Unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) coordination

• US 9,527,587 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Lord, Richard T., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): ANTONUCCI, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/866,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) coordination. For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain one or more theater characteristics; or (ii) coordinate at least one behavior of at least one UFV based, at least partially, on one or more theater characteristics. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

autonomously operating a coordinating unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) including at least;

obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation;

obtaining one or more theater characteristics corresponding to the one or more theaters of operation based at least partially on the transmitted one or more of commands or requests to the at least one remote UFV;

analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics;

formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics; and

wirelessly transmitting the formulated one or more of commands or requests to at least one remote UFV, wherein at least one of the wirelessly transmitting one or more commands or requests, obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation, obtaining one or more theater characteristics, analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics, or the coordinating at least one behavior is at least partially implemented using one or more processing devices of the coordinating UFV.

2. An unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprising:

one or more electronic devices configured for autonomously operating an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) including at least;

circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation;

circuitry configured for obtaining one or more theater characteristics corresponding to the one or more theaters of operation based at least partially on the transmitted one or more of commands or requests to the at least one remote UFV;

circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics;

circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics; and

circuitry configured for wirelessly transmitting the formulated one or more of commands or requests to at least one remote UFV.

3. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining one or more theater characteristics corresponding to the one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving from the at least one remote UFV at least one indication of at least one status associated with the at least one remote UFV at least partially in response to the transmitted one or more of commands or requests to the at least one remote UFV.

4. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for obtaining at least one indication of at least one size of at least one theater of the one or more theaters of operation.

5. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving a message specifying at least one type of at least one UFV corresponding to a given theater of the one or more theaters of operation.

6. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for obtaining at least one map of at least one theater of the one or more theaters of operation.

7. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one flight control command for transmission to a first remote UFV based at least partially on analysis of at least one indication of at least one hazard that is received from a second remote UFV.

8. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one command to update at least one mission for transmission to a first remote UFV based at least partially on analysis of at least one indication of at least one status of a second remote UFV that is received from the second remote UFV.

9. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 8, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating at least one command to update at least one mission for transmission to a first remote UFV based at least partially on analysis of at least one indication of at least one status of a second remote UFV that is received from the second remote UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one command to update the at least one mission for transmission to a first remote UFV based at least partially on analysis of the at least one indication of the at least one status of the second remote UFV that is received from the second remote UFV and based at least partially on at least one mission analysis performed by the UFV.

10. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for investigating UFV coordinator status of at least one theater corresponding to multiple remote UFVs.

11. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 10, wherein the circuitry configured for investigating UFV coordinator status of at least one theater corresponding to multiple remote UFVs comprises:

circuitry configured for tracking one or more UFV coordinator designations received from one or more remote UFVs.

12. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of the at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one UFV coordinator designation for transmission to a first remote UFV to indicate that the UFV is willing to ordain the first remote UFV with UFV coordinator status.

13. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 12, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating at least one UFV coordinator designation for transmission to a first remote UFV to indicate that the UFV is willing to ordain the first remote UFV with UFV coordinator status comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating the at least one UFV coordinator designation for transmission to the first remote UFV to indicate that the UFV is willing to implement one or more commands, which are received from the first remote UFV, to adjust at least one flight path of the UFV.

14. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics for detecting whether at least one remote UFV is flying erratically.

15. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 14, wherein the circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics for detecting whether at least one remote UFV is flying erratically comprises:

circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics for detecting whether the at least one remote UFV is not flying in accordance with at least one flight control command instituted by a UFV flight coordinator.

16. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 14, wherein the circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics for detecting whether at least one remote UFV is flying erratically comprises:

circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics for detecting whether the at least one remote UFV is not comporting with one or more promulgated flight rules.

17. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 14, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one announcement indicative that the at least one remote UFV has been categorized as flying erratically for broadcasting to multiple remote UFVs.

18. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics for detecting whether a remote UFV is entering a coordination zone.

19. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 18, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating a request for transmission to the remote UFV to confirm compliance with an ordained UFV coordinator for the entered coordination zone.

20. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 18, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating a notification that the remote UFV is traveling within the coordination zone without deference to a UFV coordinator of the coordination zone for broadcasting to multiple remote UFVs of the coordination zone.

21. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one instruction code on the at least one remote UFV for transmission to the at least one remote UFV.

22. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 21, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one instruction code on the at least one remote UFV for transmission to the at least one remote UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one flight instruction code that provides at least partial flight control for the at least one remote UFV if the flight instruction code is executed for transmission to the at least one remote UFV.

23. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one instruction code update for installation during flight.

24. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one security protocol of the at least one remote UFV.

25. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 24, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one security protocol of the at least one remote UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one malware indicator to be included in at least one updated security protocol of the at least one remote UFV.

26. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 24, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one security protocol of the at least one remote UFV comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating at least one update command to update at least one location attack rejection mechanism.

27. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for updating at least one security protocol of the at least one remote UFV while airborne.

28. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for retrieving from memory a size of an operational area that is to be coordinated by the UFV.

29. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving from at least one base station at least one indication of at least one geographic region of at least one theater of the one or more theaters of operation.

30. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one message that provides geographic coordinates of one or more boundaries of an operational theater.

31. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one indication of at least a number of UFVs corresponding to at least one theater of operation.

32. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving respective transmissions from respective remote UAVs that are opting into at least one of the one or more theaters of operation.

33. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one map of at least a portion of at least one of the one or more theaters of operation.

34. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving at least one of a defined region, a general area, a set of UFVs, a zone defined by an authoritative source, a zone outlined by ad hoc or spontaneous or organic agreement of multiple UFVs, a spatial zone defined around at least one mission, or a combination thereof defining one or more theaters of operation.

35. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for formulating one or more flight control requests or commands that facilitate sharing of airspace or completion of mission objectives for transmission to the at least one remote UFV.

36. The unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) of claim 2, wherein the circuitry configured for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics comprises:

circuitry configured for analyzing at least one of a mission status, a hazard, a flight attribute, or a mission objective for automated formulating of at least one command directing one or more flight control decisions of at least one remote UFV.

37. An unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) comprising:

means for autonomously operating a coordinating unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) including at least;

means for obtaining information specifying one or more theaters of operation;

means for obtaining one or more theater characteristics corresponding to the one or more theaters of operation based at least partially on the transmitted one or more of commands or requests to the at least one remote UFV;

means for analyzing the specified one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics;

means for formulating one or more commands or requests for coordinating at least one behavior of the at least one remote UFV based at least partially on the analysis of the one or more theaters of operation and the one or more theater characteristics; and

means for wirelessly transmitting the formulated one or more of commands or requests to at least one remote UFV, wherein at least one of the means for wirelessly transmitting, the means for obtaining, the means for analyzing, or the means for coordinating is at least partially implemented using one or more processing devices.