Navigating UAVs In Formation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for navigating UAVs in formation, the method comprising:
- assigning pattern positions to each of a multiplicity of UAVs flying together in a pattern;
identifying a waypoint for each UAV in dependence upon the UAV'"'"'s pattern position;
piloting the UAVs in the pattern toward their waypoints in dependence upon a navigation algorithm, the navigation algorithm including;
repeatedly comparing the UAV'"'"'s intended position and the UAV'"'"'s actual position, the actual position taken from a GPS receiver; and
calculating a corrective flight vector when the distance between the UAV'"'"'s actual and intended positions exceeds an error threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Navigating UAVs in formation, including assigning pattern positions to each of a multiplicity of UAVs flying together in a pattern; identifying a waypoint for each UAV in dependence upon the UAV'"'"'s pattern position; piloting the UAVs in the pattern toward their waypoints in dependence upon a navigation algorithm, where the navigation algorithm includes repeatedly comparing the UAV'"'"'s intended position and the UAV'"'"'s actual position and calculating a corrective flight vector when the distance between the UAV'"'"'s actual and intended positions exceeds an error threshold. The actual position of the UAV may be taken from a GPS receiver on board the UAV.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for navigating UAVs in formation, the method comprising:
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assigning pattern positions to each of a multiplicity of UAVs flying together in a pattern; identifying a waypoint for each UAV in dependence upon the UAV'"'"'s pattern position; piloting the UAVs in the pattern toward their waypoints in dependence upon a navigation algorithm, the navigation algorithm including; repeatedly comparing the UAV'"'"'s intended position and the UAV'"'"'s actual position, the actual position taken from a GPS receiver; and calculating a corrective flight vector when the distance between the UAV'"'"'s actual and intended positions exceeds an error threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for navigating UAVs in formation, the system comprising:
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means for assigning pattern positions to each of a multiplicity of UAVs flying together in a pattern; means for identifying a waypoint for each UAV in dependence upon the UAV'"'"'s pattern position; means for piloting the UAVs in the pattern toward their waypoints in dependence upon a navigation algorithm; means for repeatedly comparing the UAV'"'"'s intended position and the UAV'"'"'s actual position, the actual position taken from a GPS receiver; and means for calculating a corrective flight vector when the distance between the UAV'"'"'s actual and intended positions exceeds an error threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product for navigating UAVs in formation, the computer program product comprising:
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a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning pattern positions to each of a multiplicity of UAVs flying together in a pattern; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a waypoint for each UAV in dependence upon the UAV'"'"'s pattern position; means, recorded on the recording medium, for piloting the UAVs in the pattern toward their waypoints in dependence upon a navigation algorithm; means, recorded on the recording medium, for repeatedly comparing the UAV'"'"'s intended position and the UAV'"'"'s actual position, the actual position taken from a GPS receiver; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for calculating a corrective flight vector when the distance between the UAV'"'"'s actual and intended positions exceeds an error threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification