Remotely controlling a servant aircraft

• US 20040220706A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence J Koncelik Jr (Lawrence J. Koncelik)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence J Koncelik Jr (Lawrence J. Koncelik)
• Inventors: Koncelik, Lawrence J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing

Abstract

A remote control signal, such as a signal from a GPS satellite or from an escort aircraft, is received at a servant aircraft. If the remote control signal is valid and is a landing remote control signal, the processor causes the landing of the servant aircraft. The processor may cause a crash landing or a landing at an airport.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of

receiving a remote control signal at a servant aircraft;

determining if the remote control signal is valid;

determining if the remote control signal is a landing remote control signal; and

landing the servant aircraft in response to the remote control signal if it is valid and if it is a landing remote control signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the remote control signal is a global positioning satellite signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

the remote control signal comes from an escort aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein

the step of landing the servant aircraft comprises crash landing the servant aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein

the step of landing the servant aircraft comprises landing the servant aircraft at an airport.

6. A servant aircraft comprised of

a receiver;

a processor; and

wherein receiver is adapted to receive a remote control signal; and

wherein the processor is programmed to examine the remote control signal to determine if the remote control signal is valid and to determine if the remote control signal is a landing remote control signal, and if the remote control signal is valid and is a landing remote control signal, the processor is programmed to cause the landing of the servant aircraft.

7. The servant aircraft of claim 6 wherein

the processor is programmed to cause the crash landing of the servant aircraft.

8. The servant aircraft of claim 6 wherein

the processor is programmed to cause the landing of the servant aircraft at an airport.