METHOD FOR KEEPING DRONES WITHIN A DESIGNATED BOUNDARY

• US 20160282861A1
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WolfGIS, LLC
• Original Assignee: WolfGIS, LLC
• Inventors: GOLDEN, JOHN MICHAEL, BRIGGS, TEMPLETON III
• Application Number:
  US15/080,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20160282861A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones

Abstract

A Tract-Lock based drone location data system is described with inherent properties for providing precise drone location data and keeping drones within a designated geographic boundary.

Claims

1. A method for providing the location of a drone pursuant to global positioning information, comprising:

a. a drone;

b. an electronic device having means for communicating wirelessly through the internet to a remote internet protocol address, means for determining a latitude and longitude of said drone, means for communicating over a cellular network, and means for controlling the internal electronics of said electronic device;

c. means for loading a geographic position boundary; and

d. means running on said electronic device for calculating a geographic position boundary upon the receipt of a land tract file holding geographic information representing the perimeter of a flight path represented by said land tract file, and wherein said boundary corresponds to said perimeter of said land tract.

2. The method of claim 1, further including means for accepting an uploaded land tract file and associated land tract file with said database record.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for managing a plurality of land tract files associated with said drone and downloading said files into said electronic device upon request.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic device communicates the drone'"'"'s location to a remote base controller.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic device communicates the drone'"'"'s location directly to a controller on board the drone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication services are BlueTooth.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication services are WiFi.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication services are Internet.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication services are infrared.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a PC.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a smart mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a proprietary device.

13. In an electronic device having means for communicating wirelessly through the internet to a remote internet protocol address, means for determining a latitude and longitude of said drone, means for communicating over a cellular network, and means for controlling the internal electronics of said electronic device, a method of guiding the movements of a drone within an airspace comprising the steps of:

a. loading geographic information representing a land tract into said electronic device;

b. calculating a geographic boundary comprising a perimeter of said airspace; and

c. continuously monitoring said drone'"'"'s geographic position within said land tract and issuing a notification warning upon the transit of said geographic boundary.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further including the step of downloading a land tract file into said electronic device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further including the step of loading geographic boundary information of restricted airspaces within said flight path and issuing a notification warning upon the transit into one of said restricted airspaces.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 further including the step of loading geographic boundary information of restricted airspaces within said flight path and correcting the drone'"'"'s flight path to prevent it from crossing the designated geographic boundary into a restricted airspace.

17. The method of claim 16 where said correction is automatic.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said correction includes landing the drone.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said correction includes hovering near the boundary.