Unmanned vehicle selective data transfer system and method thereof

• US 9,282,144 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Tebay, Andrew Christopher, Stockton, Simon Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat N
• Application Number:
  US13/979,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20130318214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 701/409, 701/468, 701/514, 701/517
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0611 in relation to response time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A data transfer system is disclosed for an unmanned vehicle on a mission. The data transfer system can include a first sensor associated with the unmanned vehicle for collecting a first data set, and a second sensor associated with the unmanned vehicle and for collecting a second data set, wherein the second data set is associated with the first data set by a predetermined association. A transceiver can transmit data from the unmanned vehicle to a remote data storage system. A mass data storage computer located on the unmanned vehicle can store the first and second data sets based on the predetermined association, and execute requests from the remote data storage system to transmit the first data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system, and to transmit selected ones of the second data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system.

Claims

1. A data transfer system for an unmanned vehicle on a mission, the data transfer system comprising:

a first sensor on the unmanned vehicle and for collecting a first data set;

a second sensor on the unmanned vehicle and for collecting a second data set, wherein the second data set is associated with the first data set by a predetermined association;

a transceiver for transmitting data from the unmanned vehicle to a remote data storage system; and

a mass data storage computer located on the unmanned vehicle for storing the first and second data sets based on the predetermined association;

wherein the mass data storage computer is configured to receive and execute requests from the remote data storage system to transmit the first data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system;

wherein the mass data storage computer is configured to receive and execute requests from said remote data storage system to transmit only selected ones of the second data set from the unmanned vehicle to the remote data storage system; and

wherein the mass data storage computer is configured to be removably connectable to the unmanned vehicle such that at and end of the mission the mass data storage computer can be removed from the unmanned vehicle and connected to the remote data storage device through a data cradle to download any data which has not already been transmitted;

whereby a time to prepare the unmanned vehicle for a next mission is reduced.

2. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to provide a wireless data transfer link to the remote data storage system.

3. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined association is based on a uniquely assigned tag.

4. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined association is chronological.

5. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the mass data storage computer comprises:

a physical interface connector configured to connect to both an unmanned vehicle and to the remote data storage system through the data cradle at the remote data storage system;

the data cradle comprising an interface electrically and mechanically compatible to that on the data transfer system of the unmanned vehicle, a power source, cooling arrangements, and network connections.

6. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the mass data storage computer is configured to compress the first data set and/or only the selected ones of the second data set prior to transmission via the transceiver.

7. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the first data set comprises:

geolocation data, and the second data set comprises image data.

8. The data transfer system according to claim 7, wherein the geolocation data comprises:

real-time tracking data of the unmanned vehicle and an orientation of the second sensor with respect to the unmanned vehicle.

9. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises:

a global positioning system and/or an inertial navigation system.

10. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises:

a camera for capturing images and/or video.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mass data storage computer comprises:

a power supply unit connected to

a power connector via

a backplane;

a solid state disk;

a controller;

each coupled to a solid state disk board;

the solid state disk board is connected to a backplane;

a single board computer comprising a processor, a memory, a bridge, and

a network controller;

the bridge and the network controller being connected to the backplane;

the backplane connecting to a network connector adapted to connect to a network switch;

wherein the mass data storage computer is connected to a signal concentrator by the network switch.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

13. A method of extracting data from the data transfer system of an unmanned vehicle on a mission, comprising:

providing a data transfer system comprising a first sensor for collecting a first data set and a second sensor for collecting a second data set on the unmanned vehicle, a transceiver for transmitting data from the unmanned vehicle to a remote data storage system, and a mass data storage computer;

(i) receiving the first data set and the second data set and associating the second data set to the first data set according to a predetermined association;

(ii) storing the first data set and the associated second data set in the mass data storage computer;

(iii) receiving and executing requests from the remote data storage system and transmitting the first data set to the remote data storage system via a transceiver;

(iv) receiving and executing requests from the remote data storage system and transmitting only selected ones of the second data set to the remote data storage system via the transceiver; and

(v) at an end of the mission, removing the mass data storage computer from the unmanned vehicle and connecting the mass data storage computer to the remote data storage system via a physical interface data cradle connection and downloading data which has not already been transmitted;

whereby a time to prepare the unmanned vehicle for a next mission is reduced.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined association is based on a uniquely assigned tag.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined association is chronological.

16. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

compressing the first data set and/or only the selected ones of the second data set prior to transmission via the transceiver.

17. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

providing updated mission control data to the unmanned vehicle via the transceiver.

18. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

connecting a second, formatted mass data storage computer to the unmanned vehicle in place of a removed mass data storage computer.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein after review of footprints, a request for a wireless download of compressed specific images pre-selected from mapped geolocated image footprints is made.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructions for a computer, wherein the instructions when executed by one or more processors carry out the steps of a method comprising:

(i) receiving a first data set and a second data set and associating the second data set to the first data set according to a predetermined association;

(ii) storing the first data set and the associated second data set in a mass data storage computer;

(iii) receiving and executing requests from a remote data storage system and transmitting the first data set to the remote data storage system via a transceiver;

(iv) receiving and executing requests from the remote data storage system and transmitting only selected ones of the second data set to the remote data storage system via the transceiver; and

(v) at an end of the mission, removing the mass data storage computer from the unmanned vehicle and connecting the mass data storage computer to the remote data storage system via a physical interface data cradle connection and downloading data which has not already been transmitted;

whereby a time to prepare the unmanned vehicle for a next mission is reduced.