MODULAR FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INCORPORATING AN AUTOPILOT
First Claim
1. A modular flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
- a controller board configured to control a plurality of different types of carrier modules, the controller board including at least;
computer readable media storing an operating system;
a computer system configured to execute the operating system;
a pressure sensor coupled to the computer system,a magnetometer coupled to the computer system,a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) gyroscope coupled to the computer system;
a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) accelerometer coupled to the computer system;
a connector configured to receive a carrier board;
wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations comprising;
detecting whether a carrier board is connected to the connector;
at least partly in response to detecting that the carrier board is connected to the connector, authenticating the carrier board to determine whether the carrier board is authorized to be connected to the controller board,wherein if the carrier board fails authentication by the control board, operation of the vehicle is inhibited by the flight management system;
determining capabilities of the carrier board to determine at least information regarding;
a navigation satellite system signal processing device coupled to the carrier board, anda radio modem;
adapting the operation of the controller board to the determined capabilities of the carrier board;
accessing a desired location or route;
receiving signals from the pressure sensor, the MEMS accelerometer, the magnetometer, the MEMS gyroscope, and the navigation satellite system signal processing device;
based at least in part on the received signals, determining a location, an altitude, velocity, attitude and a heading of the vehicle and navigating the vehicle in accordance with the desired location or route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular vehicle management system is described, comprising a controller module configured to control different types of carrier modules. The controller module includes a computer system and optionally one or more sensors. The computer system is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether a carrier module is connected to the controller module. If the carrier module is connected to the controller module, the carrier module is authenticated. If the authentication fails, operation of the vehicle is inhibited. The control module is configured to determine carrier module capabilities including information regarding a navigation processing device, and/or a radio modem. The controller adapts to the capabilities of the controller module. Using information from the sensors and the navigation processing device, the vehicle management system navigates the vehicle.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A modular flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
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a controller board configured to control a plurality of different types of carrier modules, the controller board including at least; computer readable media storing an operating system; a computer system configured to execute the operating system; a pressure sensor coupled to the computer system, a magnetometer coupled to the computer system, a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) gyroscope coupled to the computer system; a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) accelerometer coupled to the computer system; a connector configured to receive a carrier board; wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations comprising; detecting whether a carrier board is connected to the connector; at least partly in response to detecting that the carrier board is connected to the connector, authenticating the carrier board to determine whether the carrier board is authorized to be connected to the controller board, wherein if the carrier board fails authentication by the control board, operation of the vehicle is inhibited by the flight management system; determining capabilities of the carrier board to determine at least information regarding; a navigation satellite system signal processing device coupled to the carrier board, and a radio modem; adapting the operation of the controller board to the determined capabilities of the carrier board; accessing a desired location or route; receiving signals from the pressure sensor, the MEMS accelerometer, the magnetometer, the MEMS gyroscope, and the navigation satellite system signal processing device; based at least in part on the received signals, determining a location, an altitude, velocity, attitude and a heading of the vehicle and navigating the vehicle in accordance with the desired location or route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A modular vehicle management system, comprising:
a controller module configured to control a plurality of different types of carrier modules, the controller module including at least; a computer system; one or more sensors configured to provide at least one of acceleration information or gyroscopic based orientation information; a connector configured to receive a carrier module without a backplane; wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations comprising; detecting whether a carrier module is coupled to the controller module; determining capabilities of the carrier module to determine at least information regarding; a navigation satellite system signal processing device accessible via the carrier module, and/or a radio modem; adapting the operation of the controller module to the determined capabilities of the carrier module; accessing a desired location or route; based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors and the navigation satellite system signal processing device, navigating the vehicle in accordance with the desired location or route. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of assembling a flight management system, the method essentially consisting of:
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electrically connecting a controller circuit board, the controller circuit board including at least a processor and one or more sensors configured to provide at least one of acceleration information or gyroscopic based orientation information, and a connector configured to receive a carrier board, with a carrier board comprising a navigation satellite system signal processing device coupled to the carrier board, and a radio modem coupled to the carrier board; and mechanically coupling the controller circuit board and the carrier board, wherein the flight management system is configured to perform autopilot functions. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification