UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE COMMUNICATION, MONITORING, AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

• US 20160196751A1
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jarrell Family Trust
• Original Assignee: John A. Jarrell
• Inventors: Jarrell, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,576,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/06 for indicating aircraft presence
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• 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: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• 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 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle includes transmitting a first message via a communications transmitter of a lighting assembly for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle. The first message includes an identifier associated with the lighting assembly, and the lighting assembly is located within a proximity of a roadway. The method also includes receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a communications receiver of the lighting assembly. The second message includes an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle. The method further includes transmitting a third message via the communications transmitter of the lighting assembly for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The third message includes an indication of an altitude at which the unmanned aerial vehicle should fly.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station, wherein the communications station is mounted to a support member, and wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground;

receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a receiver of the communications station, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

transmitting via a charging module of the communications station a charging signal for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the charging signal for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to charge a battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the charging signal is transmitted while the unmanned aerial vehicle is airborne.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 33, wherein the charging signal is transmitted while the unmanned aerial vehicle hovers in a proximity to the communications station.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the charging signal is transmitted wirelessly to the unmanned aerial vehicle by the charging module.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the charging signal is transmitted wirelessly to the unmanned aerial vehicle by the charging module using a near field charging component.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, wherein the charging signal is transmitted by the charging module to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a charge cord of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein at least a portion of the charge cord is in physical contact with the communications station during transmission of the charging signal.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein the charge cord is not in physical contact with the communications station during transmission of the charging signal.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting a third message via the transmitter of the communications station, the third message comprising the identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle and a quantity associated with the wireless charging signal.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting a third message via the transmitter of the communications station, the third message including the identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle and billing information corresponding to an amount of energy provided by the charging module.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving via the receiver of the communications station an indication of a remaining battery charge for the unmanned aerial vehicle;

determining, based on the indication of the remaining battery charge, that the unmanned aerial vehicle should recharge its battery; and

informing the unmanned aerial vehicle, via the transmitter of the communications station, that the unmanned aerial vehicle should charge its battery.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 42, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is in route to a destination, and wherein the determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle should recharge its battery includes determining that the remaining battery charge is insufficient for the unmanned aerial vehicle to reach the destination.

44. A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station, wherein the communications station is mounted to a support member, and wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground;

receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a receiver of the communications station, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is flying in a designated airspace;

receiving a third message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via the receiver of the communications station, the third message comprising a request to fly outside of the designated airspace; and

transmitting a fourth message via the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the fourth message comprising permission for the unmanned aerial to fly outside of the designated airspace, for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to make a flight adjustment.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the designated airspace is above at least one of a right-of-way and a right-of-way zone.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the designated airspace is an air corridor.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the flight adjustment causes the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly outside of the designated airspace.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 47, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle performs at least one of delivering a package and picking-up a package while outside of the designated airspace.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, further comprising monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle for return of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the designated airspace within a predetermined period of time.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 44, wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge.

51. A computer-implemented method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

transmitting via a transmitter of a communications station a first message for receipt by an unmanned aerial vehicle, the first message comprising an identifier associated with the communications station, wherein the communications station is mounted to a support member, and wherein at least a portion of the support member is configured to remain in physical contact with the ground;

receiving a second message from the unmanned aerial vehicle via a receiver of the communications station, the second message comprising an identifier associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

transmitting a third message via the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the third message comprising an indication of one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, for use by the unmanned aerial vehicle to make a flight adjustment.

52. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, wherein at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is a no-fly zone.

53. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, wherein at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with at least one of an airport, a high-security area, an area where unmanned aerial vehicles are unwelcome, and a recurring period of time.

54. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, further comprising transmitting, by the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a an indication of a landing area.

55. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, wherein at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with an area being temporarily restricted from unmanned aerial vehicle flight.

56. The computer-implemented method of claim 55, wherein the at least one of the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly is associated with at least one of a natural disaster, an emergency condition, a congested area, a restricted area, and an area associated with a threat.

57. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, further comprising providing the unmanned aerial vehicle with an alternate route to bypass the one or more areas where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly.

58. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, further comprising determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle is flying within an area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, and transmitting a warning message via the transmitter of the communications station for receipt by at least one of a police department communications unit, a fire department communications unit, a civil airspace authority communications unit, a Federal Aviation Authority communications unit, a first responder communications unit, and a security department communications unit.

59. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, further comprising determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle is flying within an area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly, and issuing a ticket to at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle and an owner of the unmanned aerial vehicle for flying in the area where the unmanned aerial vehicle is not permitted to fly.

60. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a streetlight, a traffic light, a utility pole, a tower, a communications station pole, a road sign, a display monitor, a building, a tree, a billboard, and a bridge.