Evaluating aileron deflection while an unmanned aerial vehicle is in flight
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique is directed to operating a UAV. The technique involves launching (or guiding) the UAV into flight. The technique further involves performing a series of aileron (or other control surface) deflection evaluations while the UAV is in flight. The technique further involves performing a UAV remedial operation in response to the series of aileron deflection evaluations indicating abnormal aileron behavior, e.g., the UAV can send a warning message to a ground control station (GCS), land the UAV at a target location, deploy a chute, and so on. Such operation enables detection of an unexpected change in the UAV'"'"'s center of gravity, e.g., due to a blocked fuel bladder connection, icing on one side of the UAV, mechanical failure of an aileron, etc.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
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an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) frame; a set of ailerons supported by the UAV frame; and a controller supported by the UAV frame and in operable communication with the ailerons, the controller being constructed and arranged to; while the UAV is in flight, perform a series of aileron deflection evaluations, and perform a UAV remedial operation in response to the series of aileron deflection evaluations indicating abnormal aileron behavior; wherein the controller, when performing the series of aileron deflection evaluations includes; while the 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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the set of instructions, when carried out by computerized circuitry, causing the computerized circuitry to perform a method of:
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launching the UAV into flight; while the UAV is in flight, performing a series of aileron deflection evaluations; and performing a UAV remedial operation in response to the series of aileron deflection evaluations indicating abnormal aileron behavior; wherein performing the series of aileron 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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification