Authentication systems and methods for generating flight regulations

• US 9,870,566 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Gong, Ming, Dai, Jin, Cui, Hao, Wang, Xiaodong, Huang, Han, Wu, Jun, Fan, Wei, Ma, Ning, Rong, Xinhua, Lin, Xingsen
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Isaac G
• Application Number:
  US14/942,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3, 701 296, 224189
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/102 adapted for flying in formations
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• 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 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 : in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 : in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• 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 5/0082 : for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 : for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 : for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Claims

1. A system for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said system comprising:

one or more communication units configured to;

receive authentication of an identity of a UAV;

receive authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV; and

receive information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an application that is configured to, with aid of one or more processors, generate a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the one or more communication units,

wherein the one or more communication units are further configured to transmit said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors on an air control unit, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

at the air control unit;

receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV;

receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV;

receiving information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly;

generating a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the air control unit; and

transmitting said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.

3. A method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a payload onboard, comprising:

at an air control unit;

receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV;

receiving authentication of an identity of a UAV user, wherein the authenticated UAV user is an owner and/or operator of the authenticated UAV;

receiving information including a geographical location in which the authenticated UAV is, or to which the UAV is to fly;

generating a location-dependent payload usage parameter based on the geographical location that is received by the air control unit; and

transmitting said location-dependent payload usage parameter to the UAV and/or a payload on board the UAV based on (a) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV, and (b) the received authentication of the identity of the UAV user to effect operation of the payload onboard the UAV in compliance with the payload usage parameter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises rendering the payload inoperational.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein rendering the payload inoperational comprises powering off the payload.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises operating the payload without any restrictions.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein effecting operation of the payload in compliance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter comprises operating the payload with one or more restrictions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more restrictions are generated in accordance with one or more regulations.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is an image capture device configured to capture static and/or dynamic images.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting at least one of:

(i) recordation of one or more images and (ii) transmission of one or more images.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting at least one of:

(i) a resolution at which the image capture device captures images, (ii) a zoom level of the image capture device, (iii) an aperture size of the image capture device, and (iv) a focus of the image capture device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the image capture device from using a flash.

13. The method of claim 9, the one or more restrictions comprise restricting a mode of the image capture device to at least one of:

(i) a lighting mode, (ii) a color mode, and (iii) a static or dynamic image capture mode.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is an audio capture device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound recordation.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting audio capture device sensitivity.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound capture to a predetermined decibel range.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting sound capture to a predetermined frequency range.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more restrictions comprise restricting a microphone directionality of the audio capture device.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is a light source, and the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the light source to operate below a threshold intensity.

21. The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is a speaker, and the one or more restrictions comprise restricting the speaker from transmitting sound.

22. The method of claim 3, wherein the UAV comprises:

one or more propulsion units that effect flight of the UAV;

a communication module configured to receive the location-dependent payload usage parameter; and

a flight control unit configured to generate flight control signals that are delivered to the one or more propulsion units, wherein the flight control signals are generated in accordance with the location-dependent payload usage parameter.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly at a translational velocity that is at least one of:

greater than a predetermined minimum threshold velocity; and

less than a predetermined maximum threshold velocity.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly at an altitude that is at least one of:

greater than a predetermined minimum threshold altitude; and

less than a predetermined maximum threshold altitude.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising determining at the air control unit that the geographical location is within a flight-restricted zone, wherein:

the location-dependent payload usage parameter reflects said determination; and

the flight control signals cause the one or more propulsion units to effect flight of the UAV, thereby causing the UAV to fly to a second geographical location outside the flight-restricted zone.

26. The method of claim 3, wherein the geographical location is within an allocated space comprising an allocated volume and/or an allocated region, and wherein one or more regulations apply within the allocated space.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the geographical location is within a flight-restricted zone.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the flight-restricted zone is within a predetermined distance from at least one of:

an airport, a public gathering place, a government property, a military property, a school, a private residence, and a power plant.

29. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an authentication of an identity of a UAV remote controller.

30. The method of claim 3, wherein the authentication of the identity of the UAV provides information regarding whether the UAV has been tampered or not to the air control unit.