Identifying a UAV landing location

• US 20060167599A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Thorson, Derral Charles, Bodin, William Kress, Redman, Jesse
• Application Number:
  US11/041,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are provided for identifying a UAV landing location. Embodiments include identifying a need to land the UAV, determining a current position of the UAV, determining an available flight distance for landing the UAV, and selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance. Determining an available flight distance may include determining a landing priority for the need to land, and determining an available flight distance from the current position of the UAV in dependence upon the landing priority and UAV specifications. Determining a landing priority for the need to land may also include determining a UAV condition.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a UAV landing location, the method comprising:

identifying a need to land the UAV;

determining a current position of the UAV;

determining an available flight distance for landing the UAV; and

selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an available flight distance further comprises:

determining a landing priority for the need to land; and

determining an available flight distance from the current position of the UAV in dependence upon the landing priority and UAV specifications.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a landing priority for the need to land further comprises determining a UAV condition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises:

determining a geographic area defined by the available flight distance and the current position; and

selecting an available landing location within the geographic area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises selecting an available landing location in dependence upon a landing location type assigned to the available landing location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises selecting an available landing location in dependence upon a safety rating assigned to the available landing location.

7. A system for identifying a UAV landing location, the system comprising:

means for identifying a need to land the UAV;

means for determining a current position of the UAV;

means for determining an available flight distance for landing the UAV; and

means for selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein means for determining an available flight distance further comprises:

means for determining a landing priority for the need to land; and

means for determining an available flight distance from the current position of the UAV in dependence upon the landing priority and UAV specifications.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein means for determining a landing priority for the need to land further comprises means for determining a UAV condition.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein means for selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises:

means for determining a geographic area defined by the available flight distance and the current position; and

means for selecting an available landing location within the geographic area.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein means for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises means for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon a landing location type assigned to the available landing location.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein means for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises means for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon a safety rating assigned to the available landing location.

13. A computer program product for identifying a UAV landing location, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a need to land the UAV;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining a current position of the UAV;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining an available flight distance for landing the UAV; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining an available flight distance further comprises:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining a landing priority for the need to land; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining an available flight distance from the current position of the UAV in dependence upon the landing priority and UAV specifications.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining a landing priority for the need to land further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining a UAV condition.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting, from a database, an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining a geographic area defined by the available flight distance and the current position; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an available landing location within the geographic area.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon a landing location type assigned to the available landing location.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon the current position and the available flight distance further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an available landing location in dependence upon a safety rating assigned to the available landing location.