Controlling unmanned aerial vehicles as a flock to synchronize flight in aerial displays
First Claim
1. A system for controlling flight of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), comprising:
- a plurality of UAVs each including a processor executing a local control module and further including memory accessible by the processor for use by the local control module; and
a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs,wherein corresponding ones of the flight plans are stored in the memory of each of the UAVs,wherein, during flight operations, each of the local control modules independently controls the UAV to execute the flight plan stored in the memory of the UAV, wherein each of the UAVs includes a front end radio and a back end radio and wherein each of the UAVs communicates with a front end transceiver of the ground station system to establish a front end communication channel with the front end radio and communicates with a back end transceiver of the ground station system to establish a back end communication channel with the back end radio, andwherein the local control module of each of the UAVs periodically determines status of the front and back end communication channels and, when the status determination indicates a loss of one of the front and back end communication channels, operates the UAV in a predefined safe operating mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for flock-based control of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system includes UAVs each including a processor executing a local control module and memory accessible by the processor for use by the local control module. The system includes a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs. The flight plans are stored on the UAVs, and, during flight operations, each of the local control modules independently controls the corresponding UAV to execute its flight plan without ongoing control from the fleet manager module. The fleet manager module is operable to initiate flight operations by concurrently triggering initiation of the flight plans by the multiple UAVs. Further, the local control modules monitor front and back and communication channels and, when a channel is lost, operate the UAV in a safe mode.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for controlling flight of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), comprising:
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a plurality of UAVs each including a processor executing a local control module and further including memory accessible by the processor for use by the local control module; and a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs, wherein corresponding ones of the flight plans are stored in the memory of each of the UAVs, wherein, during flight operations, each of the local control modules independently controls the UAV to execute the flight plan stored in the memory of the UAV, wherein each of the UAVs includes a front end radio and a back end radio and wherein each of the UAVs communicates with a front end transceiver of the ground station system to establish a front end communication channel with the front end radio and communicates with a back end transceiver of the ground station system to establish a back end communication channel with the back end radio, and wherein the local control module of each of the UAVs periodically determines status of the front and back end communication channels and, when the status determination indicates a loss of one of the front and back end communication channels, operates the UAV in a predefined safe operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling flight of a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), comprising:
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a plurality of UAVs each including a processor executing a local control module and further including memory accessible by the processor for use by the local control module; and a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs, wherein corresponding ones of the flight plans are stored in the memory of each of the UAVs, wherein, during flight operations, each of the local control modules independently controls the UAV to execute the flight plan stored in the memory of the UAV, and wherein the UAVs are multicopters and wherein the local control module of each of the UAVs operates to detect pitch and roll of the multicopter and, when the pitch or the roll exceeds a predefined maximum, switching operations of the multicopter to a safe operating mode.
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10. A flight control system for use with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), comprising:
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a ground control system including a fleet manager module; and a plurality of UAVs each with a front end radio communicating with a first radio of the ground control system to receive operating commands from the fleet manager module and with a back end radio communicating with a second radio of the ground control system to transfer telemetry data to the ground control system, wherein the UAVs each comprises a multicopter, wherein each of the UAVs includes a local control module operating rotors to follow a flight plan specific to the UAV, wherein the flight plan defines a plurality of way points each defining a geographic location and an elevation for the UAV, and wherein the control logic further detects a pitch and a roll of the multicopter and, when the pitch or the roll exceeds a predefined limit, operates the multicopter in a safe operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification