Useful unmanned aerial vehicle

• US 20100250022A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AIR RECON, INC.
• Sponsoring Entity: AIR RECON, INC.
• Inventors: Watts, Jason, Hines, Destry, Watts, Donald E.
• Time in USPTO: 0 Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2201/141 : autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2201/145 : using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2201/146 : Remote controls
• 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 1/0094 : involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 : specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) addresses remotely piloted UAVs making them easier to operate, provide a more flexible positioning system, also improving on communications latency and interference problems. The UAV sends symbolic messages to an educated public via color.

Claims

1. -17. (canceled)

18. . A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in hybrid flight mode, the method comprising:

providing a UAV;

providing a control station communicatively coupled to the UAV, the control station comprising;

a control interface; and

a heading offset indicator;

placing the UAV in a first position with a first velocity and first heading; and

manipulating the control interface to change the heading offset indicator, resulting in;

the control station sending target position data to the UAV; and

the UAV, in response to the target position data, following a path substantially corresponding to the target position data.

19. . The method of claim 18 wherein:

the UAV comprises;

a navigation computer;

a position locator communicatively coupled to the navigation computer; and

control surfaces configured to actuate in response to control signals received from the navigation computer; and

the navigation computer is configured to;

compute a velocity vector in response to the target position data;

send control signals to the control surfaces to cause the UAV to substantially follow the velocity vector; and

receive feedback from the position locator.

20. . The method of claim 19 wherein the position locator is a device selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system receiver, radar, and an inertial guidance system.

21. . The method of claim 19 wherein the control station is communicatively coupled to the UAV over a medium selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone network, a satellite link, and an internet protocol.

22. . The method of claim 21 wherein the medium has a communication latency of between 0.1 and four seconds.

23. . The method of claim 18 wherein the control interface is a yoke.

24. . The method of claim 18 wherein the control station further comprises:

a graphical user interface comprising;

a graphical representation of the UAV; and

a graphical representation of an altitude of the UAV;

25. . The method of claim 24 wherein the graphical representation of an altitude of the UAV comprises a shadow indicator.

26. . A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in autopilot flight mode, the method comprising:

providing a UAV, the UAV comprising;

a navigation computer;

a position locator communicatively coupled to the navigation computer; and

control surfaces configured to actuate in response to control signals from the navigation computer;

providing a control station communicatively coupled to the UAV, the control station comprising a target programming interface;

entering a target into the target programming interface, the target including a base position and an offset; and

sending the target to the UAV;

wherein the navigation computer is configured to actuate the control surfaces in response to the UAV receiving the target and to direct the UAV to a position corresponding substantially to the target.

27. . The method of claim 26:

further comprising entering additional targets into the target programming interface; and

wherein the control station is configured to successively send the additional targets to the UAV, resulting in the UAV sequentially navigating to positions corresponding substantially to the additional targets.

28. . The method of claim 27 further comprising:

providing a default target, wherein the UAV navigates to a position corresponding substantially to the default target if it reaches a final target and receives no other targets.

29. . The method of claim 27 further comprising:

providing a default heading, wherein the UAV follows the default heading if it reaches a final target and receives no other targets.

30. . A method of navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle in follow flight mode, the method comprising:

providing a UAV;

providing a tracking device configured to track a moving subject;

receiving from the tracking device a position of the moving subject; and

instructing the UAV to move to a position relative to the position of the moving subject.

31. . The method of claim 30 wherein the tracking device comprises a ground station, the ground station comprising a graphic representing the subject overlaid on a map.

32. . The method of claim 30 wherein the tracking device is affixed to the subject at manufacture.

33. . The method of claim 30 wherein the tracking device is affixed to the subject in an emergency situation.

34. . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

a navigation computer;

a position locator communicatively coupled to the navigation computer;

a transceiver communicatively coupling the navigation computer to a control station; and

control surfaces actuated in response to control signals from the navigation computer;

wherein the navigation computer is configured to;

receive a target from the control station, the target including a base position and an offset; and

generate control signals in response to the guidance instructions, resulting in the UAV moving to a position substantially in conformance with the target.

35. . The UAV of claim 34 wherein the position locator is a device selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system receiver, radar, and an inertial guidance system.

36. . The UAV of claim 34 wherein the transceiver communicatively couples the navigation computer to the control station over a medium selected from the group consisting of cellular phone network, a satellite link, and an internet protocol.

37. . The UAV of claim 36 wherein the medium has a communication latency of between 0.1 and four seconds.

38. . A method of using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for symbolic communication, the method comprising:

providing a UAV with an exterior surface color; and

causing the UAV to follow a flight path;

wherein the UAV color is selected to communicate a message and the flight path is selected to make the UAV visible to a target audience.

39. . The method of claim 38 further comprising:

educating the target audience to associate the message with the surface color.

40. . The method of claim 38 wherein the UAV has a wingspan of between six inches and eighty feet.

41. . The method of claim 40 wherein the wingspan is between twelve feet and twenty-four feet.

42. . The method of claim 38 wherein the UAV flies at an altitude between 10 feet above ground level (AGL) and 50,000 feet above sea level.

43. . The method of claim 42 wherein the altitude is between 100 feet AGL and 10,000 feet AGL.

44. . The method of claim 38 wherein the UAV hovers over the target audience.

45. . The method of claim 38 wherein the UAV flies at a speed of up to mach 2.

46. . The method of claim 45 wherein the speed is between 30 miles per hour (mph) and 130 mph.

47. . The method of claim 38 wherein the UAV follows a landmark.

48. . The method of claim 47 wherein the landmark is selected from the group consisting of a pipeline, a road and a river.

49. . The method of claim 48 wherein the exterior surface color is provided by organic light-emitting diodes.

50. . The method of claim 49 wherein the exterior surface color is dynamically configurable.