Vehicle altitude restrictions and control

• US 10,216,197 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zhang, Xingyu, Tang, Ketan, Zhao, Cong
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US15/353,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20170068251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/00 Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/005 by providing the operator with signals other than visual, e.g. acoustic, haptic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 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

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for providing flight response to flight-restricted altitudes. The altitude of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be compared with an altitude restriction. If needed a flight-response measure may be taken by the UAV to prevent the UAV from flying in a restricted altitude. The altitude measurement of the UAV and/or altitude restriction of the UAV may be modified for improved performance. Different flight-response measures may be taken depending on preference and the rules of a jurisdiction within which the UAV falls.

Claims

1. A system for implementing a flight response measure for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:

one or more propulsion units configured to effect movement of the UAV; and

one or more processors operably coupled to the UAV and individually or collectively configured to;

(a) receive one or more altitude restrictions for the UAV;

(b) receive information regarding an area the UAV is operating in, or will operate in;

(c) modify the one or more altitude restrictions based on information regarding the area so as to produce one or more modified altitude restrictions for the UAV;

(d) receive an altitude of the UAV;

(e) compare the one or more modified altitude restriction with the altitude of the UAV; and

(f) generate instructions to implement a flight response measure for the UAV based on the comparison by controlling the one or more propulsion units.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to repeat the steps (b)-(c) according to a predetermined criteria.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined criteria is a predetermined time interval.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined time interval is within a range from 0.1 seconds to one hour.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flight response measure comprises automatic ascending or descending of the UAV.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the flight response measure comprises providing an alert or warning to the UAV.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the alert or warning is provided to an operator of the UAV via a visual, auditory, or tactile indicator.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the alert or warning is provided to the UAV when the UAV is above, or within 5 meters of the one or more modified altitude restrictions.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the one or more altitude restrictions from a plurality of different sources of information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of different sources comprise at least two of:

a user input, a UAV manufacturer database, or a government database.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more altitude restrictions comprise a plurality of different altitude restrictions, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to designate a hierarchy to the plurality of different altitude restrictions by which the UAV abides.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hierarchy depends on the area the UAV is operating in, or will operate in.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the altitude of the UAV from one or more altitude sensors operably coupled to the UAV.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive information regarding the area the UAV is operating in, or will operate in, in conjunction with a GPS operably coupled to the UAV.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the one or more altitude restrictions so as to produce the one or more modified altitude restrictions for the UAV by increasing or decreasing a maximum altitude limit of the UAV, wherein the modification is based on the information regarding the area the UAV is operating in, or will operate in.

16. A method for implementing a flight response measure for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

with aid of one or more processors, individually or collectively;

receiving one or more altitude restrictions for the UAV;

receiving information regarding an area the UAV is operating in, or will operate in;

modifying the one or more altitude restrictions based on the information regarding the area so as to produce one or more modified altitude restrictions for the UAV;

receiving an altitude of the UAV;

comparing the one or more modified altitude restrictions with the altitude of the UAV; and

generating instructions to implement a flight response measure for the UAV based on the comparison by controlling one or more propulsion units of the UAV.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein modifying the one or more altitude restrictions so as to produce the one or more modified altitude restrictions for the UAV comprises increasing or decreasing a minimum altitude limit of the UAV, wherein the modification is based on the information regarding the area the UAV is operating in, or will operate in.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the flight response measure for the UAV comprises providing an alert or warning to the UAV.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the modifying step is performed during flight of the UAV.