Modular flight management system incorporating an autopilot
First Claim
1. A modular flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
- a controller board for the unmanned vehicle configured to control a plurality of carrier modules of different configurations, the controller board including at least, on the same controller board;
computer readable media storing an operating system for the unmanned vehicle;
a computer system configured to execute the operating system;
a pressure sensor coupled to the computer system,a magnetometer coupled to the computer system,a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) gyroscope coupled to the computer system;
a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) accelerometer coupled to the computer system;
a connector configured to receive a carrier board for the unmanned vehicle;
wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations comprising;
detecting whether a carrier board is connected to the connector;
at least partly in response to detecting that the carrier board is connected to the connector, authenticating the carrier board to determine whether the carrier board is authorized to be connected to the controller board,wherein if the carrier board fails authentication by the control board, flight of the unmanned vehicle is inhibited by the flight management system;
determining capabilities of the carrier board to determine at least information regarding;
a navigation satellite system signal processing device coupled to the carrier board, anda radio modem;
adapting the operation of the controller board to the determined capabilities of the carrier board;
accessing a desired location or route;
receiving signals from the pressure sensor, the MEMS accelerometer, the magnetometer, the MEMS gyroscope, and the navigation satellite system signal processing device;
based at least in part on the received signals, determining a location, an altitude, velocity, attitude and a heading of the unmanned vehicle and navigating the unmanned vehicle in accordance with the desired location or route,wherein the modular flight management system for the unmanned vehicle is configured in size and weight for the unmanned vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular vehicle management system is described, comprising a controller module configured to control different types of carrier modules. The controller module includes a computer system and optionally one or more sensors. The computer system is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether a carrier module is connected to the controller module. If the carrier module is connected to the controller module, the carrier module is authenticated. If the authentication fails, operation of the vehicle is inhibited. The control module is configured to determine carrier module capabilities including information regarding a navigation processing device, and/or a radio modem. The controller adapts to the capabilities of the controller module. Using information from the sensors and the navigation processing device, the vehicle management system navigates the vehicle.
61 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A modular flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
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a controller board for the unmanned vehicle configured to control a plurality of carrier modules of different configurations, the controller board including at least, on the same controller board; computer readable media storing an operating system for the unmanned vehicle; a computer system configured to execute the operating system; a pressure sensor coupled to the computer system, a magnetometer coupled to the computer system, a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) gyroscope coupled to the computer system; a MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) accelerometer coupled to the computer system; a connector configured to receive a carrier board for the unmanned vehicle; wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations comprising; detecting whether a carrier board is connected to the connector; at least partly in response to detecting that the carrier board is connected to the connector, authenticating the carrier board to determine whether the carrier board is authorized to be connected to the controller board, wherein if the carrier board fails authentication by the control board, flight of the unmanned vehicle is inhibited by the flight management system; determining capabilities of the carrier board to determine at least information regarding; a navigation satellite system signal processing device coupled to the carrier board, and a radio modem; adapting the operation of the controller board to the determined capabilities of the carrier board; accessing a desired location or route; receiving signals from the pressure sensor, the MEMS accelerometer, the magnetometer, the MEMS gyroscope, and the navigation satellite system signal processing device; based at least in part on the received signals, determining a location, an altitude, velocity, attitude and a heading of the unmanned vehicle and navigating the unmanned vehicle in accordance with the desired location or route, wherein the modular flight management system for the unmanned vehicle is configured in size and weight for the unmanned vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A modular vehicle management system for an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
a controller module configured to control a plurality of different types of carrier modules for the unmanned vehicle, the controller module including a controller board, wherein the controller module includes on the same controller board at least; a computer system; one or more sensors configured to provide at least one of acceleration information or gyroscopic based orientation information; a connector configured to receive a carrier module without a backplane; wherein the computer system is configured to perform operations comprising; detecting whether a carrier module is coupled to the controller module; at least partly in response to detecting that the carrier module is coupled to the controller module, authenticating the carrier module to determine whether the carrier module is authorized to be connected to the controller module, wherein if the carrier module fails authentication by the control module, operation of the unmanned vehicle is inhibited by the modular vehicle management system to prevent the unmanned vehicle propelling itself; determining capabilities of the carrier module to determine at least information regarding; a navigation satellite system signal processing device accessible via the carrier module, or a radio modem, or both the carrier module and the radio modem; adapting the operation of the controller module to the determined capabilities of the carrier module; accessing a desired location or route; based at least in part on information from the one or more sensors and the navigation satellite system signal processing device, navigating the unmanned vehicle in accordance with the desired location or route, wherein the modular vehicle management system for the unmanned vehicle is configured in size and weight for the unmanned vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of assembling a flight management system for an unmanned vehicle, the method essentially consisting of:
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electrically connecting a controller circuit board for the unmanned vehicle, the controller circuit board including, on the same controller circuit board, at least a processor and one or more sensors configured to provide at least one of acceleration information or gyroscopic based orientation information, and a connector configured to receive a carrier board for the unmanned vehicle, the carrier board comprising a navigation satellite system signal processing device coupled to the carrier board, and a radio modem coupled to the carrier board, the carrier board having a first dimension equal to or less than 2.65 inches and having a second dimension equal to or less than 4 inches; and mechanically coupling the controller circuit board and the carrier board, wherein the flight management system is configured to perform autopilot functions and is configured in size and weight for the unmanned vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification