Systems and methods for detecting and managing the unauthorized use of a unmanned aircraft

• US 20080255711A1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl F. Milde Jr
• Original Assignee: Karl F. Milde Jr
• Inventors: Matos, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• 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 is disclosed for policing and managing the operation of a flying, unmanned aircraft in the event of usurpation of control of, malfunction of, or ill-intentioned use of, this aircraft. The method includes the steps of:

(a) detecting inappropriate operation of the aircraft;

(b) transmitting a takeover command to the aircraft to interrupt control of the operation of this aircraft by a first pilot who is currently in control of the aircraft; and

(c) transmitting control commands to the aircraft to control its operation by an alternate, second pilot, until the need for alternate pilot control of the aircraft has ended or until the aircraft has landed safely.

Claims

1. A method of policing and managing the operation of a flying, unmanned, first aircraft in the event of usurpation of control of, malfunction of, or ill-intentioned use of, said first aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting inappropriate operation of said first aircraft;

(b) transmitting a takeover command to said first aircraft to interrupt control of the operation of said first aircraft by a first pilot currently in control of said first aircraft; and

(c) transmitting control commands to said first aircraft to control the operation of said first aircraft by an alternate, second pilot, until the need for alternate pilot control of the first aircraft has ended or until said first aircraft has landed safely.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said takeover command is transmitted from a ground station to said first aircraft.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said control commands are transmitted from a ground station to said first aircraft.

4. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the initial step of flying a second aircraft to within the vicinity of the first aircraft, thereby permitting visual observation of the first aircraft.

5. The method defined in claim 4, further comprising the initial step of providing a secure transmission link by and between a first transmitting and receiving device (“

first T/R device”

) on the first aircraft and a second transmitting and receiving device (“

second T/R device”

) on said second aircraft, thereby permitting secure communication between said first aircraft and said second aircraft.

6. The method defined in claim 4, wherein said takeover command is transmitted from said second aircraft to said first aircraft via said transmission link.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said step of detecting inappropriate operation includes transmitting an interrogation command to said first aircraft and determining whether a response thereto, if any, is satisfactory.

8. The method defined in claim 4, wherein said step of detecting an inappropriate operation includes transmitting an interrogation command from said second aircraft to said first aircraft and determining whether a response thereto, if any is satisfactory.

9. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting data from said first aircraft to said second aircraft via said transmission link in response to said interrogation command.

10. The method defined in claim 9, wherein said data includes information pertaining to the identity said first aircraft.

11. The method defined in claim 9, wherein said data includes information pertaining to the flight of said first aircraft and said control commands are transmitted from said second aircraft to said first aircraft via said transmission link.

12. The method defined in claim 9, wherein said first aircraft includes means including an altimeter and a GPS device for determining information pertaining to a current location in space of said first aircraft, and wherein said data includes said information pertaining to said location.

13. The method defined in claim 12, wherein said first aircraft further includes a memory in which is stored information pertaining to a current flight plan of the first aircraft, and wherein said data includes said information pertaining to the flight plan.

14. The method defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of comparing said information pertaining to said current location of said first aircraft with said information pertaining to the flight plan, and transmitting said takeover command if said location does not correspond to the flight plan.

15. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting authorization to transmit said takeover command, prior to transmitting said takeover command.

16. The method defined in claim 7, further comprising the step of requesting authorization to transmit said takeover command, prior to transmitting said takeover command.

17. The method defined in claim 9, wherein said data includes information pertaining to a communication protocol between said first T/R device and said second T/R device.

18. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting authorization to destroy said first aircraft, and destroying said first aircraft upon receipt of said authorization.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said first aircraft includes means for causing its self-destruction and said method further comprises the step of transmitting a destruct command to said first aircraft to initiate operation of the self-destruction means.

20. The method defined in claim 9, wherein said first aircraft includes a video camera and wherein said data includes video information pertaining to said first aircraft.

21. The method defined in claim 5, further comprising the initial step of providing a transmission link by and between a third transmitting and receiving device (“

third T/R device”

) on the second aircraft and a fourth transmitting and receiving means (“

fourth T/R device”

) at a ground station, thereby permitting communication between said second aircraft and said ground station,

whereby said second aircraft serves as a repeater station for communications between said ground station and said first aircraft.

22. The method defined in claim 5, wherein said first T/R device on said first aircraft include means for transmitting and receiving preferentially in the direction of said second aircraft.

23. The method defined in claim 5, wherein said second T/R device on said second aircraft include means for transmitting and receiving preferentially in the direction of said first aircraft.

24. The method defined in claim 11, wherein said second aircraft comprises a flight control station to enable said second pilot aboard said second aircraft to control said first aircraft.

25. The method of claim 7, wherein said interrogation command is a request to provide at least one type of communication information selected from among the group consisting of:

a) at least one of the frequencies for communication with said first aircraft;

b) at least one of the channels for communication with said first aircraft;

c) the format for communication with said first aircraft; and

d) the method of encoding commands transmitted to said first aircraft; and

wherein a satisfactory response is defined as

a) the receipt of said communication information;

b) using said information to send a test signal to said first aircraft; and

c) the detection of a proper response to said test signal by said first aircraft.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said test signal is a request for at least one of:

a) a flight plan;

b) data indicating the previous positions of the aircraft as determined by GPS and an altimeter;

c) a command to execute a change in one of the movable surfaces of the first aircraft; and

wherein said proper response is indicated by at least one of;

a) a flight plan which matches a previously registered flight plan;

b) a flight plan which matches the current position of said first aircraft; and

c) at least one of (i) a movement of a moveable surface of said first aircraft, and (ii) a movement of said first aircraft, in correspondence with the movement of said moveable surface.