Methods and devices for controlling unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 10,223,924 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: Wang, Weizhao, Xie, Yan, Chu, Yueyue
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/459,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20170345319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/16 actuated automatically, e.g. responsive to gust detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/35 for science, e.g. meteorology
• 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: G05D 1/102 specially adapted for vertical take-off of 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: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• 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

Methods and devices are provided for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method includes: obtaining meteorological data in a current location of the UAV when the UAV is in a first flight state, where the first flight state may represent a steady flight state or a take-off preparing state of the UAV; determining a flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data, where the flight hazard level may represent a hazard level caused to a flight of the UAV by weather; and controlling the UAV to switch to a second flight state when the flight hazard level is a first preset level, where the first preset level may represent a level where the UAV cannot fly safely and the second flight state being used to represent an emergency flight state or a take-off suspended state of the UAV.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

obtaining meteorological data in a current location of the UAV when the UAV is in a first flight state, wherein the first flight state represents one of a steady flight state and a take-off preparing state of the UAV;

determining a flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data, wherein the flight hazard level represents a hazard level caused to a flight of the UAV by weather; and

controlling the UAV to switch to a second flight state when the flight hazard level is a first preset level, wherein the first preset level represents a level where the UAV cannot fly safely and the second flight state represents one of an emergency flight state and a take-off suspended state of the UAV,

wherein determining the flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data comprises;

computing a meteorological hazard index in the current location of the UAV based on the meteorological data;

determining whether the meteorological hazard index is greater than a first preset threshold;

determining the flight hazard level as the first preset level when the meteorological hazard index is greater than the first preset threshold; and

determining the flight hazard level as a second preset level when the meteorological hazard index is smaller than or equal to the first preset threshold, and wherein the second preset level represents a level where the UAV can fly safely.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data comprises:

computing the meteorological hazard index in the current location of the UAV based on the meteorological data; and

determining the flight hazard level corresponding to the meteorological hazard index by inquiring into a preset list, wherein the preset list records the flight hazard level and the meteorological hazard index corresponding to the flight hazard level.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling the UAV to work in the steady flight state or the take-off preparing state when the flight hazard level is determined as a second preset level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining meteorological data in the current location of the UAV comprises:

locating the current location of the UAV via a GPS; and

accessing a network server to obtain the meteorological data in the current location and within a predetermined surrounding area.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining meteorological data in the current location of the UAV comprises:

receiving a meteorological indication message sent by a user terminal; and

analyzing the meteorological indication message to obtain the meteorological data in the current location of the UAV.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the UAV to switch to the second flight state comprises:

determining a target location when the UAV works in the second flight state;

determining a flight path of the UAV based on the current location and the target location; and

controlling the UAV to fly according to the flight path.

7. A device of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

a processor;

a memory configured to store an instruction executable by the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

obtain meteorological data in a current location of the UAV when the UAV is in a first flight state, wherein the first flight state represents a steady flight state or a take-off preparing state of the UAV;

determine a flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data, wherein the flight hazard level represents a hazard level caused to a flight of the UAV by weather; and

control the UAV to switch to a second flight state when the flight hazard level is a first preset level, wherein the first preset level represents a level where the UAV cannot fly safely and the second flight state represents an emergency flight state or a take-off suspended state of the UAV,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data, by acts of;

computing a meteorological hazard index in the current location of the UAV based on the meteorological data;

determining whether the meteorological hazard index is greater than a first preset threshold;

determining the flight hazard level as the first preset level when the meteorological hazard index is greater than the first preset threshold; and

determining the flight hazard level as a second preset level when the meteorological hazard index is smaller than or equal to the first preset threshold, and wherein the second preset level represents a level where the UAV can fly safely.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to determine the flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data, by acts of:

computing the meteorological hazard index in the current location of the UAV based on the meteorological data; and

determining the flight hazard level corresponding to the meteorological hazard index by inquiring into a preset list, wherein the preset list records the flight hazard level and the meteorological hazard index corresponding to the flight hazard level.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

control the UAV to work in the steady flight state or the take-off preparing state when the flight hazard level is determined as a second preset level.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to obtain meteorological data in the current location of the UAV, by acts of:

locating the current location of the UAV via a GPS; and

accessing a network server to obtain the meteorological data in the current location and within a predetermined surrounding area.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to obtain meteorological data in the current location of the UAV, by acts of:

receiving a meteorological indication message sent by a user terminal; and

analyzing the meteorological indication message to obtain the meteorological data in the current location of the UAV.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to control the UAV to switch to the second flight state, by acts of:

determining a target location when the UAV works in the second flight state;

determining a flight path of the UAV based on the current location and the target location; and

controlling the UAV to fly according to the flight path.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed by a processor of a terminal, causes the terminal to perform a method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

obtaining meteorological data in a current location of the UAV when the UAV is in a first flight state, wherein the first flight state represents a steady flight state or a take-off preparing state of the UAV;

determining a flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data, wherein the flight hazard level represents a hazard level caused to a flight of the UAV by weather; and

controlling the UAV to switch to a second flight state when the flight hazard level is a first preset level, wherein the first preset level represents a level where the UAV cannot fly safely and the second flight state represents an emergency flight state or a take-off suspended state of the UAV,

wherein determining the flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data comprises;

computing a meteorological hazard index in the current location of the UAV based on the meteorological data;

determining whether the meteorological hazard index is greater than a first preset threshold;

determining the flight hazard level as the first preset level when the meteorological hazard index is greater than the first preset threshold; and

determining the flight hazard level as a second preset level when the meteorological hazard index is smaller than or equal to the first preset threshold, and wherein the second preset level represents a level where the UAV can fly safely.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein determining the flight hazard level of the UAV based on the meteorological data comprises:

computing a meteorological hazard index in the current location of the UAV based on the meteorological data; and

determining the flight hazard level corresponding to the meteorological hazard index by inquiring into a preset list, wherein the preset list records the flight hazard level and the meteorological hazard index corresponding to the flight hazard level.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

controlling the UAV to work in the steady flight state or the take-off preparing state when the flight hazard level is determined as a second preset level.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein obtaining meteorological data in the current location of the UAV comprises:

locating the current location of the UAV via a GPS; and

accessing a network server to obtain the meteorological data in the current location and within a predetermined surrounding area.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein obtaining meteorological data in the current location of the UAV comprises:

receiving a meteorological indication message sent by a user terminal; and

analyzing the meteorological indication message to obtain the meteorological data in the current location of the UAV.