Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing systems and methods

• US 10,429,838 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sterling, Millie Irene, Hendrian, Matthew B., Johnson, Cash Neil, Richards, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Frejd, Russell
• Application Number:
  US15/806,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20190137997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• 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

Abstract

A system for landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a destination includes a landing coordination control unit that is configured to switch the UAV from a normal operating mode to a landing mode in response to the UAV entering a regulated airspace in relation to the destination. The normal operating mode includes normal instructions for flying and navigating to the destination. The landing mode includes landing instructions for a landing sequence into a landing zone at the destination.

Claims

1. A system for landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a destination, the system comprising:

a landing coordination control unit that is configured to switch the UAV from a normal operating mode to a landing mode in response to the UAV entering a regulated airspace in relation to the destination, wherein the normal operating mode includes normal instructions for flying and navigating to the destination, and wherein the landing mode includes landing instructions for a landing sequence into a landing zone at the destination.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring station that is separate and distinct from the UAV, wherein the monitoring station includes the landing coordination control unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring station is at the destination.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the UAV, wherein the UAV includes the landing coordination control unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the landing sequence comprises one or more holding patterns.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the landing coordination control unit is configured to overtake operational control of the UAV in the landing mode to automatically land the UAV at the landing zone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the landing coordination control unit is configured to transmit the landing instructions to the UAV.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the landing instructions are stored in an operational control unit of the UAV.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the UAV comprises a signal sensor that is configured to detect a signal from the landing coordination control unit.

10. A method for landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a destination, the method comprising:

using a landing coordination control unit to switch the UAV from a normal operating mode to a landing mode in response to the UAV entering a regulated airspace in relation to the destination, wherein the normal operating mode includes normal instructions for flying and navigating to the destination, and wherein the landing mode includes landing instructions for a landing sequence into a landing zone at the destination.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising disposing the landing coordination control unit within a monitoring station that is separate and distinct from the UAV.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising locating the monitoring station at the destination.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising disposing the landing coordination control unit within the UAV.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the landing sequence comprises one or more holding patterns.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the using the landing coordination control unit comprises overtaking operational control of the UAV in the landing mode to automatically land the UAV at the landing zone.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the using the landing coordination control unit comprises transmitting the landing instructions to the UAV.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the landing instructions in an operational control unit of the UAV.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting a signal from the landing coordination control unit with a signal sensor of the UAV.

19. A system for landing a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at a destination, the system comprising:

the plurality of UAVs that are to arrive at the destination; and

a landing coordination control unit that is configured to switch the plurality of UAVs from a normal operating mode to a landing mode in response to the plurality of UAVs entering a regulated airspace in relation to the destination, wherein the normal operating mode includes normal instructions for flying and navigating to the destination, wherein the landing mode includes landing instructions for a landing sequence into a landing zone at the destination, and wherein the landing coordination control unit is configured to automatically provide an order of landing for the plurality of UAVs at the landing zone.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a monitoring station that is separate and distinct from the plurality of UAVs, wherein the monitoring station includes the landing coordination control unit.