875results about "Aircraft navigation/guiding aids" patented technology

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and / or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

The present invention provides a traffic management system for managing unmanned aerial systems (UASs) operating at low-altitude. The system includes surveillance for locating and tracking UASs in uncontrolled airspace, for example, in airspace below 10,000 feet MSL. The system also includes flight rules for safe operation of UASs in uncontrolled airspace. The system further includes computers for processing said surveillance and for applying the flight rules to UASs. The traffic management system may be portable, persistent, or a hybrid thereof.

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

A method 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 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 and relinquish control of the aircraft to a second pilot; and (c) transmitting control commands to the aircraft to control its operation by the second pilot, until the need for alternate pilot control of the aircraft has ended or until the aircraft has landed safely.

A system (100) for providing an integrated multi-sensor detection and countermeasure against commercial unmanned aerial systems / vehicles (44) and includes a detecting element (103, 104, 105), a tracking element (103,104, 105) an identification element (103, 104, 105) and an interdiction element (102). The detecting element detects an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight in the region of, or approaching, a property, place, event or very important person. The tracking element determines the exact location of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The identification / classification element utilizing data from the other elements generates the identification and threat assessment of the UAS. The interdiction element, based on automated algorithms can either direct the unmanned aerial vehicle away from the property, place, event or very important person in a non-destructive manner, or can disable the unmanned aerial vehicle in a destructive manner. The interdiction process may be over ridden by intervention by a System Operator / HiL.

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

A method to control a device may include forming an integrated simulation model of an actual environment in which the device is or will be operating. The integrated simulation model may be formed using pre-existing data and real-time data related to the actual environment. The method may also include presenting a simulation including a representation of the device operable in the integrated simulation model of the actual environment and allowing control of operation of the simulation of the device in the integrated simulation model of the actual environment. The method may further include controlling operation of the device in the actual environment using the simulation of the representation of the device in the integrated simulation model of the actual environment.

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and / or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and / or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a digital flight path within complex mission boundaries. In particular, in one or more embodiments, systems and methods generate flight legs that traverse a target site within mission boundaries. Moreover, one or more embodiments include systems and methods that utilize linking algorithms to connect the generated flight legs into a flight path. Moreover, one or more embodiments include systems and methods that generate a mission plan based on the flight path. In one or more embodiments, the generated mission plan enables a UAV to traverse a flight area within mission boundaries and capture aerial images with regard to the target site.

A system for identifying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detected in a location includes a reader device. The reader device includes a receiver configured to receive identification information transmitted from the UAV, and a transmitter configured to provide the received identification information to an identification server. The identification server includes a memory configured to store UAV registration information associated with the UAV, a receiver configured to receive the identification information provided by the reader device, and a processor configured to provide a verification of the identification information received by the reader based on the provided identification information and the stored UAV registration information.

The surveillance system provides a means to augment Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) with “look alike ADS-B” or “pseudo ADS-B” surveillance transmissions for aircraft which may not be ADS-B equipped. The system uses ground based surveillance to determine the position of aircraft not equipped with ADS-B, then broadcasts the identification / positional information over the ADS-B data link. ADS-B equipped aircraft broadcast their own position over the ADS-B data link. The system enables aircraft equipped with ADS-B and Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) to obtain surveillance information on all aircraft whether or not the proximate aircraft are equipped with ADS-B.

An automated flight control system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising a flight computer for managing functions related to a flight of the UAV, an application processor for managing functions on the UAV not related to flight, a flight data recorder to record data related to a flight of the UAV, an attitude and heading reference system, a global navigation satellite system receiver, a self-separation module for communicating with another aircraft for the purpose of avoiding a collision, and a wireless communications module for communicating with the remote system, wherein the automated flight control system is capable of receiving operational instructions via the wireless communications module from the remote system.

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

A method of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle executing a mission in a defined mission area including a first observation area within a Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) of a First Observer (FO), a second observation area within a VLOS of a second observer (SO), and a transition area within the VLOS of both the FO and the SO, the method including: the vehicle moving into the transition area after completing part of the mission within the first observation area, in sight of the FO; and in response to the vehicle moving into the transition area, determining whether the vehicle is in sight of the SO. The vehicle is including multiple processing systems in wireless communication with multiple remote user interfaces and a radar sensor mounted on the vehicle using a moveable mount for moving the radar sensor between different radar orientations, the radar sensor generating a range signal.

The present disclosure endeavors to provide systems, methods and apparatus for ensuring aircraft compliance with governmental guidelines, such as, for example, MRCR Category II compliance. A hardware-based system may be employed to reduce range and / or payload below predetermined ranges and a payload capacities. Also provided herein are hardware-based systems, methods, and apparatus for restricting a system's range to predetermined range and / or the payload to a predetermined limit using, for example, a Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) installed in the flight control system.

An aircraft synthetic vision system (100) is provided for increasing data input to a pilot (109) during approach and landing flight operations, and includes a runway assistance landing system (114) and a plurality of databases (106, 108, 110, 112) which may include, for example, a terrain database (106), an obstacle database (112); and a validated runway database (110). The processor (104) detects the likelihood of an error in determining the altitude from at least one of the runway assistance landing system (114), the plurality of databases (106, 108, 110, 112), and identifies the error. The processor (104) further determines augmented coordinates, and a processor (104) generates symbology commands to a first display (116) for displaying a runway environment in response to data provided to the processor (104) from each of the runway assistance landing system (114), the plurality of databases (106, 108, 110, 112), and the processor (104).

Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a digital flight path within complex mission boundaries. In particular, in one or more embodiments, systems and methods generate flight legs that traverse a target site within mission boundaries. Moreover, one or more embodiments include systems and methods that utilize linking algorithms to connect the generated flight legs into a flight path. Moreover, one or more embodiments include systems and methods that generate a mission plan based on the flight path. In one or more embodiments, the generated mission plan enables a UAV to traverse a flight area within mission boundaries and capture aerial images with regard to the target site. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, systems and methods capture digital aerial images of vertical surfaces of a structure by generating a reference surface and flight legs corresponding to the reference surface.

An indication of a detected security event is received. One or more sensors are selected based on the detected security event. The selected sensors are used to detect additional information associated with a protected airspace associated with the detected security event. A risk level assessment associated with the detected security event is determined based at least in part on the additional information detected using the selected sensors. A response is automatically invoked based on the determined risk level assessment.

A system for informing aircraft operators about a temporary flight restriction (“TFR”) includes, but is not limited to, a display unit that is adapted for attachment to an aircraft. The display unit is configured to display graphical images. A processor is communicatively connected to the display unit and is configured to control the display unit. A receiver is communicatively connected to the processor and is configured to receive a broadcast containing information relating to the TFR (“TFR information”) and to automatically provide the TFR information to the processor. The processor is further configured to automatically control the display unit to display a three dimensional representation of an airspace that is subject to the TFR relative to the position of the aircraft when the processor receives the TFR information from the receiver.

According to a technical aspect of the invention, there is provided a multiple unmanned aerial vehicles navigation optimization method is performed at a ground base station which operates in conjunction with unmanned aerial vehicles-base stations which are driven by a battery to move and cover a given trajectory point set, the multiple unmanned aerial vehicles navigation optimization method including: calculating an age-of-information metric by receiving an information update from the unmanned aerial vehicles-base stations through communication, when the ground base station is present within a transmission range of the unmanned aerial vehicles-base stations; setting conditions of a trajectory, energy efficiency, and age of information of each of the unmanned aerial vehicles-base stations; and executing Q-learning for finding a trajectory path policy of each of the unmanned aerial vehicles-base stations, so as to maximize total energy efficiency of an unmanned aerial vehicles-base station relay network to which the energy efficiency and the age of information are applied.According to the invention, the following effects are obtained. Age of information (AoI) that is a new matrix used to measure up-do-dateness of data is set, an edge computing environment for a remote cloud environment is provided by using the AoI, and a computing-oriented communications application can be executed by using the edge computing environment.

Control handover planning for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided that includes determining, by a planning system, a current location of a mobile control system and a current location of the UAV. A target location is identified. A control handover zone is determined based on a communication range constraint between the mobile control system and the UAV. The control handover zone is located between the current location of the mobile control system, the current location of the UAV, and the target location. A mobile control system path plan and a UAV path plan are created that each includes a control handover waypoint in the control handover zone at the same time. The control handover waypoint defines a planned location to place the mobile control system in control of the UAV.

Provided in the embodiment of the present invention are a flight path setting method and apparatus, wherein the method provided in the embodiment of the present invention comprises: acquiring flight path data of an aircraft; determining waypoint coordinates in the flight path data, and configuring a flight path display interface according to a maximal distance value between the determined waypoint coordinates; displaying the flight path of the aircraft in the configured flight path display interface according to the waypoint coordinates in the flight path data; and resetting the flight path displayed in the flight path display interface according to received editing information corresponding to an editing operation, to obtain the updated flight path data of the aircraft. By using the present invention, the user can be given the function of flight path editing and the information concerning the flight path is displayed to the user in an intuitive and comprehensive way, which accordingly saves the time of the user and meets the requirements of the user for automated and intelligent viewing and editing of the flight path.

A method and related system is disclosed for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning of a vehicle's pre-planned route. The system receives a desired Risk Tolerance Level (RTL) for the pre-planned route from a decision maker. As a mission time progresses, changing threats pose an unknown level of risk to the vehicle and crew. The system receives an unplanned threat to mission success of the vehicle and qualifies the received unplanned threat with a Risk Type (RT). The system generates and evaluates possible 4-D re-routes based on the RTL and RT coupled with physical attributes of the possible 4-D re-route. Additionally, the re-planner associates a cost to each of the possible 4-D re-routes and presents ranked possibilities to the decision maker for selection and activation.

A drone control apparatus and method are disclosed. The drone control apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a communication unit that communicates with a drone operation system and a drone over a wireless communication network, a storage unit that stores radio wave environment information of the wireless communication network according to a spatial position, and flight restriction information, and a determination unit that determines a flight path and a flight altitude of the drone based on a radio map, the flight restriction information, and a departure and a destination of the drone received from the drone operation system, and transmits the flight path and the flight altitude to at least one of the drone and the drone operation system via the communication unit.

Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and / or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.

Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.