UAV NETWORK

• US 20170195048A1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wellen Sham
• Original Assignee: Wellen Sham
• Inventors: Sham, Wellen
• Granted Patent: US 10,454,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1129 Arrangements for outdoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) network. The UAV network in accordance with the disclosure can comprise multiple UAVs, ground processing stations, and/or any other components. A particular UAV in the network can carry payloads consisting of optical image sensors, processing devices, communication systems, and/or any other components. An individual UAV in the network can comprise photovoltaic cells capable of absorbing solar energy. Embodiments are provided for converting the solar energy to electricity for providing power to payloads aboard the UAV and as well as charging a battery aboard the UAV. In certain embodiments, the UAV can fly up to 65,000 feet and can cover as much as 500 km in range. One motivation of the present disclosure is to “outsource” some or entire information processing by an UAV to existing infrastructure, such as the ground processing station.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle network, the method being implemented in one or more of a processor configured to execute programmed components, the method comprising:

broadcasting, at a first unmanned aerial vehicle, a location of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles;

receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a broadcast message from a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the broadcast message indicating a location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle;

storing the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in in a routing table, the routing table being stored in storage associated with the processor;

receiving information generated at the first unmanned aerial vehicle;

transmitting, through an optical transmitter of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle;

receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, through an optical receiver of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, an optical beam transmitted by a third unmanned aerial vehicle;

generating an instruction for converting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the optical beam into digital data;

determining, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the destination of the digital data is the second unmanned aerial vehicle;

retrieving from the storage the routing table and determining from the routing table the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; and

transmitting the digital data to the second the second unmanned aerial vehicle based on the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, control signals from a controller, wherein the control signals received from the controller includes a signal indicating a network status of the unmanned aerial vehicle network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

updating, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the routing table based on the network status.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the network status indicates that the second unmanned aerial vehicle is unavailable.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, to the controller status information indicating the first unmanned aerial vehicle is unavailable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical beam is laser or LED.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data is not a navigation command.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a control signal to a controller indicating the first unmanned aerial vehicle is unavailable.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller is provided by a ground processing station or another unmanned aerial vehicle.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is provided by a ground processing station or another unmanned aerial vehicle.

2. (canceled)

11. A system for facilitating an unmanned aerial vehicle network, the system comprising one or more of a processor configured by machine readable-instructions to perform:

broadcasting a location of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles;

receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a broadcast message from a second unmanned aerial vehicle, the broadcast message indicating a location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle;

storing the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in in a routing table, the routing table being stored in storage associated with the processor;

receiving information generated at the first unmanned aerial vehicle;

transmitting, through an optical transmitter of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle;

receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, through an optical receiver of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, an optical beam transmitted by a second unmanned aerial vehicle;

generating an instruction for converting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the optical beam into digital data;

determining, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the destination of the digital data is the second unmanned aerial vehicle;

retrieving from the storage the routing table and determining from the routing table the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle; and

transmitting the digital data to the second unmanned aerial vehicle based on the location of the second unmanned aerial vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

receiving, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, control signals from a controller, wherein the control signals received from the controller includes a signal indicating a network status of the unmanned aerial vehicle network.

14. The system of claim 13, the processor is further configured to perform:

updating, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a routing table based on the network status.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the network status indicates that the second unmanned aerial vehicle is unavailable.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, to the controller status information indicating the first unmanned aerial vehicle is unavailable.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the optical beam is laser or LED.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital data is not a navigation command.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising transmitting, at the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a control signal to a controller indicating the first unmanned aerial vehicle is unavailable.

12. (canceled)