Systems and methods for detecting and managing the unauthorized use of an unmanned aircraft

• US 8,788,118 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey A. Matos
• Original Assignee: Karl F. Milde Jr
• Inventors: Matos, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US13/195,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0015 Devices specially adapted for the protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0034 by ground-control override
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0051 by monitoring passengers or crew on aircraft
• 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 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0808 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• 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 5/003 Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• 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: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A method for policing and managing the operation of a flying, unmanned aircraft in the event of usurpation of control of, malfunction of, or ill-intentioned use of, this aircraft includes the steps of (a) detecting inappropriate operation of the aircraft; (b) transmitting a takeover command to the aircraft to interrupt control of the operation of this aircraft by a first pilot and relinquish control of the aircraft to a second pilot; and (c) transmitting control commands to the aircraft to control its operation by the second pilot, until the need for alternate pilot control of the aircraft has ended or until the aircraft has landed safely.

Claims

1. An unmanned vehicle system, which is remotely controllable from a control source with police apparatus located remotely from each of said vehicle and said control source, comprising:

(A) a remotely controlled vehicle comprising;

(1) a vehicle receiving device, for receiving instruction signals from each of said control source and said police apparatus;

(2) a vehicle processor, coupled to said vehicle receiving device, for receiving instructions specified by said instruction signals, and producing operational control signals for the vehicle in response to said instructions;

(3) at least one actuator, coupled to said processor, responsive to said operational control signals, for actuating at least one of;

(i) at least one device for controlling an orientation of said vehicle, and

(ii) at least one device for controlling at least one of (i) a velocity, and (ii) an acceleration, of said vehicle;

(4) at least one sensing device, coupled to said vehicle processor, for sensing vehicle data and supplying sensed vehicle data signals to said vehicle processor representing said sensed vehicle data; and

(5) a vehicle transmitting device, coupled to said vehicle processor, for transmitting said signals representing said sensed vehicle data;

(B) a remote control unit for providing at least one biologic identifier signal and said instruction signals, said remote control unit comprising;

(1) a remote control transmitting device, for transmitting said instruction signals and said at least one biologic identifier signal;

(2) a remote control receiving device for receiving said sensed vehicle data signals;

(3) a first remote control input device for manually inputting instructions;

(4) a second remote control input device for inputting biologic identification information pertaining to a pilot using the remote control unit;

(5) a display device for displaying information; and

(6) a remote control processor, coupled to each of said remote control transmitting device, said remote control receiving device, said first remote control input device, said second remote control input device and said display device, for

(i) generating instruction signals representing said inputted instructions and generating said at least one biologic identifier signal representing said inputted biologic identification information and causing said remote control transmitting device to transmit said signals to said vehicle receiving device, and

(ii) processing signals representing said sensed vehicle data received by said remote control receiving device and supplying said signals to said remote control display device;

(C) a police unit for communicating with said unmanned vehicle comprising;

(1) a police transmitting device, for transmitting an interrogation signal to said vehicle receiving device;

(2) a police receiving device, for receiving said at least one biologic identifier signal from said vehicle transmitting device;

(3) a memory device, for storing and providing certified biologic identification information and respective alphanumeric identification information pertaining to each of a plurality of persons; and

(4) a police processor, coupled to each of said police transmitting device, said police receiving device, and said memory device, for

(i) storing said certified biologic and said respective alphanumeric identification information in said memory and retrieving it therefrom,

(ii) generating an interrogation signal for transmission to said vehicle receiving device,

(iii) receiving said biologic identification information from said police receiving device, and comparing it to said stored certified biologic identification information, and

(iv) indicating a match between said stored certified biologic identification information and said received biologic identification information;

wherein

(I) said vehicle processor is further operative to supply said signals representing said sensed vehicle data to said vehicle transmitting device, and to cause said transmitting device to transmit said signals to said remote control receiving device;

(II) said remote control unit display device is operative to display a representation of said sensed vehicle data;

(III) said vehicle receiving device is operative to receive said interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(IV) in response to said received interrogation signal, said vehicle processor is operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to relay said interrogation signal to said remote control receiving device;

(V) in response to said received interrogation signal, said remote control processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit said at least one biologic identifier signal to said vehicle receiving device;

(VI) said vehicle processor is further operative to relay said received biologic identification information to said police receiving device, for comparison to said stored certified biologic information;

whereby

(a) the motion of said unmanned vehicle is controlled by said pilot by inputting instructions to said vehicle input device, in response to a representation of vehicle data displayed by said display device;

(b) said interrogation signal is transmitted from said police unit to said vehicle and thence to said remote control unit, and in response thereto, said biologic identification information is transmitted from said remote control unit to said vehicle and thence to said police unit;

thereby

to allow said police unit to determine the identity of the person controlling an unmanned vehicle.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

(A) an unmanned aerial vehicle,

(B) an unmanned ground vehicle,

(C) an unmanned underwater vehicle, and

(D) an unmanned space vehicle.

3. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said biologic identification information is selected from the group consisting of:

(A) an image of a face;

(B) an image of a retina;

(C) an image of an iris of an eye;

(D) at least one fingerprint;

(E) at least one palm print;

(F) a voiceprint; and

(G) a DNA sample.

4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said second input device comprises at least one of:

(A) at least one video camera; and

(B) a microphone.

5. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor.

6. The system defined in claim 5, wherein said police display device is operative to display at least one of:

(A) said certified biologic identification information;

(B) said received biologic identification information;

(C) a comparison of (i) said certified biologic identification information, and (ii) said received biologic identification information; and

(D) said indication of a match between (i) said certified biologic identification information, and (ii) said received biologic identification information;

or the absence thereof.

7. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said police processor is operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a violation signal in response to at least one of:

(1) an absence of the receipt of said biologic information, following the transmission of an interrogation signal, and

(2) an absence of a match between said certified biologic identification information and said received biologic information.

8. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said police processor is operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit at least one high output signal for interfering with at least one of

(A) said remote control receiving device, and

(B) said vehicle receiving device, in response to at least one of:

(1) an absence of the receipt of said biologic information, following the transmission of an interrogation signal, and

(2) an absence of a match between said certified biologic identification information and said received biologic information.

9. The system defined in claim 1, wherein

(A) said police unit further comprises a projectile-generating weapon for destroying said unmanned vehicle, having an input for inputting an activation signal, coupled to said police processor;

(B) said weapon launches said projectile in response to an inputted activation signal; and

(C) said processor is operative to generate said activation signal in response to at least one of;

(1) an absence of the receipt of said biologic information, following the transmission of an interrogation signal, and

(2) an absence of a match between said certified biologic identification information and said received biologic information.

10. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said police unit further comprises an input device, coupled to said police processor, and wherein an inputted interrogation request causes said processor to generate a respective interrogation signal.

11. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said police transmitting device is further operative to transmit said interrogation signal directly to said control unit receiving device, and wherein said control unit receiving device is further operative to receive said interrogation signal directly from said police unit transmitting device.

12. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit display device is further operative to display a representation of said interrogation signal.

13. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said remote control transmitting device is further operative to transmit said at least one biologic identifier signal directly to said police receiving device, and wherein said receiving device is operative to receive said identifier signal directly from said remote control transmitting device.

14. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said second input device is a video camera for generating signals representing a plurality of images, each such image showing each of:

(i) the hand of said pilot providing an inputted instruction to said first remote control input device,

(ii) at least one body part of the pilot selected from the group consisting of;

a face, a retina, an iris, a fingerprint and a palm print, and

(iii) the contiguous body parts of the pilot situated between said hand and said biologic identifier;

whereby said images allow for the identification of the person inputting said instructions.

15. The system defined in claim 14, wherein said images also show at least one of:

(A) the display device of said remote control unit, and

(B) the first remote control input device;

thereby to allow for the determination that said pilot inputted a specific instruction.

16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a second interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals from said unmanned vehicle;

(B) said vehicle receiving device is further operative to receive said second interrogation signal, for input to said vehicle processor;

(C) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said received instructions to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said second interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(D) said police processor is further operative analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of said respective instructions, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions received by said unmanned vehicle.

17. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a third interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals from said unmanned vehicle to said police unit;

(B) each of said vehicle receiving device, said vehicle processor, said vehicle transmitting device and said remote control receiving device is, sequentially, operative to relay said third interrogation signal to said remote control processor, and said processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward instruction indirectly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit a forward instruction signal to said vehicle receiving device;

(D) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said received instructions to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said forward instruction signal from said remote control unit processor;

(E) said police processor is further operative analyze received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals;

(F) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of said respective instructions, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions received by said unmanned vehicle.

18. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a fourth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals directly from said remote control unit to said police receiving device;

(B) each of said vehicle receiving device, said vehicle processor, said vehicle transmitting device and said remote control receiving device is, sequentially, operative to relay said fourth interrogation signal to said remote control processor, and said processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward instruction directly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to additionally transmit said instructions to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of said respective instructions transmitted by said remote control transmitting device, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions received by said unmanned vehicle.

19. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a fifth interrogation signal directly to said remote control unit receiving device, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals from said unmanned vehicle to said police unit;

(B) said remote control receiving device is operative to receive said fifth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward instruction indirectly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit a forward instruction signal to said vehicle receiving device;

(D) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said received instructions to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said forward instruction signal from said remote control unit processor;

(E) said police processor is further operative analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals;

(F) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of said respective instructions, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions received by said unmanned vehicle.

20. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a sixth interrogation signal directly to said remote control unit receiving device, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals directly from said remote control unit to said police receiving device;

(B) said remote control receiving device is operative to receive said sixth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward instruction directly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to additionally transmit said instructions to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of said respective instructions transmitted by said remote control transmitting device, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions received by said unmanned vehicle.

21. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensing device comprises at least one apparatus for determining:

(A) an altitude,

(B) a latitude,

(C) a longitude,

(D) GPS coordinates,

(E) a velocity,

(F) a rate of climb,

(G) a rate of descent,

(H) a horizontal acceleration,

(I) a vertical acceleration,

(J) an attitude,

(K) a pitch,

(L) a yaw,

(M) a rate of roll,

(N) a rate of change of pitch, and

(O) a rate of change of yaw.

22. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a seventh interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals from said unmanned vehicle;

(B) said vehicle receiving device is further operative to receive said seventh interrogation signal, for input to said vehicle processor;

(C) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said seventh interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(D) said police processor is further operative analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions causing the observed vehicle motion.

23. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit an eighth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals from said unmanned vehicle to said police unit;

(B) each of said vehicle receiving device, said vehicle processor, said vehicle transmitting device and said remote control receiving device is, sequentially, operative to relay said eighth interrogation signal to said remote control processor, and said processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward sensed vehicle data indirectly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit a forward sensed vehicle data signal to said vehicle receiving device;

(D) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said forward sensed vehicle data signal from said remote control unit processor;

(E) said police processor is further operative analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion;

(F) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions causing the observed vehicle motion.

24. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a ninth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals directly from said remote control unit to said police receiving device;

(B) each of said vehicle receiving device, said vehicle processor, said vehicle transmitting device and said remote control receiving device is, sequentially, operative to relay said ninth interrogation signal to said remote control processor, and said processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward sensed vehicle data directly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions causing the observed vehicle motion.

25. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a tenth interrogation signal directly to said remote control unit receiving device, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals from said unmanned vehicle to said police unit;

(B) said remote control receiving device is operative to receive said tenth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward sensed vehicle data indirectly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit a forward sensed vehicle data signal to said vehicle receiving device;

(D) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said forward sensed vehicle data signal from said remote control unit processor;

(E) said police processor is further operative analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion;

(F) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions causing the observed vehicle motion.

26. The system defined in claim 15, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit an eleventh interrogation signal directly to said remote control unit receiving device, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals directly from said remote control unit to said police receiving device;

(B) said remote control receiving device is operative to receive said eleventh interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward sensed vehicle data signals directly command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion, and

(ii) said images inputted by said video camera;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether the person inputting said instructions is the source of instructions causing the observed vehicle motion.

27. The system defined in claim 1, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to generate a maneuver signal requesting said pilot to input a police-specified instruction for said unmanned vehicle to execute a police-specified maneuver;

(B) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit said maneuver signal to said remote control receiving device; and

(C) said remote control processor is further operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said maneuver signal for said pilot.

28. The system defined in claim 27, wherein said maneuver signal is transmitted from said police transmitting device to said vehicle receiving device;

and thence sequentially to each of;

said vehicle processor, said vehicle transmitting device and said remote control receiving device.

29. The system defined in claim 27, wherein said maneuver signal is transmitted from said police transmitting device directly to said remote control receiving device without transmission to said vehicle receiving device.

30. The system defined in claim 27, wherein said police specified maneuver is selected from the group:

(A) a roll,

(B) a bank,

(C) a turn,

(D) a descent,

(E) an ascent,

(F) an acceleration,

(G) a deceleration, and

(H) an emission of a light signal.

31. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a twelfth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals from said unmanned vehicle;

(B) said vehicle receiving device is further operative to receive said twelfth interrogation signal, for input to said vehicle processor;

(C) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said twelfth interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a representation of the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

32. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a thirteenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals from said unmanned vehicle;

(B) said vehicle receiving device is further operative to receive said thirteenth interrogation signal, for input to said vehicle processor;

(C) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said thirteenth interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police processor is further operative to compare

(i) at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a motion consistent with the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

(F) said police processor is further operative to provide a first comparison signal indicating the result of said comparison;

whereby

said police processor provides information concerning whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

33. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a fourteenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device;

(B) said remote control receiving device is further operative to receive said fourteenth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward sensed vehicle data signals command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a representation of the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

34. The system defined in claim 33, wherein

(A) the route of said fourteenth interrogation signal is selected from the group comprising:

(i) directly from police unit to remote control unit, and

(ii) from police unit to unmanned vehicle and thence to remote control unit; and

(B) the source of said sensed vehicle data signals is selected from the group comprising;

(i) said vehicle, following the receipt of a transfer command from said remote control unit, and

(ii) said remote control unit.

35. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a fifteenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device;

(B) said remote control receiving device is further operative to receive said fifteenth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward sensed vehicle data signals command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause the transmission of said sensed vehicle data signals to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received sensed vehicle data signals, to determine at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) a respective vehicle motion, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police processor is further operative to compare

(i) at least one of (a) said sensed vehicle data, and (b) said respective vehicle motion following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a motion consistent with the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

(F) said police processor is further operative to provide a second comparison signal indicating the result of said comparison;

whereby

said police processor provides information concerning whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

36. The system defined in claim 35, wherein

(A) the route of said fifteenth interrogation signal is selected from the group comprising:

(i) directly from police unit to remote control unit, and

(ii) from police unit to unmanned vehicle and thence to remote control unit; and

(B) the source of said sensed vehicle data signals is selected from the group comprising;

(i) said vehicle, following the receipt of a transfer command from said remote control unit, and

(ii) said remote control unit.

37. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a sixteenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals from said unmanned vehicle;

(B) said vehicle receiving device is further operative to receive said sixteenth interrogation signal, for input to said vehicle processor;

(C) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said instruction signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said sixteenth interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) a representation of said respective instructions, following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a representation of the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

38. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a seventeenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals from said unmanned vehicle;

(B) said vehicle receiving device is further operative to receive said seventeenth interrogation signal, for input to said vehicle processor;

(C) said vehicle processor is further operative to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit said instruction signals to said police receiving device, in response to the receipt of said seventeenth interrogation signal from said police transmitting device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police processor is further operative to compare

(i) said respective instructions, following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a motion consistent with the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

(F) said police processor is further operative to provide a third comparison signal indicating the result of said comparison;

whereby

said police processor provides information concerning whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

39. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit an eighteenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction signals to said police receiving device;

(B) said remote control receiving device is further operative to receive said eighteenth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward instruction signals command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause the transmission of said instruction signals to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police unit further comprises a police display device, coupled to said police processor, for display of

(i) said respective instructions, following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a representation of the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

whereby

a police person, observing said police display device, determines whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

40. The system defined in claim 39, wherein

(A) the route of said eighteenth interrogation signal is selected from the group comprising:

(i) directly from police unit to remote control unit, and

(ii) from police unit to unmanned vehicle and thence to remote control unit; and

(B) the source of said instruction signals is selected from the group comprising;

(i) said vehicle, following the receipt of a transfer command from said remote control unit, and

(ii) said remote control unit.

41. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(A) said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit a nineteenth interrogation signal, requesting the transmission of said instruction data signals to said police receiving device;

(B) said remote control receiving device is further operative to receive said nineteenth interrogation signal, and said remote control processor is operative to cause said display device to display a representation of said request to said pilot;

(C) said first remote control input device is operative to input a forward instruction signals command to said remote control processor and said processor is operative to cause the transmission of said instruction signals to said police receiving device;

(D) said police processor is further operative to analyze said received instruction signals, to determine the respective instructions represented by said instruction signals, following the transmission of said maneuver signal;

(E) said police processor is further operative to compare

(i) said respective instructions, following the transmission of said maneuver signal, and

(ii) a motion consistent with the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

(F) said police processor is further operative to provide a fourth comparison signal indicating the result of said comparison;

whereby

said police processor provides information concerning whether an identified pilot is the person controlling said unmanned vehicle.

