Systems and methods for remote distributed control of unmanned aircraft
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a pilot to take control of an unmanned aircraft (UA), comprising:
- receiving, by a server, an indication from the UA in autonomous flight that a transition condition is detected, wherein the transition condition comprises at least one of a plurality of conditions that require the UA to transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight;
determining, by the server, a set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition, wherein the set of pilot selection criteria enables selection of a pilot at a pilot station that is capable of providing pilot controlled flight of the UA under the detected transition condition, and wherein the set of pilot selection criteria comprises one or more of an overall length of pilot experience, a length of pilot experience in piloting unmanned aircraft under the detected condition, a length of pilot experience associated with the UA, a pilot physical condition, a pilot mental condition, a pilot flight recency, a pilot flight certification status, a pilot medical certification status, a pilot incident history, or a pilot crash history; and
selecting, by the server, the pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA based on the set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for providing control of an unmanned aircraft (UA). A server may receive an indication from a UA that a transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight is required while the UA is in autonomous flight. The server may select a pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA. Selecting a pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA may be based on a pilot criterion associated with the pilot station. A UA may detect a condition that requires a transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight and establish a pilot criterion for pilot controlled flight based on the detected condition. The UA may send a request for a pilot that includes the pilot criterion and information about the condition.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a pilot to take control of an unmanned aircraft (UA), comprising:
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receiving, by a server, an indication from the UA in autonomous flight that a transition condition is detected, wherein the transition condition comprises at least one of a plurality of conditions that require the UA to transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight; determining, by the server, a set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition, wherein the set of pilot selection criteria enables selection of a pilot at a pilot station that is capable of providing pilot controlled flight of the UA under the detected transition condition, and wherein the set of pilot selection criteria comprises one or more of an overall length of pilot experience, a length of pilot experience in piloting unmanned aircraft under the detected condition, a length of pilot experience associated with the UA, a pilot physical condition, a pilot mental condition, a pilot flight recency, a pilot flight certification status, a pilot medical certification status, a pilot incident history, or a pilot crash history; and selecting, by the server, the pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA based on the set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for managing selecting a pilot to take control of an unmanned aircraft (UA), comprising:
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a transceiver; and a server processor coupled to the transceiver, the server processor configured with processor-executable instructions to; receive an indication from the UA in autonomous flight that a transition condition is detected, wherein the transition condition comprises at least one of a plurality of conditions that require the UA to transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight; determine a set of pilot selection criteria that correspond to the detected transition condition, wherein the set of pilot selection criteria enables selection of a pilot at a pilot station that is capable of providing pilot controlled flight of the UA under the detected transition condition, and wherein the set of pilot selection criteria comprises one or more of an overall length of pilot experience, a length of pilot experience in piloting unmanned aircraft under the detected condition, a length of pilot experience associated with the UA, a pilot physical condition, a pilot mental condition, a pilot flight recency, a pilot flight certification status, a pilot medical certification status, a pilot incident history, or a pilot crash history; and select the pilot station for providing pilot controlled flight of the UA based on the set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for facilitating a selection of a pilot to take control of an unmanned aircraft (UA), comprising:
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detecting, by the UA, a transition condition, wherein the transition condition comprises at least one of a plurality of conditions that require the UA to transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight; and determining, by the UA, a set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition, wherein the set of pilot selection criteria enables selection of a pilot at a pilot station that is capable of providing pilot controlled flight of the UA under the detected transition condition, and wherein the set of pilot selection criteria comprises one or more of an overall length of pilot experience, a length of pilot experience in piloting unmanned aircraft under the detected condition, a length of pilot experience associated with the UA, a pilot physical condition, a pilot mental condition, a pilot flight recency, a pilot flight certification status, a pilot medical certification status, a pilot incident history, or a pilot crash history. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An unmanned aircraft (UA), comprising:
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a transceiver; and a processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to; detect a transition condition, wherein the transition condition comprises at least one of a plurality of conditions that require the UA to transition from autonomous flight to pilot controlled flight; and determine a set of pilot selection criteria that corresponds to the detected transition condition, wherein the set of pilot selection criteria enables selection of a pilot at a pilot station that is capable of providing pilot controlled flight of the UA under the detected transition condition, and wherein the set of pilot selection criteria comprises one or more of an overall length of pilot experience, a length of pilot experience in piloting unmanned aircraft under the detected condition, a length of pilot experience associated with the UA, a pilot physical condition, a pilot mental condition, a pilot flight recency, a pilot flight certification status, a pilot medical certification status, a pilot incident history, or a pilot crash history. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification