AUTONOMOUS AIRSPACE FLIGHT PLANNING AND VIRTUAL AIRSPACE CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140018979A1
• Filed: 06/12/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Goossen, Emray R., Goossen, Katherine, Lafler, Scott H.
• Application Number:
  US13/916,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• 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: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• 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 5/006 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

Devices, systems, and techniques for generating a graphical user interface including a three-dimensional virtual containment space for flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are described. In some examples, the graphical user interface may be generated based on user input defining a virtual boundary for the flight of the UAV.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, user input defining a virtual boundary for flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and

generating, with a processor, a graphical user interface (GUI) including a three-dimensional virtual containment space for the flight of the UAV based on the user input defining the virtual boundary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional virtual containment space for the flight of the UAV is defined by a latitude component, a longitude component, and an altitude component.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, with the processor, an electronic flight plan based on the virtual boundary.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting, with the processor, the electronic flight plan to an Air Traffic Control system for approval.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying, with the processor, the three-dimensional virtual containment space based on at least one governmental regulation or restriction; and

generating, with the processor, a modified GUI including the modified three-dimensional virtual containment space.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the processor, that a portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with restricted airspace;

modifying, with the processor, the three-dimensional virtual containment space in response to determining that the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with the restricted airspace; and

generating, with the processor, a modified GUI including the modified three-dimensional virtual containment space.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the three-dimensional virtual containment space in response to determining that the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with the restricted airspace comprises modifying the three-dimensional virtual containment space to exclude the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space that overlaps with the restricted airspace.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the processor, that the UAV is nearing a boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space; and

generating, with the processor, an alert in response to determining that the UAV is nearing the boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with the processor, that the UAV is nearing a boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space; and

modifying, with the processor, flight of the UAV in response to determining that the UAV is nearing the boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the GUI including the three-dimensional virtual containment space comprises generating a GUI including the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaying a map.

11. A system comprising:

a user interface configured to receive user input defining a virtual boundary for flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and

a processor configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) including a three-dimensional virtual containment space for the flight of the UAV based on the user input defining the virtual boundary.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the three-dimensional virtual containment space for the flight of the UAV is defined by a latitude component, a longitude component, and an altitude component.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

modify the three-dimensional virtual containment space based on at least one governmental regulation or restriction; and

generate a modified GUI including the modified three-dimensional virtual containment space.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that a portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with restricted airspace;

modify the three-dimensional virtual containment space in response to determining that the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with the restricted airspace; and

generate a modified GUI including the modified three-dimensional virtual containment space.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to modify the three-dimensional virtual containment space in response to determining that the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with the restricted airspace by at least modifying the three-dimensional virtual containment space to exclude the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space that overlaps with the restricted airspace.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the UAV is nearing a boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space; and

generate an alert in response to determining that the UAV is nearing the boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the UAV is nearing a boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space; and

modify flight of the UAV in response to determining that the UAV is nearing the boundary of the three-dimensional virtual containment space.

18. A system comprising:

means for receiving user input defining a virtual boundary for flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and

means for generating a graphical user interface (GUI) including a three-dimensional virtual containment space for the flight of the UAV based on the user input defining the virtual boundary.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for modifying the three-dimensional virtual containment space based on at least one governmental regulation or restriction; and

means for generating a modified GUI including the modified three-dimensional virtual containment space

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for determining that a portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with restricted airspace;

means for modifying the three-dimensional virtual containment space based on the determination by the means for determining that the portion of the three-dimensional virtual containment space overlaps with the restricted airspace; and

means for generating a modified GUI including the modified three-dimensional virtual containment space.