42. The system defined in claim 41, wherein

(A) the route of said nineteenth interrogation signal is selected from the group comprising:

(i) directly from police unit to remote control unit, and

(ii) from police unit to unmanned vehicle and thence to remote control unit; and

(B) the source of said instruction signals is selected from the group comprising;

(i) said vehicle, following the receipt of a transfer command from said remote control unit, and

(ii) said remote control unit.

43. The system defined in claim 27, wherein

(I) said second input device is a video camera for generating signals representing a plurality of images, each such image showing each of:

(A) the hand of said pilot providing an inputted instruction to said first remote control input device,

(B) at least one body part of the pilot selected from the group consisting of;

a face, a retina, an iris, a fingerprint and a palm print,

(C) the contiguous body parts of the pilot situated between said hand and said biologic identifier, and

(D) at least one of;

(i) the display device of said remote control unit, and

(ii) the first remote control input device; and

(II) said police unit further comprises a police display device for displaying;

(A) each of said hand, said pilot body part with biologic identifier, said contiguous body parts and at least one of (i) said remote control display device and (ii) said first remote control input device; and

(B) a representation of the police-specified maneuver requested by said maneuver signal;

whereby

said displayed images allow for the identification of (a) the person inputting the instructions, and (b) the instructions;

thereby

to allow for the determination that said identified pilot inputted the police-specified instruction.

44. The system defined in claim 1, wherein

(I) said unmanned vehicle further comprises a vehicle memory device, coupled to said vehicle processor for storing and providing identification information identifying said vehicle;

(II) the memory device in said police unit is further operative to store and provide identification information pertaining to each of a plurality of registered vehicles;

(III) said police processor is further operative to store said registered vehicle identification information in said memory device and to retrieve it therefrom;

(IV) said police processor is further operative to generate a vehicle interrogation signal for transmission to said vehicle receiving device, and to cause said police transmitting device to transmit said signal;

(V) in response thereto, said vehicle processor is further operative to retrieve said vehicle identification information from said vehicle memory device, and to cause said vehicle transmitting device to transmit a vehicle ID signal representing said information;

(VI) said police receiving device is further operative to receive said vehicle ID signal;

(VII) said police processor is further operative to compare

(A) said registered vehicle identification information stored in the memory device of said police unit, with

(B) said received vehicle identification information; and

(VIII) said police processor is further operative to indicate a match between said registered vehicle identification information and said received vehicle identification information.

45. The system defined in claim 44, wherein, in the absence of said match, said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit at least one of:

(A) a notification signal; and

(B) at least one high output signal for interfering with at least one of

(i) said remote control receiving device, and

(ii) said vehicle receiving device.

46. The system defined in claim 44, wherein said vehicle memory device is a write-once-only device.

47. The system defined in claim 1, wherein

(I) said remote control unit further comprises a remote control memory device, coupled to said remote control processor for storing and providing identification information identifying said remote control unit;

(II) the memory device in said police unit is further operative to store and provide identification information pertaining to each of a plurality of registered remote control units;

(III) said police processor is further operative to store said registered remote control unit identification information in said memory device and to retrieve it therefrom;

(IV) said police processor is further operative to generate a remote control interrogation signal for transmission to said remote control receiving device, and to cause said police transmitting device to transmit said signal;

(V) in response thereto, said remote control processor is further operative to retrieve said remote control identification information from said remote control memory device, and to cause said remote control transmitting device to transmit a remote control ID signal representing said information;

(VI) said police receiving device is further operative to receive said remote control ID signal;

(VII) said police processor is further operative to compare

(A) said registered remote control unit identification information stored in the memory device of said police unit, with

(B) said received remote control identification information; and

(VIII) said police processor is further operative to indicate a match between said registered remote control unit identification information and said received remote control identification information.

48. The system defined in claim 47, wherein, in the absence of said match, said police processor is further operative to cause said police transmitting device to transmit at least one of:

(A) a second notification signal; and

(B) at least one additional high output signal for interfering with at least one of

(i) said remote control receiving device, and

(ii) said vehicle receiving device.

49. The system defined in claim 47, wherein said remote control memory device is a write-once-only device.

50. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said memory device of said police unit is a write-once-only device.