Augmentative control of drones

• US 9,977,428 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/139,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• 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: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• 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

Abstract

A method may include monitoring location information associated with a drone. The method may also include comparing the location information with an authorized zone. The method may also include, based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone. The method may include, in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone. The location information may include at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a zone declaration indicating a zone and a signature;

determining that the zone comprises an authorized zone based on the signature being authorized;

monitoring location information associated with a drone;

comparing the location information with the authorized zone;

based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone; and

in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone,

wherein the location information includes at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is based on at least a flight path of the drone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein augmenting control comprises causing the drone to adjust the flight path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the drone is based on a drone operation controller, and augmenting the control comprises overriding the drone operation controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the location information with the authorized zone comprises identifying the authorized zone from a plurality of authorized zones based on a relative location of the authorized zone and the location information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein augmenting control comprises causing the drone to hover.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorized zone is indicated by a geographically addressed message.

8. A drone comprising:

a processor; and

memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a zone declaration indicating a zone and a signature;

determining that the zone comprises an authorized zone based on the signature being authorized;

operating flight of the drone using a drone operation controller;

monitoring location information of the drone;

comparing the location information with an authorized zone;

based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone; and

in response to the violation, overriding the drone operation controller to alter operation of the drone,

wherein the location information includes at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone.

9. The drone of claim 8, wherein the location information is based on at least a flight path of the drone, and wherein overriding the drone operation controller comprises altering the flight path.

10. The drone of claim 9, wherein the authorized zone is indicated by a geographically addressed message.

11. The drone of claim 8, wherein the zone declaration is received from a second drone.

12. The drone of claim 8, wherein comparing the location information with the authorized zone comprises identifying the authorized zone from a plurality of authorized zones based on a relative location of the authorized zone and the location information.

13. The drone of claim 8, wherein overriding the drone operation controller comprises causing the drone to hover.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, via a first network, a zone declaration, the zone declaration comprising a definition of a zone and a digital signature;

determining that the zone declaration is authorized based on the digital signature indicating a known party;

adding the zone to a list of authorized zones; and

relaying the zone declaration via a second network, wherein the second network differs from the first network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second network is an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network comprising a drone.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

augmenting control of a drone based on the zone declaration.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a second zone declaration comprising a deletion of the zone and a second digital signature;

determining that the second zone declaration is authorized based on the second digital signature;

removing the zone from the list of authorized zones; and

relaying the second zone declaration.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a list of parties authorized to define zones, the list of parties indicating the known party.