Flying lane management systems and methods for unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 9,959,772 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metal Raptor Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: Priest, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US15/217,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20170358216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• 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: 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 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• 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 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

A flying lane management method implemented in an air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) via one or more wireless networks includes initiating communication to the one or more UAVs at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers; determining a flying lane for the one or more UAVs based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region; and providing the flying lane to the one or more UAVs are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane.

Claims

1. A flying lane management method implemented in an air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) via one or more wireless networks, the flying lane management method comprising:

initiating communication to the one or more UAVs at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers;

determining a flying lane for the one or more UAVs based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region;

providing the flying lane to the one or more UAVs are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane;

continuing the communication during flight on the flying lane and receiving data from the one or more UAVs, wherein the data comprises feedback during the flight, wherein the one or more UAVs are constrained to maintain wireless coverage with the plurality of cell towers during the flight through the flying lane which is based on where coverage exists and in-flight monitoring of cell signal strength and adjustment to the flight based thereon; and

utilizing the feedback to update the flying lane, to update other flying lanes, and to manage air traffic in the region.

2. The flying lane management method of claim 1, wherein, during the flight, the feedback comprises speed, altitude, and heading, and the feedback further comprises one or more of temperature, humidity, wind, and detected obstructions.

3. The flying lane management method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing updates to the one or more UAVs for the flying lane based on the feedback and based on feedback from other devices.

4. The flying lane management method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the feedback, determining the one or more UAVs at ready to descend or fly to the destination and providing authorization to the one or more UAVs for a descent.

5. The flying lane management method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the feedback, detecting a new obstruction; and

one of updating the flying lane to the one or more UAVs based on adjustments made by the one or more UAVs due to the new obstruction and providing an updated flying lane due to the new obstruction.

6. The flying lane management method of claim 5, wherein the adjustments and/or the updated flying lane comprise a buffer distance from the new obstruction.

7. The flying lane management method of claim 5, wherein the new obstruction is detected by the one or more UAVs based on hardware thereon and communicated to the air traffic control system.

8. The flying lane management method of claim 1, wherein the air traffic control system is adapted to operate autonomously.

9. The flying lane management method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless networks comprise a satellite network.

10. An air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) via one or more wireless networks adapted to perform flying lane management, the air traffic control system comprising:

a network interface and one or more processors communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to;

initiate communication to the one or more UAVs at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers;

determine a flying lane for the one or more UAVs based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region;

provide the flying lane to the one or more UAVs are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane;

continue the communication during flight on the flying lane and receiving data from the one or more UAVs, wherein the data comprises feedback during the flight, wherein the one or more UAVs are constrained to maintain wireless coverage with the plurality of cell towers during the flight through the flying lane which is based on where coverage exists and in-flight monitoring of cell signal strength and adjustment to the flight based thereon; and

utilize the feedback to update the flying lane, to update other flying lanes, and to manage air traffic in the region.

11. The air traffic control system of claim 10, wherein, during the flight, the feedback comprises speed, altitude, and heading, and the feedback further comprises one or more of temperature, humidity, wind, and detected obstructions.

12. The air traffic control system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

provide updates to the one or more UAVs for the flying lane based on the feedback and based on feedback from other devices.

13. The air traffic control system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

based on the feedback, determine the one or more UAVs at ready to descend or fly to the destination and providing authorization to the one or more UAVs for a descent.

14. The air traffic control system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

based on the feedback, detect a new obstruction; and

one of update the flying lane to the one or more UAVs based on adjustments made by the one or more UAVs due to the new obstruction and provide an updated flying lane due to the new obstruction.

15. The air traffic control system of claim 14, wherein the adjustments and/or the updated flying lane comprise a buffer distance from the new obstruction.

16. The air traffic control system of claim 14, wherein the new obstruction is detected by the one or more UAVs based on hardware thereon and communicated to the air traffic control system.

17. The air traffic control system of claim 10, wherein the air traffic control system is adapted to operate autonomously.

18. The air traffic control system of claim 10, wherein the one or more wireless networks comprise a satellite network.