UNMANNED AIR VEHICLE (UAV), CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A gust-insensitive unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for imaging the ground, the UAV comprising:
- an airframe which is substantially neutrally stable and comprises a fuselage and at least three wings which include control surfaces, wherein the wings are arranged in symmetrical relation about the fuselage and confer the UAV with a roll stability about the longitudinal axis of the fuselage for any roll angle, thereby allowing the roll angle of the UAV to be set to any required angle independent of the heading and pitch angle of the UAV;
a propulsion device for propelling the UAV in flight;
an image sensor for imaging the ground, wherein the image sensor has a footprint, the position of which is determined by the roll angle of the UAV; and
a flight control system for controlling the in-flight operation of the UAV, wherein the flight control system includes flight control sensors and is operative to render the UAV gust insensitive in response to inputs from the flight control sensors, whereby the UAV exhibits substantially only linear displacements in response to wind gusts, and control the roll angle of the UAV to determine the position of the sensor footprint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gust-insensitive unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for imaging the ground, comprising a substantially neutrally stable air frame having a fuselage and at least three wings which include control surfaces. The wings are arranged in symmetrical relation about the fuselage and confer the UAV with a roll stability about a longitudinal axis of the fuselage for any roll angle. The UAV also includes a propulsion device for propelling the UAV in flight, an image sensor for imaging the ground, and a flight control system for controlling the in-flight operation of the UAV. The flight control system includes flight control sensors and is operative to render the UAV gust insensitive in response to inputs from the flight control sensors.
47 Citations
97 Claims
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1. A gust-insensitive unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for imaging the ground, the UAV comprising:
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an airframe which is substantially neutrally stable and comprises a fuselage and at least three wings which include control surfaces, wherein the wings are arranged in symmetrical relation about the fuselage and confer the UAV with a roll stability about the longitudinal axis of the fuselage for any roll angle, thereby allowing the roll angle of the UAV to be set to any required angle independent of the heading and pitch angle of the UAV; a propulsion device for propelling the UAV in flight; an image sensor for imaging the ground, wherein the image sensor has a footprint, the position of which is determined by the roll angle of the UAV; and a flight control system for controlling the in-flight operation of the UAV, wherein the flight control system includes flight control sensors and is operative to render the UAV gust insensitive in response to inputs from the flight control sensors, whereby the UAV exhibits substantially only linear displacements in response to wind gusts, and control the roll angle of the UAV to determine the position of the sensor footprint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 23, 28, 32)
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3. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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6. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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17. (canceled)
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19. (canceled)
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21. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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24-27. -27. (canceled)
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29-31. -31. (canceled)
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33-53. -53. (canceled)
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54. A gust-insensitive unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for imaging the ground, the UAV comprising:
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an airframe which is neutrally stable and comprises a fuselage and wings which include control surfaces; a propulsion device for propelling the UAV in flight; an image sensor for imaging the ground, wherein the image sensor has a footprint, the position of which is determined by the orientation of the UAV; and a flight control system for controlling the in-flight operation of the UAV, wherein the flight control system includes flight control sensors and is operative to render the UAV gust insensitive in response to inputs from the flight control sensors, whereby the UAV exhibits substantially only linear displacements in response to wind gusts. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56-70. -70. (canceled)
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71. An unmanned air vehicle (UAV) control system for imaging the ground, the UAV control system comprising:
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an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) including an image sensor for imaging the ground, the image sensor having a footprint, the position of which is determined by the orientation of the UAV, and a communications module for communicating with a ground station; and a ground station for controlling operation of the UAV, the ground station comprising a communications module for communicating with the UAV, and a ground control system for controlling operation of the UAV. - View Dependent Claims (73, 75)
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72. (canceled)
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74. (canceled)
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76-96. -96. (canceled)
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97. A method of operating an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), wherein the UAV has an airframe which is substantially neutrally stable and comprises a fuselage and at least three wings which include control surfaces, wherein the wings are arranged in symmetrical relation about the fuselage and confer the UAV with a roll stability about the longitudinal axis of the fuselage for any roll angle, thereby allowing the roll angle of the UAV to be set to any required angle independent of the heading and pitch angle of the UAV, and comprising a flight control system for controlling the in-flight operation of the UAV, wherein the flight control system includes flight control sensors and a proximity sensor for sensing proximity of physical structures, through or around which the UAV is to be navigated; and automatically navigating the UAV utilizing control inputs from the flight control sensors and the proximity sensor, preferably at a fixed height, and rendering the UAV gust insensitive in response to inputs from the flight control sensors, whereby the UAV exhibits substantially only linear displacements in response to wind gusts.
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Specification