System and method of real time detection of aerial vehicle flight patterns and insurance policy updates

• US 9,892,464 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blackbird Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Zentler, Erik T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Eric T
• Application Number:
  US15/227,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20170103465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system and method for providing real-time insurance coverage and updating the insurance coverage for an aerial vehicle based on current flight characteristics and an operator profile. A current flight pattern is generated from the current flight characteristics and is compared to a flight pattern of another aerial vehicle that was involved in an incident to generate a current risk profile of the aerial vehicle. The risk profile is adjusted based on an operator profile for the current operator of the aerial vehicle. As the operator operates the aerial vehicle, an insurance policy is automatically adjusted in real time as the risk profile changes in response to changes in the flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle.

Claims

1. A method executing on a computing device to provide real-time updating of an insurance policy associated with a target aerial vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, by the computing device, a previous flight pattern for each respective aerial vehicle of a plurality aerial vehicles that were each involved in a respective incident, each previous flight pattern includes a plurality of movements of the respective aerial vehicle within a time period prior to the respective incident; and

prior to flight of the target aerial vehicle;

obtaining, by the computing device, operator information for a current operator of the target aerial vehicle;

obtaining, by the computing device, aerial vehicle information for the target aerial vehicle;

generating, by the computing device, the insurance policy for the target aerial vehicle based on the operator information and the target aerial vehicle information;

as the current operator is operating the target aerial vehicle in the sky;

receiving, by the computing device, operator input signals from a remote control communicating with the target aerial vehicle, the operator input signals include data obtained by a first plurality of sensors on the remote control to sense input commands from the current operator of the target aerial vehicle;

receiving, by the computing device, performance output signals from the target aerial vehicle, the performance output signals include data obtained by a second plurality of sensors mounted on the target aerial vehicle to sense unique flight characteristics during flight of the target aerial vehicle;

processing, by the computing device, the received operator input signals and the performance output signals to generate a plurality of current flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle;

generating, by the computing device, an operator profile for the current operator of the target aerial vehicle in response to the current flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle, the operator profile provides an indication of how well the current operator is operating the target aerial vehicle based on the input commands provided by the current operator to control the target aerial vehicle;

generating, by the computing device, a current flight pattern of the target aerial vehicle in response to the current flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle, the current flight pattern provides an indication of movement of the target aerial vehicle;

comparing, by the computing device, the current flight pattern of the target aerial vehicle with each previous flight pattern of the plurality of aerial vehicles;

generating, by the computing device, a current risk profile for the current operator of the target aerial vehicle in response to the comparison of the current flight pattern with the previous flight pattern;

adjusting, by the computing device, the current risk profile in response to the operator profile; and

automatically updating, by the computing device, the insurance policy for the target aerial vehicle in real time as the current risk profile changes in response to changes in the current flight characteristics as the current operator operates the target aerial vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the current risk profile includes:

increasing the current risk profile when a score associated with the operator profile is below a first predetermined threshold; and

decreasing the current risk profile when the score associated with the operator profile is above a second predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input commands performed by the current operator include a reaction time to a change in the current flight characteristics, a type of input by the current operator in response to the change in the current flight characteristics, and a rate at which the current operator adjusts operation of the target aerial vehicle in response to the change in the current flight characteristics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle include at least one of:

a ground position of the target aerial vehicle, an altitude of the target aerial vehicle, a speed of the target aerial vehicle, an acceleration of the target aerial vehicle, a pitch of the target aerial vehicle, a roll of the target aerial vehicle, a yaw of the target aerial vehicle, a duration of operation of the target aerial vehicle, a lifetime inflight duration of the target aerial vehicle, known objects relative to the target aerial vehicle, or a spatial relationship between the target aerial vehicle and the current operator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the previous flight patterns for each respective aerial vehicle of the plurality of aerial vehicles that were each involved in a respective incident includes a location of the respective incident, an altitude change prior to the respective incident, and a speed of the aerial vehicle prior to the respective incident.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically billing the current operator for premiums of the insurance policy as the insurance policy is updated in real time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator information for the current operator of the target aerial vehicle includes at least one of a total number of hours that the current operator has operated the target aerial vehicle, previous aerial vehicle incidents, total number of hours that the current operator has operated other aerial vehicles, or previously demonstrated ability to operate the target aerial vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the aerial vehicle information for the target aerial vehicle includes a type, a make, a model, and a total number of operating hours of the target aerial vehicle.

