UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20180090013A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 03/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: PARK, Kenneth James, KOWALSKI, John Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/712,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20180090013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• 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: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• 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: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A communications infrastructure (RSU) 30 with its airspace controller 32 provides a geo-fencing system that is capable of adaptive and progressive levels of control authority over the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) e.g., drone 20. The communications infrastructure (RSU) 30 is able to uniquely identify the drone 20, take partial control over the drone 20 to prevent the drone 20 from approaching controlled airspace, take complete control over the drone 20 for the purpose of directing the drone 20 to a specific location via a specific route (i.e. a flight profile), and/or the disabling of the drone 20. The drone 20 includes flight control system 50, vehicle processing system (VPU) 54, and communications system (V2I system) 56. Various data objects are transmitted between the communications system (V2I system) 56 of the drone 20 and the communications infrastructure (RSU) 30. The drone 20 is configured to perform self-check, e.g., of its communications system (V2I system) 56, and to enter a fault mode of operation for overriding propulsion and directionality of the unmanned aerial vehicle during problematic conditions.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a flight controller configured to provide signals to propulsion and directionality mechanisms of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

communications circuitry configured to participate in vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications with an entity supporting V2I communications;

transceiver circuitry comprising an antenna configured to transceive wireless signals of the V2I communications; and

processor circuitry configured;

to detect a fault in the vehicle or in a communications link between the vehicle and the entity supporting V2I communications; and

upon detecting the fault, to direct the flight controller to follow a fault mode of operation for overriding propulsion and directionality of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor circuitry is configured to perform a check of the communications circuitry to detect the fault.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor circuitry is configured to detect one or more of the following:

removal or inoperability of the antenna;

interference on the link between the vehicle and the entity supporting V2I communications; and

a fault in random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM) associated with the processor circuitry;

a virus inserted into software executed by the processor circuitry.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to command the communications circuitry to receive flight commands between vehicle and the [PK1] entity supporting V2I communications and, upon inability to receive the flight commands, to direct the flight controller to follow the default mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fault mode of operation comprises one or more of the following:

a non-flight mode of operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

a descent mode of operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

disablement of propulsion and directionality mechanisms of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle processor configured to execute flight commands including any flight commands received via the communications circuitry from the entity supporting V2I communications; and

wherein the flight controller is configured to;

provide the signals to the propulsion and directionality mechanisms of the unmanned aerial vehicle in accordance with the flight commands;

query status of the vehicle processor and, upon failing to receive an acceptable response from the vehicle processor, to perform a preconfigured flight operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flight controller is configured to authenticate flight commands of the vehicle processor and upon failing to authenticate the flight commands to perform the preconfigured flight operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fuselage upon which the propulsion mechanism and the directionality mechanism are mounted;

a vehicle location determination processor configured to determine location of the vehicle with respect to three dimensions, wherein location of the vehicle with respect to at least two of the dimensions is obtained using a terrestrial or satellite navigation system, and wherein one of the three dimension is an altitude dimension, and wherein the altitude dimension is dependent upon information obtained from an onboard sensor of the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the flight controller is configured to provide signals to the propulsion mechanism and/or the directionality mechanism of the vehicle in accordance with at least one of native flight commands and vehicle processor commands;

a vehicle processor configured;

to engage in a first interaction with the communications circuitry and to obtain any infrastructure flight commands received from the entity supporting V2I communications;

to engage in a second interaction with the flight controller on the basis of vehicle processor flight commands including any infrastructure flight commands received from the entity supporting V2I communications;

an authentication processor configured to authenticate at least one of the first interaction and the second interaction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a location determination unit (DLU) which engages in a third interaction with at least one of the flight controller and the vehicle processor, and wherein the authentication processor configured to authenticate at least one of the first interaction, the second interaction, and the third interaction.

11. A method in an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a flight controller providing signals to propulsion and directionality mechanisms of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

detecting a fault in the vehicle or in a communications link between the vehicle and an entity supporting V2I communications; and

upon detecting the fault, directing the flight controller to follow a fault mode of operation for overriding propulsion and directionality of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fault is inoperability of the communications circuitry.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fault comprises one or more of the following:

interference on the link between the vehicle and the entity supporting V2I communications; and

a fault in random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM) associated with the processor circuitry;

a virus inserted into software executed by the processor circuitry.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising directing communications circuitry to receive flight commands between vehicle and the entity supporting V2I communications and, upon inability to receive the flight commands, directing the flight controller to follow the default mode.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the fault mode of operation comprises one or more of the following:

a non-flight mode of operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

a descent mode of operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

disablement of propulsion and directionality mechanisms of the unmanned aerial vehicle.