Systems and methods for creating a network cloud based system for supporting regional, national and international unmanned aircraft systems

• US 9,613,534 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Cooper, Jr., James Gary, Elmasry, George F., Stefani, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US14/724,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20160351057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0017 Arrangements for implementing traffic-related aircraft activities, e.g. arrangements for generating, displaying, acquiring or managing traffic information head-up displays G02B27/01; ground or aircraft-carrier-deck-installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• 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 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

Systems and methods for creating a network cloud based hierarchical architecture for supporting unmanned aircraft are disclosed. A system may include a higher level server, one or more lower level server in direct communication with the higher level server, and one or more control station in direct communication with the lower level server. Each control station may be configured to: control flight operations of an unmanned aircraft; acquire flight information and position information of the unmanned aircraft; and provide updates to the lower level server regarding the flight information and position information of the unmanned aircraft. Each lower level server may be configured to: process the flight information and position information received from the control station; and provide updates to the higher level server regarding the flight information and position information received from the control station.

Claims

1. A hierarchical system for supporting operations of unmanned aircraft, the system comprising:

a higher level server;

a lower level server in direct communication with the higher level server; and

a control station in direct communication with the lower level server,

wherein the control station is configured to;

control flight operations of an unmanned aircraft;

acquire flight information and position information of the unmanned aircraft; and

provide updates to the lower level server regarding the flight information and position information of the unmanned aircraft, and

wherein the lower level server is configured to;

process the flight information and position information received from the control station; and

provide updates to the higher level server regarding the flight information and position information received from the control station,

wherein the higher level server is configured to establish an interface with a situation awareness information system for manned aircraft to jointly form an integrated situation awareness information system for both manned and unmanned aircraft to control flight operation of unmanned aircraft based on integrated situation awareness information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aircraft is a first unmanned aircraft and the control station is a first control station, and wherein the system further comprises at least one additional control station in direct communication with the lower level server, wherein the at least one additional control station is configured to:

control flight operations of a second unmanned aircraft;

acquire flight information and position information of the second unmanned aircraft; and

provide periodic updates to the lower level server regarding the flight information and position information of the second unmanned aircraft.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the lower level server is further configured to consolidate the flight information and position information of the first unmanned aircraft provided by the first control station and the flight information and position information of the second unmanned aircraft provided by the second control station prior to provide the periodic updates to the higher level server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower level server is configured to provide a service to the control station, and wherein the service includes at least one of:

a weather report service, a traffic alert service, a flight planning service, a map service, and a navigation service.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the lower level server is further configured to request the service to be provided by the higher level server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower level server is a first lower level server, and wherein the system further comprises at least one additional lower level server located at a different geographical region than the first lower level server.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the higher level server is configured to facilitate communications between the first lower level server and the at least one additional lower level server, forming a network of servers that shares flight information and position information received by each of the first lower level server and the at least one additional lower level server.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the network of servers enables the first lower level server to serve as a proxy server to one of the at least one additional lower level server.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of:

the first lower level server, the at least one additional lower level server, and the higher level server is configured to analyze real-time data of unmanned and manned aircraft positions and flight trajectories provided by the integrated situation awareness information system.

10. A hierarchical system for supporting operations of unmanned aircraft, the system comprising:

a higher level server; and

a plurality of lower level servers each in direct communication with the higher level server, wherein each lower level server of the plurality of lower level servers is configured to;

receive updates from at least one control station regarding flight information and position information of at least one unmanned aircraft controlled by said least one control station;

consolidate the flight information and position information received from said at least one control station; and

provide consolidated flight information and position information to the higher level server,

wherein the higher level server is configured to establish an interface with a situation awareness information system for manned aircraft to jointly form an integrated situation awareness information system for both manned and unmanned aircraft to control flight operation of unmanned aircraft based on integrated situation awareness information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each lower level server is further configured to provide a service to the at least one control station upon receiving a service request from the at least one control station, and wherein the service includes at least one of:

a weather report service, a traffic alert service, a flight planning service, a map service, and a navigation service.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each lower level server is further configured to request the service to be provided by the higher level server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the higher level server is configured to provide the service requested to a particular lower level server, and the particular lower level server is configured to service a plurality of control stations in communication with the particular lower level server.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the higher level server is configured to facilitate communications between the plurality of lower level servers, forming a network of servers that shares flight information and position information received by each of the plurality of lower level servers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network of servers enables one lower level server to serve as a proxy server to another lower level server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the higher level server and the plurality of lower level servers is configured to analyze real-time data of unmanned and manned aircraft positions and flight trajectories provided by the integrated situation awareness information system.

17. A method for supporting operations of unmanned aircraft, the method comprising:

defining a higher level server;

defining a plurality of lower level servers each in direct communication with the higher level server, forming a hierarchical network of servers;

configuring each lower level server of the plurality of lower level servers to receive updates from at least one control station regarding flight information and position information of at least one unmanned aircraft;

consolidate the flight information and position information received from said at least one control station; and

provide consolidated flight information and position information to the higher level server;

configuring the higher level server to interface with a situation awareness information system for manned aircraft; and

forming an integrated situation awareness information system for both manned and unmanned aircraft to control flight operation of unmanned aircraft based on integrated situation awareness information.