Automatic configuration control of a device

• US 8,761,967 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Fisher, Christopher E., Schmalzel, Marc L., Chambers, Steven, McAllister, Justin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/478,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/10, 701/120, 701/528, 340/945, 244/2, 244/46, 244/99.2
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0033 the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/297 Tilting rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for determining system/device configuration and setting a mode of operation based on the determined configuration. An air vehicle processor: (a) receives a component information set of at least one external component; (b) determine a mode of operation, by the processor having a current mode of operation setting, based on the received component information and at least one of: an initial mode of operation setting and the current mode of operation setting; (c) determines whether all of the one or more received component information sets match a configuration requirement; (d) transitions to a flight-ready status if the determination is a conjunctive match; and (e) transition to a reset status if the determination is not a conjunctive match.

Claims

1. A method operational mode determination comprising:

detecting, by a processing unit, the presence of at least one detachably attached external component, wherein the at least one detachably attached external component is at least one of;

a lifting surface extension, a tail boom, and a rotor;

receiving, by the processing unit, a component information set from each of the detected at least one detachably attached external components; and

determining a mode of operation, by the processing unit, based on the received at least one component information set.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether all of the one or more received component information sets match a configuration requirement;

transitioning to a flight-ready status if the determination is a conjunctive match; and

transitioning to a reset status if the determination is not a conjunctive match.

3. A computing device comprising:

a processing unit and addressable member;

the processing unit configured to;

detect the presence of at least one detachably attached external component, wherein the at least one detachably attached external component is at least one of;

a lifting surface extension, a tail boom, and a rotor;

receive a component information set from each of the detected at least one detachably attached external components;

reference the received component information set against a component information database; and

determine a mode of operation based on the referenced received component information set.

4. The computing device of claim 3 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine whether all of the one or more received component information sets match a configuration requirement;

transition to a flight-ready status if the determination is a conjunctive match; and

transition to a reset status if the determination is not a conjunctive match.

5. A system comprising:

a processing unit and addressable member;

the processing unit configured to;

detect, by at least one sensor, the presence of at least one detachably attached system component, wherein the at least one detachably attached system component is at least one of;

a lifting surface extension, a tail boom, and a rotor;

receive a component information set from each of the detected at least one detachably attached system components, wherein the component information set includes database index information; and

determine a mode of operation, based on the received component information set.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

release, via an actuated element, at least one detected detachably attached system component.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising a data store comprised of one or more parameters associated with the component information set.

8. An air vehicle comprising:

a processing unit and addressable member;

the processing unit configured to;

detect, by a means for detecting at least one sensor, the presence of at least one detachably attached system component, wherein the at least one detachably attached system component is at least one of;

a lifting surface extension, a tail boom, and a rotor;

receive a component information set from each of the detected at least one detachably attached system components; and

determine a mode of operation based on the received at least one component information set.

9. The air vehicle of claim 8 wherein the lifting surface extension is a portion of a wing.

10. The air vehicle of claim 8 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

release, via an actuated element, at least one detected detachably attached system component.

11. A processor readable non-transient medium having processor executable instructions thereon, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

detect the presence of at least one detachably attached external component, wherein the at least one detachably attached external component is at least one of;

a lifting surface extension, a tail boom, and a rotor;

receive a component information set from each of the detected at least one detachably attached external components, wherein the component information set includes information associated with a database;

determine a mode of operation based on the received at least one component information set;

determine whether all of the one or more received component information sets match a configuration requirement;

transition to a flight-ready status if the determination is a conjunctive match; and

transition to a reset status if the determination is not a conjunctive match.