A COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ROBUST COMMUNICATION LINKS TO UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
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Abstract
A computer implemented system for providing robust communication links to unmanned aerial vehicles is envisaged. It comprises a plurality of nodes which communicate with each other and with an unmanned aerial vehicle to allow exchange of data. A 3D signal coverage model is created which determines signal coverage provided by the plurality of nodes. A navigator present in the system navigates the unmanned aerial vehicle to follow a stored flight path based on this 3D model. Waypoints present in the path of the unmanned aerial vehicle are then identified and suitable waypoints are selected from where sensed pre-stored data is collected. A suitable node is then selected based on the stored 3D signal coverage model, location of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the nodes, and the signal strength of the nodes and the collected data is transmitted to the suitable node through the unmanned aerial vehicle to provide robust communication.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A computer implemented system for providing robust communication links to unmanned aerial vehicles, said system comprising:
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a plurality of nodes configured to communicate with each other and with an unmanned aerial vehicle to allow exchange of data; signal coverage model creator configured to create a 3D model determining signal coverage provided by said plurality of nodes in a pre-determined area; a repository cooperating with said signal coverage model creator and configured to store said 3D signal coverage model for said pre-determined area, and also configured to store, for said unmanned aerial vehicle, a pre-determined flight path having pre-determined corridors on each side of said flight path and information associated with said flight path, wherein said information comprises location information related to waypoints lying within said corridors; a navigator cooperating with said repository to receive said stored flight path and said stored 3D coverage model, and configured to navigate said unmanned aerial vehicle to follow said stored flight path; a waypoint identifier cooperating with said navigator and configured to identify waypoints present in the followed flight path, wherein the identified waypoints include suitable waypoints and guiding waypoints; a waypoint selector cooperating with said waypoint identifier and configured to select the suitable waypoints from the identified waypoints; a data collector cooperating with said waypoint selector and said unmanned aerial vehicle, and configured to collect data from said selected suitable waypoints present in said flight path; a location identifier cooperating with said navigator and said repository and configured to identify location of said unmanned aerial vehicle and determine nodes present at pre-determined distance from said unmanned aerial vehicle based on stored 3D signal coverage model and stored approximate signal strengths; a signal strength detector cooperating with said location identifier and configured to detect actual signal strengths of said determined nodes; a node selector cooperating with the location identifier, and the signal strength detector to receive detected actual signal strengths of said determined nodes, and configured to select from said determined nodes, a suitable node based on corresponding signal strength; and a communicator cooperating with said data collector to receive said collected data from the suitable waypoints and configured to transmit the collected data to said suitable node through said unmanned aerial vehicle thereby providing robust communication. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer implemented method for providing robust communication links to unmanned aerial vehicles, said method comprising the following:
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creating a 3D model determining signal coverage provided by a plurality of nodes in a pre-determined area; storing said 3D signal coverage model for said pre-determined area, and also storing, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, a pre-determined flight path having pre-determined corridors on each side of said flight path and information associated with said flight path, wherein said information comprises location information related to waypoints lying within said corridors and signal strengths of said waypoints; navigating said unmanned aerial vehicle to follow said stored flight path; identifying waypoints present in the followed flight path, wherein the identified waypoints include suitable waypoints and guiding waypoints; selecting suitable waypoints from the identified waypoints; collecting data from said selected suitable waypoints present in said flight path; identifying location of said unmanned aerial vehicle and determining nodes present at pre-determined distance from said unmanned aerial vehicle based on stored 3D signal coverage model and stored approximate signal strengths; detecting actual signal strengths of said determined nodes; selecting, from said determined nodes, a suitable node based on corresponding signal strength; and transmitting the collected data to said suitable node through said unmanned aerial vehicle thereby providing robust communication. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for providing robust communication links to unmanned aerial vehicles, said method comprising:
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creating a 3D model determining signal coverage provided by a plurality of nodes in a pre-determined area; storing said 3D signal coverage model for said pre-determined area, and also storing, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, a pre-determined flight path having pre-determined corridors on each side of said flight path and information associated with said flight path, wherein said information comprises location information related to waypoints lying within said corridors and signal strengths of said waypoints; navigating said unmanned aerial vehicle to follow said stored flight path; identifying waypoints present in the followed flight path, wherein the identified waypoints include suitable waypoints and guiding waypoints; selecting suitable waypoints from the identified waypoints; collecting data from said selected suitable waypoints present in said flight path; identifying location of said unmanned aerial vehicle and determining nodes present at pre-determined distance from said unmanned aerial vehicle based on stored 3D signal coverage model and stored approximate signal strengths; detecting actual signal strengths of said determined nodes; selecting, from said determined nodes, a suitable node based on corresponding signal strength; and transmitting the collected data to said suitable node through said unmanned aerial vehicle thereby providing robust communication.
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Specification