Relay drone system

• US 9,836,049 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shandong Dingfeng Aviation Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pinnacle Vista, LLC
• Inventors: Tu, Haofeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider, Paula L
• Application Number:
  US15/588,282
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• 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: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a network of relay drones utilized as a set of relays or linkages between a base station and a working drone controlled by the base station. The relay drones in the network may augment a communication link or communication signal between the base station and working drone. Relay drones may augment the communication link by acting as nodes that relay communication between the base station and the working drone by boosting the communication signal at each node to compensate for loss of signal power over a traveled distance and/or providing a path with a direct line of sight between the base station and working drone. Directional antennas may be utilized when a direct line of sight is established, which may improve communication signal efficacy when compared with omnidirectional antennas.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one relay drone configured to;

remain within an unobstructed straight line to a base station;

remain within an unobstructed straight line to a working drone;

pass a working drone control signal received from the base station to the working drone for the base station to control the working drone, and

pass a collected information data signal received from the working drone to the base station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone comprises:

a first relay drone configured to remain within the unobstructed straight line to the base station; and

a second relay drone configured to remain within the unobstructed straight line to the working drone, the first relay drone configured to remain within a line of sight of the second relay drone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the unobstructed straight line to the working drone comprises an unobstructed linear relationship sufficient for unidirectional wireless communication between the at least one relay drone and the working drone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unobstructed straight line to the base station comprises an unobstructed linear relationship sufficient for a cable to be tethered between the at least one relay drone and the base station.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the at least one relay drone and the working drone is an order of magnitude greater than a second distance between the at least one relay drone and the base station.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is configured to move in response to base station movement to remain within the unobstructed straight line to the base station.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is configured to receive a relay drone control signal, from the base station, that controls the relay drone.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the relay drone control signal is not passed to the working drone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the relay drone control signal configures the at least one relay drone to adopt an autonomous flight pattern within a set distance from the base station.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone comprises:

an omnidirectional antenna configured to receive a location signal from the working drone;

a first directional antenna configured to receive the working drone control signal; and

a second directional antenna configured to send the working drone control signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the omnidirectional antenna is on an opposite end of the at least one relay drone relative to the first directional antenna.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is not within the unobstructed straight line to the working drone.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is not a fixed wing drone.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is a multi-copter drone.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is a glider tethered to the base station.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is configured to receive a location signal from the working drone, the location signal including GPS coordinates and an altitude.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is configured to:

remain within an unobstructed straight line to a second working drone;

pass a second working drone control signal received from the base station to the second working drone; and

pass a second data signal received from the second working drone to the base station.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one relay drone comprises a single drone configured to:

pass the working drone control signal received from the base station to the working drone via a first directional antenna on the single drone; and

pass the second working drone control signal from the base station to the second working drone via a second directional antenna on the single drone.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the working drone is configured for autonomous flight.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the working drone is configured for autonomous movement on ground.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the working drone is a communication device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone comprises a directional antenna that points below at the base station.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the directional antenna is oriented with a gimbal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one relay drone comprises a second directional antenna that points at the working drone.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second directional antenna is oriented with a second gimbal.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one relay drone is configured to move from a first location to a second location with increased signal reception with the base station relative to the first location.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the signal is the working drone control signal or the collected information data signal.