System and method for optimized unmanned vehicle communication using telemetry

• US 8,503,941 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Erdos, David, Mitchell, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US12/034,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455 131- 133, 455/24, 455/63.4, 455418-420, 455427-431, 455/456.1, 455/524, 455560-561, 455 15- 16, 455/403, 455433-434, 455/455, 455/500, 455/502, 455/562.1, 342/158, 342351-356, 3423572-35722, 342/357.39, 342/357.395, 342/359, 342367-368, 342/371, 342/386, 342/417, 343/754, 370315-316, 370/334, 370/339
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125

Abstract

In one embodiment a communications system includes an unmanned vehicle and a communications station located remote from the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle has a first wireless communications system and a first directional antenna for wirelessly communicating with the remote communications station. A first antenna control system tracks the remote communications station and aims the first directional antenna, in real time, at the remote communications station during wireless communications with the remote communications station. The remote communications station has a second wireless communications system having a second directional antenna for wirelessly communicating with the unmanned vehicle. A second antenna control system of the remote communications station tracks the unmanned vehicle and aims the second directional antenna at the unmanned vehicle, in real time, during wireless communications with the unmanned vehicle.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

an unmanned vehicle;

a remote terrestrial communications station located remote from said unmanned vehicle;

said unmanned vehicle including;

a first communications system;

a first directional antenna mounted on the unmanned vehicle, and configured to be at least one of electrically or mechanically scanned, for wirelessly communicating, using the first communications system, with said remote communications station;

a first antenna control system that tracks said remote terrestrial communications station and aims said first directional antenna, in real time, at said remote communications station during the wireless communications with said remote communications station, using position information obtained from one of an on-board navigation system or an orbiting satellite, and known location information for the remote terrestrial communications station;

said remote terrestrial communications station including;

a second communications system;

a second directional antenna, configured to be at least one of electrically or mechanically scanned, for wirelessly communicating, using the second communications system, said unmanned vehicle; and

a second antenna control system that tracks said unmanned vehicle and aims said second directional antenna at said unmanned vehicle, in real time, during the wireless communications with said unmanned vehicle; and

wherein the unmanned vehicle and the remote communications station each employ a real time closed loop antenna pointing control system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second communications systems comprise electromagnetic wave communications systems.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second antennas each comprise phased array antennas configured to be electrically aimed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said second antenna control system uses information supplied by said first communications system of said unmanned vehicle to assist in tracking said unmanned vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second communications system uses information obtained from an orbiting satellite to track said unmanned vehicle, in real time, and to continuously aim said second directional antenna at said unmanned vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote communications station communicates with said unmanned vehicle through a network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle includes a memory subsystem for storing a location of said remote communications station, and providing said location to said communications system.

8. A system comprising:

an unmanned vehicle;

a terrestrial remote subsystem;

a wireless communications system carried on-board the unmanned vehicle;

a directional antenna mounted on the unmanned vehicle, and configured to be at least one of electrically or mechanically scanned, for facilitating wireless communications, using the wireless communications system, the terrestrial remote subsystem through a real time, closed loop antenna pointing arrangement; and

an antenna control system that aims said directional antenna, in real time, to track said terrestrial remote subsystem during the wireless communications with said terrestrial remote subsystem, using position information obtained from at least one of an on-board navigation subsystem or from an orbiting satellite;

and the wireless communications system further being configured to supply real time location information pertaining to the unmanned vehicle to the remote terrestrial subsystem for use by the remote terrestrial subsystem in tracking the unmanned vehicle with a second real time, closed loop, antenna pointing arrangement.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said terrestrial remote subsystem includes a directional antenna component and a control system for the directional antenna component.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said unmanned vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. The unmanned vehicle system of claim 10, wherein said unmanned aerial vehicle wirelessly communicates with a plurality of remote subsystems.

12. A method for communicating between a moving unmanned aerial vehicle and a terrestrial remote communications station, the method including:

using the moving unmanned aerial vehicle to wirelessly communicate with the remote terrestrial communications station;

controlling a first directional antenna mounted on the moving unmanned aerial vehicle, and configured to be at least one of electrically or mechanically scanned, such that said first directional antenna tracks said remote terrestrial communications station in a real time closed loop fashion using position information from one of an on-board navigation system or an orbiting satellite; and

using a second directional antenna at said remote terrestrial communications station configured to receive real time position information from the unmanned vehicle, to track said unmanned vehicle in a closed loop fashion using the real time position information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling the first directional antenna comprises controlling a first phased array antenna, and wherein using the second directional antenna comprises using a second phased array antenna.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein using the unmanned vehicle comprises using an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), and wherein using the second directional antenna at said remote communications station comprises using the second directional antenna at a terrestrial based communications station.