Near-flight testing maneuvers for autonomous aircraft
First Claim
1. A method for operating an autonomous aircraft, comprising:
- controlling, via a processor of the autonomous aircraft, motors of the autonomous aircraft to cause the autonomous aircraft to execute an airborne near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area;
obtaining, via the processor, data indicating performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuver; and
taking, via the processor, an action responsive to the obtained data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory process-readable media for evaluating operating conditions of an autonomous aircraft before performing a mission by executing brief near-flight testing maneuvers at a low elevation. A processor of the autonomous aircraft may receive near-flight testing maneuver instructions that indicate a near-flight testing maneuver to be executed by the autonomous aircraft. The processor may control motors to cause the aircraft to execute a near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area, obtain data indicating stability and performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuvers, and take an action in response to the obtained data. Actions may include adjusting a position of a payload, a weight, or a portion of the aircraft based on the obtained data, and adjusting a flight plan. The near-flight testing maneuvers may include a sequence of moves for testing stability of the aircraft and payload executing a flight path under anticipated flying conditions.
81 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for operating an autonomous aircraft, comprising:
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controlling, via a processor of the autonomous aircraft, motors of the autonomous aircraft to cause the autonomous aircraft to execute an airborne near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area; obtaining, via the processor, data indicating performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuver; and taking, via the processor, an action responsive to the obtained data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An autonomous aircraft, comprising:
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a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to; control motors of the autonomous aircraft to cause the autonomous aircraft to execute an airborne near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area; obtain data indicating performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuver; and take an action responsive to the obtained data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An autonomous aircraft, comprising:
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means for controlling motors of the autonomous aircraft to cause the autonomous aircraft to execute an airborne near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area; means for obtaining data indicating performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuver; and means for taking an action responsive to the obtained data.
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46. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of an autonomous aircraft to perform operations comprising:
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controlling motors of the autonomous aircraft to cause the autonomous aircraft to execute an airborne near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area; obtaining data indicating performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuver; and taking an action responsive to the obtained data.
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Specification