DRONE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20180364713A1
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Published: 12/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Foster, II, Clyde, Kolla, Jhansi R., Kozhaya, Joseph, McCormick, II, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US15/624,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20180364713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• 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: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• 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 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

A drone control system is communicatively coupled to a plurality of drones. A drone from the plurality drones is selected to travel to a destination site. Predefined rules associated with airspace over public and private areas may be generated and stored. A route is generated for the drone to travel based on an airspace map. Based on one or more constraints over the route specified in the predefined rules, path height is determined. The route is loaded onto drone and the drone is controlled to fly via the route according to the path height to the destination site. The drone'"'"'s flight is monitored and a signal is received from the drone that the drone completed its travel to the destination site.

Claims

1. A drone control system, comprising:

at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled to a plurality of drones, the hardware processor selecting a drone from the plurality drones to travel to a destination site;

a storage device coupled to the hardware processor and storing predefined rules associated with airspace over public and private areas;

the hardware processor generating a route for the drone to travel based on an airspace map, the hardware processor accessing the storage device to determine one or more constraints over the route specified in the predefined rules;

the hardware processor loading the route onto a memory associated with the drone, and controlling the drone to fly via the route to the destination site;

the hardware processor monitoring a flight of the drone and receiving a signal from the drone that the drone completed its travel to the destination site.

2. The drone control system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor further determines whether the drone is to make another travel from the destination site to a another destination site, and routes the drone to said another destination.

3. The drone control system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor determines weather conditions along the route, and based on the weather conditions, the hardware processor controls the drone to fly.

4. The drone control system of claim 1, wherein the predefined rules are generated from specifications received from private owners of property situated along the route.

5. The drone control system of claim 1, wherein the route is generated taking into account the drone'"'"'s size and the drone'"'"'s cargo.

6. The drone control system of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor dispatches the drone to deliver a package to the destination site.

7. The drone control system of claim 1, wherein the route is generated taking into account other drones traveling in an area of the route.

8. A method of controlling a drone, the method executed by at least one hardware processor, the method comprising:

selecting a drone from a plurality drones to travel to a destination site;

retrieving from a storage device coupled to the hardware processor, predefined rules associated with airspace over public and private areas;

generating a route for the drone to travel based on an airspace map,

determining from the predefined rules one or more constraints over the route;

determining path height over the route based on the constraints;

loading the route onto a memory associated with the drone, and controlling the drone to fly via the route according to the path height to the destination site; and

monitoring a flight of the drone and receiving a signal from the drone that the drone completed its travel to the destination site.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether the drone is to make another travel from the destination site to another destination site, and routing the drone to said another destination.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining weather conditions along the route, and the drone is controlled to fly subject to the weather conditions.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the predefined rules are generated from specifications received from private owners of property situated along the route.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the route is generated taking into account the drone'"'"'s size and the drone'"'"'s cargo.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the drone is to deliver a package to the destination site.

14. A computer readable storage device storing a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method of controlling a drone, the method comprising:

selecting a drone from a plurality drones to travel to a destination site;

retrieving from a storage device coupled to the hardware processor, predefined rules associated with airspace over public and private areas;

generating a route for the drone to travel based on an airspace map, determining from the predefined rules one or more constraints over the route;

determining path height over the route based on the constraints;

loading the route onto a memory associated with the drone, and controlling the drone to fly via the route according to the path height to the destination site; and

monitoring a flight of the drone and receiving a signal from the drone that the drone completed its travel to the destination site.

15. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, further comprising determining whether the drone is to make another travel from the destination site to another destination site, and routing the drone to said another destination.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, further comprising determining weather conditions along the route, and the drone is controlled to fly subject to the weather conditions.

17. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the predefined rules are generated from specifications received from private owners of property situated along the route.

18. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the route is generated taking into account the drone'"'"'s size and the drone'"'"'s cargo.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the drone is to deliver a package to the destination site.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the route is generated taking into account other drones traveling in an area of the route.