Orientation of directional antennas using horizontal position information
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (“
- UAV”
), comprising;
a first directional antenna;
a first omnidirectional antenna configured to receive a wireless communication that includes second position information indicating a second horizontal position, a second orientation, and a second approximate altitude of a second directional antenna coupled to a second UAV;
an antenna orientation controller configured to orient the first directional antenna;
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to at least;
determine first position information of the first directional antenna coupled to the UAV, the first position information including a first horizontal position of the first directional antenna, a first orientation of the first directional antenna, and a first approximate altitude of the first directional antenna;
determine a desired directional antenna orientation of the first directional antenna so that the first directional antenna is oriented toward the second directional antenna and able to establish or maintain a wireless connection with the second directional antenna, wherein the desired directional antenna orientation is determined based at least in part on the first position information and the second position information; and
send an instruction to the antenna orientation controller to orient the first directional antenna according to the desired directional antenna orientation so that the first directional antenna coupled to the UAV is oriented toward the second directional antenna coupled to the second UAV and able to establish or maintain the wireless connection with the second directional antenna.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for enabling orientation of directional antennas even when one or more of the directional antennas are moving. Position information for each directional antenna is transmitted using an omnidirectional antenna transmitting at a low bandwidth and a low power. The position information of the directional antennas is used to orient the directional antennas so that a high bandwidth, low power wireless connection can be enabled and/or maintained between the directional antennas. The position information is periodically transmitted and the orientation of the directional antennas is updated as one or more of the directional antennas move so that the wireless connection between the directional antennas is maintained.
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (“
- UAV”
), comprising;a first directional antenna; a first omnidirectional antenna configured to receive a wireless communication that includes second position information indicating a second horizontal position, a second orientation, and a second approximate altitude of a second directional antenna coupled to a second UAV; an antenna orientation controller configured to orient the first directional antenna; a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to at least; determine first position information of the first directional antenna coupled to the UAV, the first position information including a first horizontal position of the first directional antenna, a first orientation of the first directional antenna, and a first approximate altitude of the first directional antenna; determine a desired directional antenna orientation of the first directional antenna so that the first directional antenna is oriented toward the second directional antenna and able to establish or maintain a wireless connection with the second directional antenna, wherein the desired directional antenna orientation is determined based at least in part on the first position information and the second position information; and send an instruction to the antenna orientation controller to orient the first directional antenna according to the desired directional antenna orientation so that the first directional antenna coupled to the UAV is oriented toward the second directional antenna coupled to the second UAV and able to establish or maintain the wireless connection with the second directional antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- UAV”
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5. A computer implemented method, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining first position information including a first horizontal position and a first approximate altitude of a first directional antenna coupled to a first vehicle; transmitting, using a first omnidirectional antenna coupled to the first vehicle, the first position information so that the first position information is received at a second location that is remote from a first location of the first vehicle; receiving, using the first omnidirectional antenna, second position information including a second horizontal position and a second approximate altitude corresponding to a second directional antenna coupled to a second vehicle that is positioned at the second location; determining, based at least in part on the first position information and the second position information, a desired directional antenna orientation of the first directional antenna so that the first directional antenna is oriented toward and able to wirelessly connect with the second directional antenna; sending instruction to orient the first directional antenna according to the desired directional antenna orientation so that the first directional antenna coupled to the first vehicle is oriented toward the second directional antenna coupled to the second vehicle and able to wirelessly connect with the second directional antenna; and establishing a wireless connection between the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle, comprising:
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a first directional antenna; a first omnidirectional antenna; a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to at least; determine first position information including a first horizontal position and a first approximate altitude of the first directional antenna; cause transmission, using the first omnidirectional antenna, of the first position information so that the first position information is received at a second location that is remote from a first location of the vehicle; determine, based at least in part on the first position information and second position information including a second horizontal position and a second approximate altitude corresponding to a second directional antenna coupled to a second vehicle that is positioned at the second location, a desired directional antenna orientation of the first directional antenna so that the first directional antenna is oriented toward and able to connect with the second directional antenna; cause orientation of the first directional antenna according to the desired directional antenna orientation so that the first directional antenna coupled to the vehicle is oriented toward and able to connect with the second directional antenna coupled to the second vehicle; and establish a connection between the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification