Unmanned aerial vehicle platform

• US 9,783,293 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Srivastava, Ashok N., Pasko, Douglas M., Batla, Hani, Kantor, Igor, Ubhi, Gurpreet
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hutchinson, Alan D
• Application Number:
  US14/282,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20150336667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/1062 specially adapted for avoiding bad weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/1064 specially adapted for avoiding collisions with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path of UAV from a first location to a second location in a region, and determines, based on credentials associated with the UAV, whether the UAV is authenticated for utilizing the device and a network. The device determines, when the UAV is authenticated, capability information for the UAV based on the request and component information associated with the UAV. The device calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the capability information and one or more of weather information, air traffic information, obstacle information, or regulatory information associated with the region. The device generates flight path instructions for the flight path based on one or more of the weather information, the air traffic information, the obstacle information, or the regulatory information associated with the region, and provides the flight path instructions to the UAV.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device and from an unmanned aerial vehicle, a request for a flight path, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in a region, for the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel,

the device being different from the unmanned aerial vehicle, and

the request including credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

comparing, by the device, the credentials with information associated with an authority;

authenticating, by the device and based on comparing the credentials with the information associated with the authority, the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to interact with the device in connection with the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to connect with a network,

the network being associated with the device, and

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is registered with the authority;

determining, by the device and when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, capability information for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the request and component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

calculating, by the device, the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the capability information, regulatory information associated with the region, and one or more of;

weather information,

air traffic information, or

obstacle information,

generating, by the device, flight path instructions for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulatory information and one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

or the obstacle information,

providing, by the device, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,

the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions, and

the unmanned aerial vehicle including communication functionality to extend wireless communication service;

receiving, by the device and via the network, feedback from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, by the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determining, by the device, whether to modify the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the feedback;

calculating, by the device, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and

generating, by the device, modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and

providing, by the device, the modified flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the modified flight path instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

denying the request, based on the unmanned aerial vehicle not being authenticated; and

providing, based on denying the request, a message to the unmanned aerial vehicle indicating that the request, is denied.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a map for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulatory information and one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information, or

the obstacle information, and

providing the map to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle arrived at the second geographical location based on the unmanned aerial vehicle arriving at the second geographical location.

5. The method of claim 1, where the method further comprises:

receiving at least one of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

the obstacle information, or

the regulatory information; and

storing the at least one of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

the obstacle information, or

the regulatory information.

15. The method of claim 1, where the request for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, includes a predetermined set of actions for the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform based on certain conditions occurring.

16. The method of claim 1, where the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a protocol to communicate with other unmanned aerial vehicles.

6. A system, comprising:

a storage device to store;

weather information associated with a region,

air traffic information associated with the region,

obstacle information associated with the region, and

regulatory information associated with the region; and

one or more devices to;

receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle, a request for a flight path, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in the region, for the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the one or more devices being different from the unmanned aerial vehicle, and

the request including credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

compare the credentials with information associated with an authority;

authenticate, based on comparing the credentials with the information associated with the authority, the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to interact with the one or more devices in connection with the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to connect with a network,

the network being associated with the one or more devices, and the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is registered with the authority;

determine, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, capability information for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the request and component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the capability information, regulatory information associated with the region and one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information, or

the obstacle information,

generate flight path instructions for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulatory information and one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information, or

the obstacle information,

provide the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,

the unmanned aerial vehicle including communication functionality to extend wireless communication service;

receive, via the network, feedback from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, by the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine whether to modify the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the feedback;

calculate, based on determining to modify the flight path, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback;

generate modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and

provide the modified flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the modified flight path instructions.

7. The system of claim 6, where the one or more devices are further to:

deny the request, based on the unmanned aerial vehicle not being authenticated; and

provide, based on denying the request, a message to the unmanned aerial vehicle indicating that the request, is denied.

8. The system of claim 6, where the one or more devices are further to:

generate a map for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

the obstacle information, or

the regulatory information associated with the region; and

provide the map to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

9. The system of claim 6, where the one or more devices are further to:

receive a notification indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle arrived at the second geographical location based on the unmanned aerial vehicle arriving at the second geographical location.

10. The system of claim 6, where the one or more devices are further to:

receive at least one of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

the obstacle information, or

the regulatory information associated with the region; and

store, in the storage device, the at least one of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

the obstacle information, or

the regulatory information associated with the region.

17. The system of claim 6, where the capability information is associated with component information of the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the component information including at least one of:

a battery,

an engine, and

a rotor type.

18. The system of claim 17, where the capability information includes information associated with at least one of:

battery life,

flight times associated with amount of fuel, and

thrust of rotors.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle, a request for a flight path, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location in a region, for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and credentials associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the device being different from the unmanned aerial vehicle;

compare the credentials with information associated with an authority;

authenticate, based on comparing the credentials with the information associated with the authority, the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to interact with the device in connection with the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated to connect with a network,

the network being associated with the device, and

the authentication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle is registered with the authority;

determine, when the unmanned aerial vehicle is authenticated, capability information for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the request and component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;

calculate the flight path from the first geographical location to the second geographical location based on the capability information, regulatory information associated with the region, and one or more of;

weather information,

air traffic information;

or

obstacle information,

generate flight path instructions for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the regulator information and one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information, or

the obstacle information,

provide the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle to permit the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location to the second geographical location,

the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the flight path instructions, and

the unmanned aerial vehicle including, communication functionality to extend wireless communication service;

receive, via the network, feedback from the unmanned aerial vehicle during traversal of the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, by the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determine whether to modify the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on the feedback;

calculate, based on determining to modify the flight path, a modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback;

generate modified flight path instructions for the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the feedback; and

provide the modified flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle,

the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel the modified flight path to the second geographical location based on the modified flight path instructions.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

deny the request, based on the unmanned aerial vehicle not being authenticated; and

provide, based on denying the request, a message to the unmanned aerial vehicle indicating that the request, is denied.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

generate a map for the flight path, from the first geographical location to the second geographical location, based on one or more of;

the weather information,

the air traffic information,

the obstacle information, or

the regulator information associated with the region; and

provide the map to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive a notification indicating, that the unmanned aerial vehicle arrived at the second geographical location based on the unmanned aerial vehicle arriving at the second geographical location.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, where the request, includes a predetermined set of actions for the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform based on certain conditions occurring.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, where the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a protocol to communicate with other unmanned aerial vehicles based on the unmanned aerial vehicle losing communication with a wireless network.