AUTOMATED DRONE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20160335898A1
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Technologies LLC (Vulcan, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vulcan SA (Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation)
• Inventors: Hicki, Andrew, Rosema, Keith, Caplan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US15/096,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20160335898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

The current document is directed to a system that allows drone operators to confine drone flights to safe flight areas that are computed automatically or specified by an end user. Certain implementations of the system focus on consumer applications while others allow commercial and municipal users to define safe conduits within urban, rural and industrial areas.

Claims

1. A safe-drone-operation system comprising:

a drone;

a network-based service that supplies information about where it is currently safe and permitted to fly drones and about the locations of obstacles; and

a smart-phone application that executes on a user smart phone, interfaces with an on-board Flight Control system of the drone, and interfaces with the network-based service to

override manual control of the drone to maintain operation of the drone within a permitted airspace,

override manual control of the drone to collision of the drone within a permitted airspace,

provide indications of safe-flight areas, and

receive input indicating obstacles and safe flight areas.