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Evaluating aileron deflection while an unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight

  • US 9,284,043 B2
  • Filed: 11/21/2013
  • Issued: 03/15/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

  • launching, by processing circuitry, the UAV into flight;

    performing, by the processing circuitry, a series of control surface deflection evaluations while the UAV is in flight; and

    performing, by the processing circuitry, a UAV remedial operation in response to the series of control surface deflection evaluations indicating abnormal control surface deflection behavior;

    wherein performing the series of control surface deflection evaluations includes;

    while a set of ailerons of the UAV operate normally to compensate for a shift in the center of gravity of the UAV, identifying an UAV weight imbalance situation based on deflection by the set of ailerons; and

    wherein identifying the UAV weight imbalance situation includes;

    while the set of ailerons of the UAV operate normally to compensate for the shift in the center of gravity of the UAV, detecting (i) gradually increasing deflection of a first aileron in a first deflection direction over time and (ii) gradually increasing deflection of a second aileron in a second deflection direction over time, the first deflection direction being opposite the second deflection direction, to identify occurrence of a weight imbalance condition.

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