SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS FLYING VEHICLE FLIGHT PATHS

• US 20160189549A1
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Droneup Am LLC
• Original Assignee: AirMap, Inc. (DroneUp, LLC)
• Inventors: Marcus, Benjamin Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,728,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• 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 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft 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

Abstract

A method is provided for limiting access to airspace by drones. The method includes receiving position information from a user associated with a property identified by the position information. The method also includes assembling the position information with other position information to compile a comprehensive configurable flight zone database. The method further includes pushing the configurable flight zone database to at least one drone. The drone accesses the configurable flight zone database to determine if movement is allowed, and the drone is programmed to not fly into areas identified in the configurable flight zone database. In the method, the drone may be further programmed to prohibit directing a camera into the areas identified in the configurable flight zone database.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a proposed flight area for a drone;

generating an approved flight plan for the drone by;

comparing the proposed flight area to a comprehensive configurable flight zone database that comprises position information for locations that are designated as configurable flight zones; and

determining the approved flight plan which comprises a flight path that excludes the locations that are designated as configurable flight zones that fall within the propose flight area; and

pushing the approved flight plan to at least one drone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the approved flight plan further comprises applying terrain awareness and warning system signals or terrain inhibit switch signals in determining the approved flight plan.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the approved flight plan further comprises applying weather warning signals in determining the approved flight plan.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the approved flight plan further comprises applying automatic dependent surveillance broadcast signals in determining the approved flight plan.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the approved flight plan further comprises privacy enhanced locations that comprise areas included in the flight path where the at least one drone can fly but that no images can be obtained.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the approved flight plan is pushed to the at least one drone by another drone that is communicatively coupled with the at least one drone.

7. A flying drone device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing logic, the processor executing the logic to;

transmit current location information of the flying drone device to a drone flight management system;

receive from the drone flight management system a configurable flight zone database that comprises locations that are designated as configurable flight zones; and

automatically adjust a flight direction of the flying drone device based on the configurable flight zone database to navigate around the locations that are designated as configurable flight zones.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor further executes the logic to receive terrain awareness and warning system signals or terrain inhibit switch signals, wherein the terrain awareness and warning system signals or terrain inhibit switch signals are used to automatically adjust the flight direction.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor further executes the logic to receive weather warning signals, wherein the weather warning signals are used to automatically adjust the flight direction.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor further executes the logic to receive automatic dependent surveillance broadcast signals, wherein the automatic dependent surveillance broadcast signals are used to automatically adjust the flight direction.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor further executes the logic to prohibit directing a camera into the locations identified in the configurable flight zone database.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the configurable flight zone database is received from another drone that is coupled communication with the flying drone device over a wireless network link.

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein the flying drone device forms an ad-hoc network with one or more additional drones operating in proximity to the current location of the flying drone device.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the flying drone device transmits the configurable flight zone database to the one or more additional drones.

15. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor further executes the logic to cause the flying drone device to operate at a buffer distance away from one or more of the locations that are designated as configurable flight zones.

16. The device according to claim 7, wherein the processor further executes the logic to apply privacy settings for the locations that are designated as configurable flight zones.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the privacy settings are established by an owner of a location of the locations.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the privacy settings allow a location of the locations to permit flights at certain times of a day or days of a week.

19. A flying drone device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing logic, the processor executing the logic to;

transmit current location information of the flying drone device to a drone flight management system;

receive from the drone flight management system a configurable flight zone database that comprises locations that are designated as configurable flight zones;

automatically adjust a flight direction of the flying drone device based on the configurable flight zone database to navigate around the locations that are designated as configurable flight zones;

receive dynamic flight restriction signals during flight; and

further automatically adjust a flight direction of the flying drone device based on the dynamic flight restriction signals.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the dynamic flight restrictions comprise any of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast signals, terrain awareness and warning system signals, terrain inhibit switch signals, weather warning signals, or combinations thereof.

21. A method for limiting access to airspace by drones, the method comprising:

receiving position information from a user associated with a property identified by the position information;

assembling the position information with other position information to compile a comprehensive configurable flight zone database; and

pushing the configurable flight zone database to at least one drone, the drone accessing the configurable flight zone database to determine if at least one behavior is not permitted, the drone being programmed to restrict the at least one behavior when proximate or within areas identified in the configurable flight zone database.