System for identifying and controlling unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 9,805,238 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vigilent Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vigilent Inc.
• Inventors: Falk, John Mansfield, Sullivan, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US15/206,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20170255802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 235375, 235487, 235435
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/00 Scenes; Scene-specific elements control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• 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 5/0095 Aspects of air-traffic control not provided for in the other subgroups of this main group

Abstract

A beacon for attachment to an unmanned aerial vehicle that provides information needed to identify the owner of a particular unmanned vehicle. The beacon may also include a remote communications module configured to participate on wireless communications networks and a beacon control system configured to issue commands compatible with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The beacon may further a beacon control system configured to translate multiple types of commands from different controls systems into commands compatible with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

Claims

1. A beacon attached to an unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle including a control system, a sensory system, and a communications system, the beacon comprising:

an attachment mechanism configured to securely and removably attach the apparatus to the unmanned aerial vehicle;

an unmanned aerial vehicle communications module configured to provide commands and transmit and receive information to and from the unmanned aerial vehicle through the unmanned aerial vehicle communications system;

a remote communications module configured to participate on at least one wireless communications system, the remote communications module being configured to transmit and receive information across the at least one wireless communications system to and from a remote operator;

a beacon control system configured to receive information and commands from the remote communications module and to transform the information and commands for compatibility with the unmanned aerial vehicle, the beacon control system further being configured to transmit the transformed information and commands to the unmanned aerial vehicle through the unmanned aerial vehicle communications module;

wherein the beacon control system is further configured to receive information from the unmanned aerial vehicle through the unmanned aerial vehicle communications module and to transform the information for transmission over the at least one wireless communications system; and

wherein the remote communications module transmits the transformed information to the remote operator.

2. The beacon of claim 1, wherein the remote communications module switches between wireless communications systems during a flight plan based on a set of predetermined criteria.

3. The beacon of claim 1, wherein the beacon control system transforms the commands received by the remote communications module by mapping at least one of the received commands to at least one command compatible with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

4. The beacon of claim 3, wherein the beacon control system determine an appropriate mapping and utilize the determined appropriate mapping so that compatible commands are transmitted to the unmanned aerial vehicle control system.