UAV Flight Control Method And System

• US 20100228406A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Ihlein, John, Hamke, Eric E.
• Application Number:
  US12/396,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/80 UAVs characterised by their small size, e.g. micro air vehicles [MAV]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for flying a ducted-fan air-vehicle, such as an unmanned air-vehicle. The method includes receiving a first input associated with a target point of interest and pointing the gimbaled sensor at the target point of interest. The method further includes receiving a second input corresponding to a desired flight path and selecting a velocity vector flight command to achieve the desired flight path. Selecting the velocity vector flight command includes converting attitude data from the gimbaled sensor into a velocity vector flight command. The method further includes operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command and the gimbaled sensor remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV.

Claims

1. A method for operating a UAV having a gimbaled sensor, the method comprising:

receiving a first input associated with a target point of interest;

pointing the gimbaled sensor at the target point of interest;

receiving a second input corresponding to a desired flight path;

selecting a velocity vector flight command to achieve the desired flight path, wherein selecting the velocity vector flight command comprises converting attitude data from the gimbaled sensor into the velocity vector flight command; and

operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command, wherein the gimbaled sensor remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gimbaled sensor is a gimbaled camera.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

during operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command, adjusting the gimbaled sensor so that the gimbaled sensor remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

during operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command, adjusting a heading of the UAV so that the UAV stays out of a field of view of the gimbaled sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the UAV has a roll axis and the gimbaled sensor has a pan heading, and wherein adjusting the UAV heading comprises aligning the UAV roll axis with the gimbaled sensor pan heading.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command persists for less than 10 seconds.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, after operating the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command, the UAV hovers until receiving a third input corresponding to a second desired flight path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the attitude data comprises gimbaled sensor angle data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired flight path comprises a flight path corresponding to at least one of longitudinal and lateral movement, and wherein converting attitude data from the gimbaled sensor into the velocity vector flight command comprises converting a pan angle of the gimbaled sensor into a velocity vector flight command.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired flight path comprises a guide path corresponding to at least one of longitudinal, lateral, and vertical movement toward the target point of interest, and wherein converting attitude data from the gimbaled sensor into the velocity vector flight command comprises converting a pan angle of the gimbaled sensor and a tilt angle of the gimbaled sensor into a velocity vector flight command.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired flight path comprises a guide path corresponding to at least one of longitudinal, lateral, and vertical movement away from the target point of interest, and wherein converting attitude data from the gimbaled sensor into the velocity vector flight command comprises converting a pan angle of the gimbaled sensor and a tilt angle of the gimbaled sensor into the velocity vector flight command.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired flight path comprises a path corresponding to a circumferential path around the target point of interest.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the UAV is operable to communicate with a ground control system, wherein the ground control system commands the UAV to point the gimbaled sensor at the target point of interest after receiving the first input associated with a target point of interest.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the target point of interest is an object.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the target point of interest is a point on a horizon.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the UAV is selected from the group consisting of an MAV and an OAV.

17. A method for operating a UAV having a gimbaled camera, the method comprising:

receiving a first input associated with a target point of interest;

pointing the gimbaled camera at the target point of interest;

receiving a second input corresponding to a desired flight path;

selecting at least one velocity vector flight command to achieve the desired flight path, wherein selecting the at least one velocity vector flight command comprises converting attitude data from the gimbaled camera into the at least one velocity vector flight command, wherein the attitude data comprises gimbaled camera angle data; and

operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight commands, wherein the gimbaled camera remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV; and

during operating the flight of the UAV according to the at least one selected velocity vector flight command, adjusting the gimbaled camera so that the gimbaled camera remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV.

18. A UAV system comprising:

a UAV having a gimbaled camera;

a processor;

data storage having instructions executable by the processor for;

receiving a first input associated with a target point of interest;

pointing the gimbaled sensor at the target point of interest;

receiving a second input corresponding to a desired flight path;

selecting at least one velocity vector flight command to achieve the desired flight path, wherein selecting the at least one velocity vector flight command comprises converting attitude data from the gimbaled camera into the at least one velocity vector flight command; and

operating the flight of the UAV according to the at least one selected velocity vector flight command, wherein the gimbaled camera remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV.

19. The UAV system of claim 18, wherein the UAV system further comprises a ground control system.

20. The UAV system of claim 19, wherein the ground control system comprises a display unit having touch-screen capability.