspace comprising the steps of:

(a) registering the aircraft with the management system;

(b) obtaining rights for the aircraft in a transaction with the management system, wherein the rights for the aircraft comprise a priority allowing the aircraft at least one of access to a priority zone and priority over other aircraft in a same priority zone;

(c) performing the mission;

wherein the aircraft is to be operated according to terms of the transaction with the management system during the mission in the airspace.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting data to the management system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the aircraft can be registered by the management system before the mission and monitored by the management system during the mission.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the aircraft can be charged a rate for use of the airspace determined by the terms of the transaction and data obtained by the management system from data sources.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of obtaining a route for the aircraft to operate within during the mission.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining rights in a transaction with the management system comprises transacting a license.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the license is a dynamic license transacted during the mission to enhance rights of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein rights comprise status for the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction comprises a license for the aircraft to operate in the airspace with rights at a rate.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction is a dynamic transaction.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic transaction is a license.

12. A method of management of an airspace comprising a plurality of flyway segments configured to be used by a plurality of unmanned aircraft comprising the steps of:

(a) administrating the airspace;

(b) administrating the aircraft in the airspace, including assigning a priority to each of the plurality of aircraft to allow one or more of the plurality of aircraft to travel at least one of within a priority zone and at a different priority than others of the plurality of aircraft within a same priority zone;

(c) directing the aircraft in the airspace;

(d) monitoring conditions in the airspace;

wherein administrating airspace comprises designation of a set of zones comprising a set of flyway segments in the airspace for operation of aircraft;

wherein administrating aircraft comprises registration of aircraft to operate in the airspace.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein directing aircraft comprises assigning a route to the aircraft to operate in the airspace.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein administrating the airspace comprises establishing rules for operation of the aircraft in the airspace.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein administrating the airspace comprises issuing a license of rights to aircraft at a rate for use of the airspace.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein administrating aircraft comprises registering an aircraft in a transaction.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein administrating aircraft comprises transacting with aircraft.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein transacting with aircraft comprises issuing a license to an aircraft.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein transacting with aircraft comprises transacting with an operator of the aircraft.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein directing aircraft comprises commanding aircraft to a different route in the airspace.