METHODS FOR GENERATING A FLIGHT PLAN FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE BASED ON A PREDICTED CAMERA PATH

• US 20100286859A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Rye, Jeffrey Mathew, Whitlow, Stephen, Dorneich, Michael Christian, Feigh, Karen
• Application Number:
  US12/273,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/25
• 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: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

Methods are provided for generating a flight plan for an aerial vehicle equipped with a surveillance module by using a control unit having a display device. A method comprises graphically identifying, on a map displayed on the display device, a desired target for the surveillance module. A flight plan generated based on the desired target such that a predicted camera path for the surveillance module overlaps the desired target.

Claims

1. A method for generating a flight plan for an aerial vehicle having a surveillance module using a control unit having a display device, the method comprising:

graphically identifying, on a map displayed on the display device, a desired target for the surveillance module; and

generating the flight plan such that a predicted camera path for the surveillance module overlaps the desired target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the flight plan comprises generating a plurality of waypoints based on the desired target.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the predicted camera path for the surveillance module based on the plurality of waypoints.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

graphically displaying the plurality of waypoints on the display device; and

graphically displaying the predicted camera path on the display device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

adjusting a first waypoint of the plurality of waypoints on the display device, wherein adjusting the first waypoint results in an adjusted flight plan;

determining an updated camera path for the surveillance module based on the adjusted flight plan; and

graphically displaying the updated camera path on the display device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

graphically displaying the flight plan on the display device; and

graphically displaying the predicted camera path on the display device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading the flight plan to the aerial vehicle, wherein the flight plan controls autonomous flight of the aerial vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a viewing constraint for the desired target, wherein generating the flight plan comprises generating the flight plan based on the desired target and the viewing constraint.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the predicted camera path for the surveillance module based on the flight plan.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the flight plan comprises determining a plurality of waypoints such that at least part of the predicted camera path overlaps the desired target.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

graphically displaying the plurality of waypoints on the display device;

adjusting a first waypoint of the plurality of waypoints on the display device, wherein adjusting the first waypoint results in an adjusted flight plan;

determining an updated camera path for the surveillance module based on the adjusted flight plan; and

graphically displaying the updated camera path on the display device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a no-fly region on the display device, wherein generating the flight plan comprises generating the flight plan such that a predicted flight path of the aerial vehicle does not overlap the no-fly region.

13. A method for creating a flight plan for an aerial vehicle having a camera, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of surveillance targets for the camera on a display device associated with the aerial vehicle; and

generating a plurality of waypoints for use as the flight plan based on the plurality of surveillance targets.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a predicted camera path for the camera based on the plurality of waypoints.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the plurality of waypoints comprises generating the plurality of waypoints such that the predicted camera path overlaps the plurality of surveillance targets.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of the predicted camera path on the display device; and

displaying a graphical representation of the plurality of waypoints on the display device.

17. A method for generating a travel plan for an unmanned vehicle from an associated control unit having a display device, the method comprising:

receiving a first user input that identifies a spatial constraint on a map displayed on the display device; and

if the spatial constraint comprises a desired target for a camera onboard the unmanned vehicle, generating a plurality of waypoints for use as the travel plan based on the spatial constraint such that a predicted camera path for the camera overlaps the spatial constraint.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a second user input that identifies an approach direction for the spatial constraint, wherein the plurality of waypoints are generated such that the predicted camera path at a location corresponding to the spatial constraint is substantially aligned with the approach direction.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating the predicted camera path based on the plurality of waypoints;

rendering a graphical representation of the predicted camera path overlying the map; and

rendering a graphical representation of the plurality of waypoints on overlying the map.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising uploading the travel plan to the unmanned vehicle, wherein the travel plan controls unmanned operation of the unmanned vehicle.

21. A surveillance system for an aerial vehicle, the surveillance system comprising:

a surveillance module onboard the aerial vehicle, the surveillance module being adapted to capture surveillance data for a viewing region proximate the aerial vehicle; and

a control unit communicatively coupled to the aerial vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured to;

identify a desired target for the surveillance module;

generate a flight plan for the aerial vehicle such that a predicted path for the viewing region overlaps the desired target; and

upload the flight plan to the aerial vehicle, wherein the flight plan controls autonomous flight of the aerial vehicle.