9. A system to provide real-time updating of an insurance policy associated with the flight of an aerial vehicle, comprising:

an aerial-vehicle monitoring system mounted on the aerial vehicle, the aerial-vehicle monitoring system comprising a first plurality of sensors and a first transmitter, the first plurality of sensors are each positioned on the aerial vehicle to sense a unique flight characteristic during flight of the aerial vehicle and to generate a respective flight characteristic signal, the first transmitter transmits the flight characteristic signals received from the first plurality of sensors; and

a remote-control monitoring system associated with a remote controller that receives input commands from a current operator of the aerial vehicle to control operation of the aerial vehicle, the remote-control monitoring system comprising a second plurality of sensors and a second transmitter, the second plurality of sensors are each positioned on the remote controller to sense the input commands from the current operator of the aerial vehicle and to generate control data signals in response to the input commands, the second transmitter transmits the control data signals received from the second plurality of sensors; and

a risk generator computing device comprising;

a receiver to receive the transmitted flight characteristic signals and control data signals;

a memory to store a previous flight pattern of another aerial vehicle that was involved in an incident, the previous flight pattern generated in response to previous flight characteristics of the other aerial vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the receiver to receive the transmitted flight characteristic signals and that executes instructions stored on the memory, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to;

determine a plurality of current flight characteristics in response to the received flight characteristic signals and the received control data signals;

generate an operator profile indicating how well the current operator is operating the aerial vehicle in response to the current flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle;

generate a current flight pattern indicating movement of the aerial vehicle in response to the current flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle;

generate a current risk profile for the current operator of the aerial vehicle in response to a comparison of the current flight pattern with the previous flight pattern;

adjust the current risk profile based on the operator profile; and

automatically update an insurance policy for the aerial vehicle in real time as the current risk profile changes in response to changes in the current flight characteristics as the current operator flies the aerial vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the execution of the instructions causes the processor to adjust the current risk profile by:

increasing the current risk profile when a score associated with the operator profile is below a first predetermined threshold; and

decreasing the current risk profile when the score associated with the operator profile is above a second predetermined threshold.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operator profile indicates actions performed by the current operator to control the aerial vehicle in response to changes in the current flight characteristics.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the previous flight pattern of the aerial vehicle that was involved in the incident includes a plurality of movements of the aerial vehicle within a time period prior to the incident.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the execution of the instructions further cause the processor to:

obtain operator information for the current operator of the aerial vehicle;

obtain aerial vehicle information for the aerial vehicle; and

generate the insurance policy based on the operator information and the aerial vehicle information.

14. A risk generator computing device, comprising:

a receiver to receive flight characteristic signals that are transmitted from an aerial vehicle and that include data collected by a first plurality of sensors on the aerial vehicle and to receive control data signals that are transmitted from a controller that receives input commands from an operator of the aerial vehicle to control operation of the aerial vehicle and that include data collected by a second plurality of sensors on the controller;

a memory that stores at least one previous flight pattern of another aerial vehicle that was involved in an incident and instructions; and

at least one processor that is coupled to the memory and the receiver and that executes the instructions to perform actions, including;

generating a plurality of current flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle in response to receipt of the flight characteristic signals from the aerial vehicle and the control data signals from the controller as the aerial vehicle is operated by the operator;

generating an operator profile of actions performed by the operator in response to the current flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle;

generating a current flight pattern of the aerial vehicle in response to the current flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle;

generating a current risk profile for the operator of the aerial vehicle in response to a comparison of the current flight pattern with the at least one previous flight pattern;

adjusting the current risk profile based on the operator profile; and

automatically updating an insurance policy for the aerial vehicle in real time as the current risk profile changes in response to changes in the current flight characteristics as the operator operates the aerial vehicle.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the actions performed by the operator include a reaction time to a change in the current flight characteristics, a type of input by the operator in response to the change in the current flight characteristics, and a rate at which the operator adjusts operation of the aerial vehicle in response to the change in the current flight characteristics.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the current flight characteristics of the aerial vehicle include at least one of:

a ground position of the aerial vehicle, an altitude of the aerial vehicle, a speed of the aerial vehicle, an acceleration of the aerial vehicle, a pitch of the aerial vehicle, a roll of the aerial vehicle, a yaw of the aerial vehicle, a duration of operation of the aerial vehicle, a lifetime inflight duration of the aerial vehicle, known objects relative to the aerial vehicle, or a spatial relationship between the aerial vehicle and the operator.

17. A system, comprising:

a receiver that receives signals that include aerial-vehicle operational data collected by a first plurality of sensors on a target aerial vehicle and remote-control operational data collected by a second plurality of sensors on a remote control that receives input commands from an operator of the target aerial vehicle to control operation of the target aerial vehicle;

a memory that stores computing instructions and a previous flight pattern of another aerial vehicle that was involved in an incident; and

a processor that executes the computing instructions to perform actions, including;

generating the previous flight pattern of the other aerial vehicle, the previous flight pattern generated in response to previous flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle prior to the incident;

processing the aerial-vehicle operational data and the remote-control operational data from the received signals to generate current flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle;

generating an operator profile for a current operator of the target aerial vehicle and a current flight pattern of the target aerial vehicle in response to the current flight characteristics of the target aerial vehicle;

generating a current risk profile for the current operator of the target aerial vehicle in response to a comparison of the current flight pattern with the previous flight pattern and adjusting the current risk profile based on the operator profile; and

automatically updating an insurance policy for the target aerial vehicle in real time as the current risk profile changes in response to changes in the current flight characteristics as the current operator operates the target aerial vehicle.