Navigating a UAV to a next waypoint

• US 20100004798A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Redman, Jesse, Thorson, Derral Charles, Bodin, William Kress
• Application Number:
  US11/042,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products for navigating a UAV are provided. Embodiments include determining a current position of the UAV, determining a current flying pattern of the UAV, determining a next waypoint, and calculating a new heading to navigate to the next waypoint in dependence upon the current position, the current pattern, and a transition factor. Determining a next waypoint may be carried out by receiving in a remote control device a user'"'"'s selection of a GUI map pixel that represents a waypoint for UAV navigation, the pixel having a location on the GUI and mapping the pixel'"'"'s location on the GUI to Earth coordinates of the waypoint.

Claims

1. A method for navigating an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (‘

UAV’

), the method comprising;

determining a current position of the UAV;

determining a current flying pattern of the UAV;

determining a next waypoint;

calculating a new heading to navigate to the next waypoint in dependence upon the current position, the current pattern, and a transition factor defining a priority for exiting the current flying pattern and for navigating to the next waypoint.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating a new heading to navigate to the next waypoint further comprises calculating a direction to turn to the new heading and calculating a turning rate to the new heading.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating a new heading to navigate to the next waypoint further comprises calculating an exit location in the current flying pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating a new heading to navigate to the next waypoint further comprises calculating an entry location in a next flying pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising piloting the UAV in the current flying pattern including:

receiving from a GPS receiver a current position of the UAV;

calculating a heading in dependence upon a flying pattern algorithm; and

flying on the heading.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting, in dependence upon the transition factor, a navigational algorithm for piloting the UAV from an exit location of the current pattern to an entry location of a next pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a next waypoint further comprises:

receiving in a remote control device a user'"'"'s selection of a GUI map pixel that represents a waypoint for UAV navigation, the pixel having a location on the GUI; and

mapping the pixel'"'"'s location on the GUI to Earth coordinates of the waypoint.

5. The method of claim 5 further comprising piloting the UAV in the next flying pattern including:

reading from a GPS receiver a current position of the UAV;

calculating a heading in dependence upon a flying pattern algorithm; and

flying on the heading.

9-20. -20. (canceled)