Networked gate machines gaging the condition of unmanned platforms

• US 10,536,530 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dig.y.SoL, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dig.y.SoL, LLC
• Inventors: Freund, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/448,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20170257437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system for gaging the condition of unmanned platforms is provided. The system can include a plurality of gate machines having a processor and a memory. The system further includes a plurality of sensors for receiving operational data for the unmanned platforms and sending the operational data to the plurality of gate machines. The plurality of gate machines can include computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the plurality of gate machines, cause the plurality of gate machines to perform various steps. One of the steps can include converting the raw signals from the plurality of sensors to normalized values. Another step can include executing a set of obligations if a gate trigger is valid. Finally, another step can include testing one or more subsequent gates of the plurality of gate machines if the gate closure condition is valid.

Claims

1. A system for gaging the condition of unmanned platforms

comprising:

a plurality of gate machines each having a processor and a memory; and

a plurality of sensors for receiving operational data for the unmanned platforms and sending the operational data to the plurality of gate machines as raw signals,

wherein the plurality of gate machines;

convert the raw signals from the plurality of sensors to normalized values;

execute a set of obligations if a gate trigger is valid; and

test one or more subsequent gates of the plurality of gate machines if a gate closure condition is valid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of obligations comprise sending a message to another gate machine and retrieving a response.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an inter-gate machine mailbox for receiving a plurality of messages from the plurality of gate machines and processing the messages based on their type.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of gate machines alters the contents of a target gate machine through the use of the inter-gate mailbox.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the plurality of gate machines alters the target gate machine by altering the set of obligations of the target gate machine, preventing the triggering of the target gate machine, or preventing the closure of the target gate machine.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a mission gate machine linked to the inter-gate mailbox.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mission gate machine includes a gate trigger to verify a particular status of one or more internal components of the unmanned platforms through the plurality of gate machines.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mission gate machine includes a plurality of obligations for modifying and enabling a mission task.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mission gate machine includes a gate closure for verifying task completion or changes in the status of the one or more internal components.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mission gate machine includes a plurality of mission tasks coupled to the plurality of gate machines.

11. A method for gaging the condition of unmanned platforms comprising:

providing a plurality of gate machines each having a processor and a memory;

providing a plurality of sensors for receiving operational data for the unmanned platforms and sending the operational data to the plurality of gate machines as raw signals,

converting the raw signals from the plurality of sensors to normalized values;

executing a set of obligations if a gate trigger is valid; and

testing one or more subsequent gates of the plurality of gate machines if a gate closure condition is valid.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of sending a message to another gate machine and retrieving a response.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing an inter-gate machine mailbox for receiving a plurality of messages from the plurality of gate machines and processing the messages based on their type.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of altering the contents of a target gate machine through the use of the inter-gate mailbox.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of altering the set of obligations of the target gate machine, preventing the triggering of the target gate machine or preventing the closure of the target gate machine.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a mission gate machine linked to the inter-gate mailbox.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of including in the mission gate machine a gate trigger to verify a particular status of one or more internal components of the unmanned platforms through the plurality of gate machines.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of including in the mission gate machine a plurality of obligations for modifying and enabling a mission task.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of including in the mission gate machine a gate closure for verifying task completion or changes in the status of the one or more internal components.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of including in the mission gate machine a plurality of mission tasks coupled to the plurality of gate machines.