Unmanned vehicle operating modes

• US 9,499,264 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Zygmant, Thomas, Lesperance, Jesse J., Zoock, Ira E., Kelly, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, YUEN H
• Application Number:
  US14/725,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20150346725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management

Abstract

An aircraft is provided and includes a frame, drive elements configured to drive movements of the frame and a computer configured to receive mission planning and manual commands and to control operations of the drive elements to operate in a safe mode in which mission commands are accepted but manual commands are refused, a manual mode in which mission commands are refused but manual commands are accepted and an enroute mode. The computer is further configured to only allow mode transitions between the safe and manual modes and between the safe and enroute modes.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

drive elements configured to drive movements of the frame; and

a computer, including at least a processor, configured to receive mission planning commands comprising at least one of mission details, on-board system details or waypoint setting and manual commands comprising local maneuvering commands and to control operations of the drive elements to operate in a safe mode in which the mission planning commands are accepted but the manual commands are refused, a manual mode in which the mission planning commands are refused but the manual commands are accepted and an enroute mode,

wherein the safe mode comprises a stationary mode characterized in that the frame is stationary relative to ground,

wherein the manual mode comprises a movable mode characterized in that the frame is movable relative to the ground, and

wherein the computer is further configured to only allow mode transitions directly between the safe and manual modes and directly between the safe and enroute modes.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the frame is manned and crewed or un-crewed or unmanned.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the computer executes the mission planning commands during the enroute mode.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the computer is receptive of a stop command, which initiates a transition from the manual mode to the safe mode and from the enroute mode to the safe mode.

5. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

drive elements configured to drive movements of the frame; and

a computer, including at least a processor, configured to receive mission planning commands comprising at least one of mission details, on-board system details or waypoint setting and manual commands comprising local maneuvering commands and to control operations of the drive elements to operate in a ground stationary mode in which the mission planning commands are accepted but the manual commands are refused, in a hover stationary mode in which the mission planning commands are accepted but the manual commands are refused, a ground manual mode in which the mission planning commands are refused but the manual commands and a first stop command are accepted, a hover manual mode in which the mission planning commands are refused but the manual commands and a second stop command are accepted and an enroute mode in which the mission planning commands are executed and a third stop command is accepted,

wherein the safe mode comprises a stationary mode characterized in that the frame is stationary relative to ground,

wherein the manual mode comprises a movable mode characterized in that the frame is movable relative to the ground, and

wherein the computer is further configured to only allow mode transitions directly between the ground manual mode and the ground stationary mode upon receipt of the first stop command, directly between the ground stationary mode and the hover stationary mode, directly between the hover manual mode and the hover stationary mode upon receipt of the second stop command and directly between the enroute mode and the hover stationary mode upon receipt of the third stop command.