System and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft

• US 9,508,264 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Cheatham, Jesse R. III, Duncan, William David, Hwang, Eun Young, Hyde, Roderick A., Pan, Tony S., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/546,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20160189550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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: B64U 30/299 Rotor guards ducted or shrouded rotors B64U30/26; guards used as ground propulsion B64U60/60
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.

Claims

1. A method of management of an airspace comprising a plurality of flyway segments configured to be used by a plurality of unmanned aircraft comprising the steps of:

(a) administrating the airspace;

(b) administrating the aircraft in the airspace;

(c) directing the aircraft in the airspace;

(d) monitoring conditions in the airspace;

wherein administrating airspace comprises designation of a set of zones comprising a set of flyway segments in the airspace for operation of aircraft, wherein administrating the airspace further comprises issuing a dynamic license of rights to aircraft at a rate for use of the airspace for dynamic transactions with the management system that occur when the craft is in operation in the airspace;

wherein administrating aircraft comprises registration of aircraft to operate in the airspace.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein directing aircraft comprises assigning a route to the aircraft to operate in the airspace.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring of conditions comprises monitoring environmental conditions in the airspace and aircraft traffic in the airspace.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein aircraft are configured so that aircraft can complete a segment of a mission to be performed by the aircraft in the airspace.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein administrating the airspace comprises establishing rules for operation of the aircraft in the airspace.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring of conditions comprises obtaining data from data sources.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein data sources comprise transponders on aircraft.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein data sources comprise network-connected data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the license comprises priority rights.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein administrating aircraft comprises registering an aircraft in a transaction.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein administrating aircraft comprises transacting with aircraft.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein transacting with aircraft comprises issuing a license to an aircraft.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein transacting with aircraft comprises transacting with an operator of the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the operator is a remote pilot.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the license is for an occupancy space for at least one aircraft.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the aircraft comprises an identifier.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the license is associated with an identifier for the aircraft.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the license is obtained in a transaction by the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the license is for a fleet of aircraft to operate in an occupancy space.

20. A method of management of an airspace comprising a plurality of flyway segments configured to be used by a plurality of unmanned aircraft comprising the steps of:

(a) administrating the airspace;

(b) administrating aircraft in the airspace;

(c) directing aircraft in the airspace;

(d) monitoring conditions in the airspace;

wherein administrating the airspace comprises of designation of a set of zones comprising a set of flyway segments in the airspace for operation of aircraft;

wherein administrating aircraft comprises registration of aircraft to operate in the airspace and at least one transaction with an aircraft, wherein the transaction is a license of rights at a variable rate based on at least one selected factor.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein a rate varies according to detection of aircraft with respect to checkpoint location.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein a rate is based on probability of aircraft location in view of data from detectors.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein a rate is based on photographs of aircraft to determine location in the airspace and use of the airspace.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein a rate for licenses can change dynamically due to bidding for licenses.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the aircraft can bid on licenses based on a rate threshold.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the license comprises rights and priority for the aircraft.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the rate is based on the size of the aircraft.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the rate is based on the capability of the aircraft.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the rate is pre-paid by the aircraft before the mission.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein the rate for aircraft in operation in the airspace passage changes with the time of operation of the aircraft in the airspace.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein license rates are based on perimeters of the flyway segment.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the perimeters of a zone determine the rate for use of an aircraft in the zone.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the rate varies 30percent when in a specified range from the perimeter.

30. The method of 20 wherein the license for an aircraft is based on the profile of the aircraft.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the rate is based on the profile of the aircraft.