Programmable autopilot system for autonomous flight of unmanned aerial vehicles
First Claim
1. An autopilot control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a ground station; and
an on-plane control system, comprising;
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor;
three accelerometers in electronic communication with the processor;
three rate gyroscopes in electronic communication with the processor;
an absolute pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor;
a differential pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor;
a global positioning system in electronic communication with the processor;
a transceiver in electronic communication with the processor to receive and transmit wireless signals; and
a power source that supplies power to both the on-plane control system and to an actuator used to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing autonomous control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is disclosed. The system includes a ground station in communication with an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method for providing autonomous control of a UAV includes methods for processing communications between the ground station and UAV. The method also includes procedures for processing commands from the ground station. Also included in the method is a process for estimating the attitude of the UAV and autonomously maintaining its altitude within a desired threshold. The method also includes a process for autonomously orbiting about a specified point in space. Combined with these processes, the method also includes a process for an autonomous takeoff and landing of the UAV.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An autopilot control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a ground station; and an on-plane control system, comprising; a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; three accelerometers in electronic communication with the processor; three rate gyroscopes in electronic communication with the processor; an absolute pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a differential pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a global positioning system in electronic communication with the processor; a transceiver in electronic communication with the processor to receive and transmit wireless signals; and a power source that supplies power to both the on-plane control system and to an actuator used to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An autopilot control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a ground station; and an on-plane control system, comprising; a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; three accelerometers in electronic communication with the processor; three rate gyroscopes in electronic communication with the processor; an absolute pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a differential pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a global positioning system in electronic communication with the processor; a transceiver in electronic communication with the processor to receive and transmit wireless signals; and executable instructions executable by the processor, wherein the executable instructions are configured to implement a method for estimating attitude comprising; sampling state variables provided in part by the accelerometers, rate gyroscopes, absolute pressure sensor, differential pressure sensor, and the global positioning system; processing the state variables through a fixed gain Kalman Filter; calculating new state variable estimates; and storing the new state variable estimates in memory. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An autopilot control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; three accelerometers in electronic communication with the processor; three rate gyroscopes in electronic communication with the processor; an absolute pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a differential pressure sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a global positioning system in electronic communication with the processor; a transceiver in electronic communication with the processor to receive and transmit wireless signals; and executable instructions executable by the processor, wherein the executable instructions are configured to implement a method for estimating attitude comprising; sampling state variables provided in part by the accelerometers, rate gyroscopes, absolute pressure sensor, differential pressure sensor, and the global positioning system; processing the state variables through a fixed gain Kalman Filter; calculating new state variable estimates; and storing the new state variable estimates in memory. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification