Dynamic collision-avoidance system and method
First Claim
1. An obstacle-avoidance system for augmenting control inputs in an aerial vehicle, the obstacle-avoidance system comprising:
- a sensor to generate obstruction data identifying a collision threats within a predetermined field of view (FOV); and
a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor and a control system of the aerial vehicle, the processor being configured to dynamically;
receive an original control input having a magnitude from the control system,receive, from the sensor, obstruction data reflecting a position of a collision threat within the predetermined FOV,generate a modified control input by reducing the magnitude of the original control input as a function of a distance between the aerial vehicle and the collision threat, andoutput the modified control input to avoid the collision threat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An obstacle-avoidance system for a vehicle, the obstacle-avoidance system may comprise: a communication device; a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors configured to detect collision threats within a predetermined distance of the vehicle; and a processor. The processor may communicatively couple to the communication device and the plurality of sensors and configured to receive navigation commands being communicated to a control system via said communication device. The processor may also receive, from at least one of said plurality of sensors, obstruction data reflecting the position of an obstruction. Using the obstruction data, the processor identifies a direction for avoiding said obstruction. In response, the processor may output, via said communication device, a command to said control system causing the vehicle to travel in said flight direction.
20 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An obstacle-avoidance system for augmenting control inputs in an aerial vehicle, the obstacle-avoidance system comprising:
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a sensor to generate obstruction data identifying a collision threats within a predetermined field of view (FOV); and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor and a control system of the aerial vehicle, the processor being configured to dynamically; receive an original control input having a magnitude from the control system, receive, from the sensor, obstruction data reflecting a position of a collision threat within the predetermined FOV, generate a modified control input by reducing the magnitude of the original control input as a function of a distance between the aerial vehicle and the collision threat, and output the modified control input to avoid the collision threat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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16. A retrofit navigational module to provide improved navigation in an existing aerial vehicle having a flight-control system and a steering mechanism, the retrofit navigational module comprising:
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a modular housing to couple with an exterior surface of the aerial vehicle; a plurality of sensors coupled to the modular housing to generate obstruction data identifying a collision threat proximate to the aerial vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of sensors, the flight-control system, and the steering mechanism, wherein the processor is configured to; intercept an original control input having a magnitude sent from the flight-control system intended for the steering mechanism, generate a modified control input based at least in part on the original control input and said obstruction data, wherein the processor is configured to generate the modified control input by reducing the magnitude of the original control input as a function of a distance between the aerial vehicle and the collision threat, and communicate the modified control input to the steering mechanism in lieu of the original control input to avoid the collision threat. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An aerial vehicle comprising:
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a flight-control system to dynamically output original control inputs; a plurality of sensors to generate obstruction data identifying a collision threat; a steering mechanism to steer the autonomous aerial vehicle along a navigational path in response to control inputs from the flight-control system; and a processor communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of sensors, the flight-control system, and the steering mechanism, the processor being configured to augment control inputs sent from the flight-control system to the steering mechanism, wherein the processor is configured to dynamically; intercept original control inputs having a magnitude from a remote operator via the flight-control system; generate augmented control inputs based at least in part on the original control inputs and said obstruction data by reducing the magnitude of the original control inputs as a function of a distance between the aerial vehicle and the collision threat; and communicate the augmented control inputs to the steering mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification